Australian Identity

Overview

This 180-minute lesson explores "What it means to be an Australian" with Year 11 students, focusing on multiple perspectives, historical context, values, and culture. The lesson aligns with the Victorian Curriculum's Humanities and Social Sciences (Civics and Citizenship and History) learning area, emphasising critical analysis and intercultural understanding.

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Curriculum Links

Victorian Curriculum References:

• Civics and Citizenship (Years 9-10)

  • AC9HC10K06: Examine different experiences of, perspectives on and debates about Australia’s national identity and citizenship, including First Nations Australians and migrant groups.
  • AC9HC10K05: Analyse the role of values like freedom, respect, fairness, and equality in supporting social cohesion and democracy within Australia.

• History (Years 9-10)

  • AC9HH10K18: Investigate continuities and changes in perspectives, responses, beliefs and values that have influenced the Australian way of life.

• General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, ethical understanding, intercultural understanding, personal and social capability.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Analyse multiple perspectives on Australian identity, including First Nations Australians and migrant communities.
2. Understand key values that underpin Australian society such as fairness, respect, and democracy.
3. Evaluate how historical and contemporary events shape ideas of what it means to be Australian.
4. Reflect on their own sense of identity in the Australian context.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Engagement (20 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Warm-up discussion: "What words come to mind when you think ‘Australian’?"
  • Record ideas visually on a class concept map or whiteboard.
• Purpose:
  • Activate prior knowledge and reveal diversity of perspectives among students.

2. Exploring Perspectives on Australian Identity (40 minutes)

• Content:
  • Define key terms: national identity, citizenship, values, multiculturalism, First Nations perspectives.
  • Present a short multimedia presentation including voices of First Nations Australians, recent migrants, and historical Australians (e.g., Federation era footage).
• Activity:
  • Small group jigsaw task where each group researches and presents on one perspective:
    • First Nations Australians’ perspective on identity and country.
    • Historical perspectives (Federation and early settlers).
    • Migrant perspectives: experiences and contributions.
• Victorian Curriculum: AC9HC10K06 E1, E2; AC9HH10K18 E2

3. Values that Shape Australia (30 minutes)

• Content:
  • Explore shared values underpinning Australian society such as freedom, fairness, "a fair go," respect, and equality.
  • Discuss examples, including democratic rights, indigenous reconciliation, and multiculturalism.
• Activity:
  • Whole class debate: “Is there a single Australian identity, or many identities?”
  • Use guiding questions: What values unite us? What divides us?
• Victorian Curriculum: AC9HC10K05 E1, E3

4. Case Study: National Symbols and Civic Participation (30 minutes)

• Content:
  • Examine ways national identity is expressed, e.g., flags, the national anthem, citizenship test questions, and civic rights.
  • Discuss controversies or differing views around these symbols and tests.
• Activity:
  • Students role-play different viewpoints debating the importance of a civic symbol.
  • Reflective journal entry: What symbols or values resonate with me and why?
• Victorian Curriculum: AC9HC10K06 E5, E6

5. Creative Synthesis: Personal Australian Identity (40 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Students create a piece of multimodal work (e.g., digital collage, poem, video clip) representing “What it means to be Australian to me.”
  • Encourage incorporation of historical insights, values discussion, and personal experiences or cultural background.
• Sharing:
  • Volunteers present their work to the class.
• Victorian Curriculum: AC9HC10K06 E1, AC9HH10K18 E3

6. Conclusion and Reflection (20 minutes)

• Activity:
  • Class reflection circle: key learnings and any changed perspectives.
  • Discuss how understanding diverse views helps social cohesion.
• Formative Assessment:
  • Students submit their reflective journal entry and a summary statement on “What it means to be Australian.”

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Resources

• Multimedia clips (video/audio) featuring First Nations elders, migrant stories, historians
• Whiteboard or digital collaborative tool
• Materials for creative expression (paper, computers, art supplies)
• Victorian Curriculum Civics and Citizenship and History work samples for exemplar insights

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Classroom Considerations

• Scaffold activities to guide complex discussions on identity and history sensitively.
• Promote inclusion and respect for all backgrounds.
• Encourage critical thinking about stereotype challenging and personal reflection.

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This lesson plan offers a balanced mix of discussion, research, creative engagement, and reflection encompassing multiple dimensions of Australian identity, strongly grounded in the Victorian Curriculum for the Humanities and Social Sciences learning area.