Blog 2: Citizenship learning in the context of an aspect of Australian History

Year 5 Hass investigation: First contact on Van Diemen's Land

Intro and what we are learning:

It is important as a society that we begin to learn and create meaningful viewpoints about many first contact stories around Australia. There is mixed opinions of European settlers establishing colonies as some view these first encounters as invasions. This topic for students will allow them not only to have an informed opinion but also attempt to emphasise with different cultures around them today. 

For students, being able to investigate this topic will address some key learning outcomes in the HASS year 5 content descriptors such as providing opportunities for students to develop historical understanding through key concepts such as perspectives, empathy and significance (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency[ACARA], 2018). The intended outcome for this particular unit describes students will have developed a deeper understanding of how colonisation affected many Aboriginal people and how they feel and emphasise to these particular moments in Australia's history (ACARA, 2018). The Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences, focuses on developing students ability to apply concepts of disciplinary thinking which can be highlighted in the picture and link below:

https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/humanities-and-social-sciences/hass/structure/

Why are we learning:

It is important for students to learn about colonisation as The Australian Curriculum describes that students should be able to highlight the importance of certain events and what groups of people experienced in that time (ACARA, 2019). Below is what should be achieved in relation to this topic and unit of work.

How are we learning:

Students will begin the topic by grouping into pairs to discover and investigate the first contact on van Diemen's Land. Attempting to introduce a topic through an exploring phase such as an investigation aims to provide students an interest to the topic at hand (Gilbert, 2014). Students will gather information together and return to the larger group to discuss their findings and have meaningful conversations as a class.

The follow up lesson will include a talk from an Aboriginal elder to describe their view on colonisation and what it meant for them and their people. Allowing the outside community provides students the opportunity to understand and emphasise form different viewpoints (ACARA, 2019). The final assessment task will be for students to draw from their understandings from the previous lessons and tasks to create a fictional story on the day of First contact at Van Diemen's Land. The story must be from the view of the Aboriginal and native people of the land.

How parents can stimulate learning at home

For many students, these types of topics can be very heavy and confronting. Parents can aid their child's learning through open discussions that stimulate views and beliefs. Discuss how colonisation makes them feel and attempt to provide experiences that could further interest their child's mind on the topic of Indigenous Australia. The unit combined with many experiences outside the classroom attempts to shine a light on another culture while at the same time actively creating children into informed citizens (Reynolds, 2012).

References:

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency. (2019). Humanities and Social Sciences, Year 5. Retrieved from: https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/humanities-and-social-sciences/

Melbourne on Educational Goals for Young Australian (2008).

Reynolds, R. (2012). Teaching history, geography and SOSE in the primary school. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.

Gilbert, R. & Hoepper, B. (2014). Teaching humanities and Social Sciences. Melbourne, Victoria: Centage.