Bridging Now to Next

Context

Year Levels: 3 - 6
Subject: Australian History (HASS)
Focus: National Reconciliation Week 2025 – "Bridging Now to Next"
Duration: 53 minutes
Class size: 14 students
School: Carnamah District High School
Curriculum: Western Australian Curriculum, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) F-6, History focus

WALT (We Are Learning To)

Understand the significance and meaning of National Reconciliation Week and its 2025 theme “Bridging Now to Next.”
Recognise ways we can participate in reconciliation and respect First Nations cultures and histories.
Express ideas about reconciliation through collaborative art and personal promises.
Develop respect and empathy for First Nations peoples, cultures, and histories, aligned with WA Curriculum standards.

Curriculum Alignment (Western Australian Curriculum)

AC9HS3K04: The ways First Nations Australians in different parts of Australia are interconnected with Country/Place and explore stories, songs, paintings and perspectives from different groups .
AC9HS3S04: Analyse information and data to identify perspectives, including changes over time and differing viewpoints .
AC9HS3S02: Locate, collect, and record information about the past from various sources including stories and interviews .
Cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures embedded through respect and reconciliation focus.

Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

Explain the meaning of National Reconciliation Week and its theme “Bridging Now to Next.”
Identify at least two ways to respect and support reconciliation.
Create a personal hand cut-out artwork representing their understanding of reconciliation.
Collaboratively link hand cut-outs to form a mural symbolising unity and progress.
Share a personal promise for supporting reconciliation in their community confidently.

Lesson Plan Structure

Time	Activity	Details	Differentiation & Extensions
0-8 min	Introduction to Reconciliation Week	Use story-telling and visuals to introduce National Reconciliation Week, explaining briefly its history, importance, and the 2025 theme “Bridging Now to Next.” Use images, posters, and short videos tailored to upper primary level.	Support: Use simpler language and visual prompts for students needing additional support. Extension: Invite advanced students to think of how reconciliation can bridge past, present and future for Australia.
8-18 min	Group discussion: What does reconciliation mean to us?	Prompt students with guiding questions: What might “Bridging Now to Next” mean? How can we be part of reconciliation? Record ideas on a large shared poster or digital board.	Support: Offer sentence starters such as “Reconciliation means…” or “I can help by…” Extension: Encourage students to make connections to their own family or community stories.
18-35 min	Art activity – Hand cut-out creation	Students trace and cut out their hand shape on coloured paper. Using markers, paints, and collage materials, they decorate their hand illustrating their personal ideas or values linked to reconciliation (e.g., respect, unity, connection to Country). Provide images and symbols from Aboriginal art for inspiration.	Support: Allow simpler decorating techniques or templates. Extension: Students write a short sentence or words on their hand about their promise or understanding.
35-45 min	Creating the Mural	Arrange and link all hand cut-outs on a wall/chart to visually symbolise a “bridge” made of many hands—highlighting unity in diversity and community progress. Guide students to see it as "Bridging Now to Next."	Support: Some students can focus on arranging while others glue/decorate. Extension: Discuss how bridges work physically and symbolically as a metaphor.
45-53 min	Personal Promises and Sharing	Each student shares a short personal promise or action they will take to support reconciliation in their community (e.g., listen respectfully, learn about Aboriginal culture, include others). Document these promises and display them near the mural. Wrap up with a respectful Acknowledgement of Country or a moment of silence.	Support: Use sentence prompts or allow sharing as drawings or pictures. Extension: Encourage older/literate students to write and present their promises formally, or create digital posters for school display.

Resources Needed

Paper, coloured card stock for hand cut-outs
Scissors, glue, markers, paints, collage materials
Images and symbols of Aboriginal art and culture (printed)
Large mural backing (bulletin board or large butcher paper)
Poster or digital platform for recording ideas from discussion
Pre-prepared Acknowledgement of Country script

Differentiation Strategies

Visual aids and modelling: provide step-by-step demonstration of hand cut-out creation and mural arrangement.
Flexible grouping: pair students with mixed abilities for discussion and art tasks.
Scaffolded sentence starters: support verbal sharing and written promises.
Alternative formats: for students with fine motor challenges, use printed hand outlines for colouring or digital tools.
Check-ins: monitor engagement, provide encouragement or additional explanations as needed.

Extension Opportunities

Research and reflect on local First Nations peoples connected to the school's area.
Write a short poem or narrative from the perspective of a First Nations person on reconciliation.
Plan and lead a small class event or presentation during National Reconciliation Week.
Use digital media to create a story or video about “Bridging Now to Next.”
Explore other Australian reconciliation-related observances such as NAIDOC Week.

This lesson plan encourages students to personally connect with the theme of National Reconciliation Week 2025 and express their understandings creatively and reflectively. It builds skills in historical awareness, empathy, communication, and community engagement aligned to the Western Australian Curriculum for Years 3 to 6 Humanities and Social Sciences.

If you would like me to help you assemble this lesson into a full 10-week unit plan or create supporting worksheets and resources for the hand-cut activity or discussion, just let me know!

Teaching Instructions