Inclusion Strategies

Unit Context

This is Lesson 5 of 12 in the unit "Respectful Interactions and Emotions" designed to build students' understanding and skills in respectful social interactions, focusing on inclusivity and emotional awareness.

---

Lesson Overview

• Year Levels: 4, 5 and 6 (Australian primary students)
• Duration: 50 minutes
• Class Size: 30 students
• Subject: Health (Health and Physical Education)
• Lesson Title: Inclusion Strategies

---

Learning Intentions (WALT)

We Are Learning To:

• Propose ways to include others in social and group activities.

---

Success Criteria

Students will be able to:

• Suggest three specific activities or approaches to be more inclusive.
• Participate in discussions to brainstorm ideas for inclusion.
• (Extension) Create an inclusion campaign poster that promotes positive inclusion messages.

---

Australian Curriculum Links

Health and Physical Education - Personal, Social and Community Health

• ACPPS047 (Years 3-4): Practise skills to establish and manage relationships and communicate respectfully with others.
• ACPPS058 (Years 5-6): Investigate strategies to promote inclusion and respectful relationships.
• AC9HP4P04 (Year 4): Select, use and refine personal and social skills to establish, manage and strengthen relationships.
• AC9HP6P10 (Years 5-6): Analyse how behaviours influence relationships and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
• AC9HP8P05_E3 (Extension for advanced students): Develop strategies to challenge narrow views and contribute to inclusive communities.

---

Resources & Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Laptops/tablets for digital poster creation (or paper and art supplies)
• Graphic organisers (template worksheets for dyslexia-friendly support)
• Scenario cards for group discussion
• Inclusion quote cards/posters for inspiration

---

Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity Description	Differentiation / Technology Use
0-5 mins	Introduction & WALT - Teacher explains lesson goals using clear language. - Show visual WALT and Success Criteria. - Introduce the importance of inclusion using simple examples.	Use engaging tone. Display a clear WALT slide. Use visuals to support explanation.
5-15 mins	Whole-Class Brainstorm - Involving students verbally, brainstorm "What does inclusion mean?" and "Why is including others important?" - Record student ideas on the whiteboard. - Teacher models proposing inclusive activities.	Provide sentence starters for EAL/D and dyslexic students. Write ideas in large font. Display ideas visually.
15-30 mins	Small Group Discussions: - Groups of 5 discuss and brainstorm 3 ways to include others in class, at play, or in community. - Provide scenario cards (e.g., a new student feels lonely, someone with different interests wants to join a group). - Groups record ideas on graphic organisers or digital docs. - Teacher circulates to support and scaffold ideas.	Dyslexia-friendly graphic organisers with structured headings. Group roles to support diverse learners (note taker, speaker, encourager). Use tablets/laptops for note typing if preferred.
30-40 mins	Share Back & Compile Ideas: - Each group shares one or two inclusion strategies. - Teacher compiles a master list on whiteboard or shared digital doc. - Discuss how these strategies help everyone feel included and respected.	Encourage positive feedback and anonymous question box for shy learners. Visual summarising using icons or pictures.
40-50 mins	Extension / Creative Application: - Invite advanced students or early finishers to create an inclusion campaign poster (digital or paper). - Posters should promote positive inclusion messages and be displayed in the classroom or school.	Use simple digital art tools (e.g., Canva for education, MS Paint, or Google Drawings). Provide poster templates and inclusive language prompts. Option: Students working with a peer for collaboration.

---

Differentiation Strategies

• Small group discussions to support verbal processing.
• Graphic organisers for sequencing and structuring ideas, especially dyslexia-friendly.
• Sentence starters and vocabulary lists for EAL/D and struggling writers.
• Printing in dyslexia-friendly fonts and clear formats.
• Providing digital and paper options for brainstorming and creating.
• Assigning peer buddies for social/emotional support.
• Allow oral presentations or video/audio recordings for those less confident writing.

---

Assessment & Reflection

• Formative assessment: Observe group discussions and record participation.
• Collect graphic organisers to check for understanding of inclusion strategies.
• Review posters for clear messages about inclusivity.
• Reflective discussion at end: "Why is inclusion important in our classroom and community?"
• Teacher notes individual contributions and scaffolding needs.

---

Teacher Notes & Tips

• Use real-life relatable examples, such as including classmates new to the school, students with different cultural backgrounds, or different abilities.
• Emphasise feelings—how being included impacts wellbeing.
• Encourage empathy — ask students to imagine how others might feel left out.
• Use digital technology to engage students, allowing creativity and collaboration.
• Reinforce respectful language and behaviour throughout.

---

This lesson directly supports key Australian Curriculum content descriptors for Years 4–6 in Health and Physical Education, focusing on respectful relationships, inclusion, communicating respectfully, and awareness of diverse social needs.

---

If you want, I can also provide examples of the graphic organiser and poster templates in digital format to support your lesson!