Father of Federation

Year Level

Year 5

Duration

60 minutes

Unit Context

This is Lesson 2 of 16 in the unit "Australia’s Journey to Federation".

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Learning Area

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) — History

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NSW Curriculum References

Content Descriptions (Stage 3 History for Year 5)

• HT2-2: explains the importance of a particular historical event, development or tradition.
• HT2-3: identifies and describes different perspectives about the past.
• HT2-4: identifies and uses different kinds of sources to construct sequences of events and to gather information about the past.
• HT3-1: describes and explains the significance of people, groups and events to the development of Australian society.

Achievement Standard Highlights (Year 5)

• Students demonstrate an understanding of the significant aspects of Australia’s history, including Federation, the people involved and the ideas behind it. They locate and compare information from primary and secondary sources to support their understanding. Students apply historical terms and concepts to communicate about events, developments and people in Australia's past.
• Students evaluate sources to determine origin, purpose and perspectives to explain the importance of historical events and individuals.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand who Sir Henry Parkes was and why he is called the "Father of Federation".
• Describe the role of Sir Henry Parkes in advocating for the federation of Australian colonies.
• Analyse excerpts from Parkes’ speeches and writings to identify his key messages and motivations.
• Develop historical empathy by considering different perspectives on federation during Parkes’ time.

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Resources Needed

• Printed excerpts of Sir Henry Parkes’ famous speech "Tenterfield Oration" (1889) – simplified for Year 5 reading level.
• Images or short video clips about Sir Henry Parkes and Federation.
• Chart paper and markers.
• Student workbooks or notebooks.
• A large Australia map or colonial map for reference.

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Lesson Structure and Timing

1. Introduction — Setting the Scene (10 minutes)

• Begin with a brief discussion: What do students already know about Federation? Who might have influenced it?
• Show an image or short video about Sir Henry Parkes.
• Explain simply that Henry Parkes is often called the "Father of Federation" because he wanted the separate colonies of Australia to come together as one country.

2. Exploring Sir Henry Parkes’ Role (15 minutes)

• Distribute simplified excerpts from Parkes’ 1889 Tenterfield Oration or key writings.
• Read aloud together, then discuss the main ideas: What was Parkes asking for? Why did he want the colonies to unite?
• Use guided questions:
• Why did Parkes think Federation was important?
• What benefits did he imagine for Australians?
• Who might have disagreed with Federation at the time and why?

3. Group Activity — Speech Analysis and Role Play (20 minutes)

• Divide class into small groups (3-4 students per group).
• Each group reads an excerpt and identifies one key message or idea from Parkes’ speech.
• Groups prepare to role-play presenting their key message to the class, imagining they are Sir Henry Parkes speaking to Australians in 1889.
• Role play presentations to the class, encourage clear speaking and expression.

4. Class Discussion — Impact and Perspectives (10 minutes)

• Discuss the impact of Parkes’ advocacy on Australia’s journey to Federation.
• Introduce the idea that not everyone agreed—some feared losing power or independence.
• Prompt students to consider different perspectives, encouraging empathy.

5. Reflection and Summary (5 minutes)

• Ask students to write or draw in their workbooks:
• “Why is Sir Henry Parkes important to Australia’s Federation?”
• “What would you ask Sir Henry Parkes if you met him?”
• Recap the main points of the lesson.

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Assessment for Learning

• Observe group discussions and role play for understanding of key historical ideas.
• Review student workbook reflections to assess comprehension of Sir Henry Parkes’ role.
• Use questioning throughout to check for understanding of perspectives and Federation concepts.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide reading excerpts at varied reading levels.
• Allow oral responses instead of written for students who need.
• Use visual aids (pictures, timeline charts) to support understanding.

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Cross-Curricular Links and Enrichment Opportunities

• English: Reading and interpreting historical texts and speeches.
• Drama: Role play to enhance empathy and presentation skills.
• Geography: Locate Australian colonies on a map discussed in the context of Federation.

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Teacher’s Notes — Wow Factor Ideas

• Before the role play, invite students to dress up as 19th-century Australians or create simple props like old-fashioned hats to engage imagination.
• Use a small debating segment where one group represents supporters of Federation (Parkes) and another the opponents, encouraging respectful argument and historical perspective taking.
• Incorporate sound effects or old-timey music during role plays to immerse students in the historical atmosphere.

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This lesson plan aligns closely with the NSW History curriculum for Year 5 and focuses on critical historical skills such as interpreting primary sources, understanding multiple perspectives, and using historical empathy, all centred around a key figure in Australia's Federation journey: Sir Henry Parkes. It is tailored for a 60-minute class of 30 students with age-appropriate activities and materials.