Hannah Walter/S00157847

AT2. Unit Outlines/EDSS428

EDSS 428 WEEK SIX: Civics and Citizenship

Topic: Democracy Year Level: 5/6

Overview:
-Students will be able to identify the key values of democracy, including the right to vote, freedom of speech and citizenship and display this on a poster.
- Students will be able to describe key political structures, noting similarities and differences among the three levels of government by completing a y-chart.
- Students will be able to explain ways in which individuals and community groups can participate in political processes

Concepts: Key Victorian Curriculum Focus / Standard

-Parliament has four main functionsto represent
the people, to pass legislation, to form government
and to scrutinise government.
-Constitutions provide rules about governments and
the law.
-The role of the Prime Minister and how he
represents our country
-Our responsibility as citizens to demand the
government represent our nations needs and morals.
Rich/Contributing questions:
-Which laws do governments, councils and
parliaments make?
- What does our local council do?
- What is the role of State governments and Federal
government?
- How do governments affect me?
- How can I have a say in what councils and
governments do?
Content strand(s): The Humanities
Sub-strand(s): Civics and Citizenship
Level descriptions:
The Level 5 and 6 curriculum introduces students to the key values of Australias liberal democratic system of
government and the key institutions of Australias democratic government, including state/territory and federal
parliaments, and the court system. Students learn about representative democracy and voting processes in Australia.
Students expand on their knowledge of the law by studying how laws affect the lives of citizens as well as how
state/territory and federal laws are made in a parliamentary system. Students investigate the role of groups in our
community and examine the rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens
Understandings:
Describe the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government, including shared roles and responsibilities
within Australias federal system (VCCCG009)
-Exploring the three levels of government through the creation of a y-chart, discussing the roles and responsibilities of
each level, and sections that are shared responsibilities throughout each
-Creating a solid knowledge base of the different roles/make-up of each level of government by doing class role plays,
breaking into groups of local, state and federal government so each group can present to the class their roles and
responsibilities

Overview of Assessment:
-Students write a letter to either the Prime Minister,
the Premier or the mayor dictating to them an issue
that they would like to have attention drawn too,
that falls under the correct array of the chosen level
of governments responsibilities. (Summative)
-Role Play: students divided into 3 groups each group
assigned a level of government they will perform a
role play showing the roles and responsibility of their
assigned government accompanied by a poster,
collage, pamphlet or classroom bulletin board. The
visual display should focus on a specific project or
Key equipment / resources:
-Victorian Electoral Commissions
Website
- Local Newspapers
- Local council member visit
- Examples of propaganda from all of
local, state and federal levels of
government
-ICT access
Key vocabulary: Campaign,
citizenship, civics, Commonwealth,
court, democracy, election,
electorate, House of
Representatives, local government,
mayor, member of parliament,
opposition, parliament, political
parties, politician, premier, prime
minister, senate, voter.
PoLT: 4. Students are challenged
and supported to develop deep
levels of thinking and application:
-Students are given the opportunity
to explore a sequenced learning
program that enhanced through
assessment processes
-Students are provided a different
array of resources and references
that enable them to develop their
research skills (newspapers,
brochures ICT)
issue currently being undertaken by the local
council. (Formative)
-Y-Charts: created to show the different roles and
responsibilities of each level of government, to be
completed individually (Summative)
Resources:
- State Government of Victoria. (2017). Education and Training: Principals of Learning and Teaching P-12. Retrieved
from: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/support/Pages/components12.aspx
- Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority. (2016). Foundation to Year 6 Curriculum: The
Humanities. Retrieved from: http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/the-
humanities/history/introduction/rationale-and-aims