Learning About Democracy

🧠 Lesson Overview

Duration: 30 minutes
Year Level: Year 6
Subject: Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) – Australian History
Curriculum Area:

• Australian Curriculum (Version 9.0)
  • Learning Area: Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
  • Year 6 Level Description:
    “Students learn about the key features of Australia’s system of government and explore the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government.”
  • Content Descriptor (AC9HS6K06): Describe the key features of the Australian democratic system, including elections, and the roles of the three levels of government.

Learner Needs:

• Simplified language and visual supports for a student with learning difficulties.
• Hands-on, tactile and step-by-step structured activities to ensure understanding.
• Use of questioning and recaps to check comprehension.

---

🎯 Learning Intentions

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

• Understand that Australia is a democracy.
• Name the three levels of government.
• Explain, in simple terms, what voting means.
• Identify one way citizens can have a say in government decisions.

✅ Success Criteria

The student will:
✔ Know that democracy means people have a say.
✔ Identify the Local, State and Federal governments.
✔ Participate in a mock “vote” activity to show understanding of how we make decisions.

---

🗂️ Resources & Materials

• Large poster with a simple diagram of the three levels of government
• Flashcards with key vocabulary (Democracy, Vote, Government, Local, State, Federal)
• Mini voting activity (e.g., Which class reward should we choose?)
• 3 speech bubbles prepared with simple statements for each level of government
• A4 worksheet: “My Voice Matters!” (includes matching and a quick drawing activity)
• Whiteboard and markers
• A small cardboard voting box and voting slips
• Visual timer

---

🧩 Lesson Sequence

🕐 0:00–0:05 – Welcome & Warm-Up

• Greeting & Routine: Begin with standard classroom welcome and a feelings check-in (How are you today?).
• Hook Question: “Have you ever made a choice, like choosing a game or what movie to watch?”
  • Use visuals: symbols for “choices” (games/movies/food)
  • Connect that to today’s topic: “Today we’ll learn how Australians make choices too – big ones – about how our country is run!”

---

🕐 0:05–0:10 – What is Democracy?

• Simplified Explanation:
  • Write the word Democracy on the board.
  • Use a visual cue (people holding hands in a circle)
  • “In Australia, we live in a democracy. That’s a big word, but it just means: people help make decisions about how our country works.”
  • Use the flashcard to reinforce vocabulary.
• Interactive Example:
  • Ask: “If we had a choice for class reward – popcorn or fruit salad – how could we decide?”
  • Student response.
  • Introduce: “We vote!”

---

🕐 0:10–0:15 – The Three Levels of Government

• Show Diagram Poster: Simple house-style image with three floors labelled Local (bottom), State (middle), Federal (top). Each floor has a smiling cartoon figure.
• Teach Each Level (using visual supports and gestures):
  • Local: Helps with parks, bins, and local roads
  • State: Looks after schools and hospitals
  • Federal: Makes big decisions for all of Australia (e.g., money, defence)
• Use cut-out “speech bubbles” with cartoon characters saying:
  • “I fix the parks!” (Local)
  • “I help your school!” (State)
  • “I make rules for Australia!” (Federal)
• Ask the student to match the speech bubble to the right level using magnets on the whiteboard.

---

🕐 0:15–0:20 – Let's Vote! (Mock Activity)

• Mini Voting Experience:
  • Topic: “What reward should we have at the end of the week: extra outdoor time ☀️ or a fun craft activity 🎨?”
  • Give student a vote slip and let them post it into the voting box.
  • Encourage language: “I vote for…”
  • Tally the result together. Celebrate!

---

🕐 0:20–0:25 – Consolidation & Worksheet

• Complete “My Voice Matters!” worksheet, which includes:
  • Simple matching: local, state, or federal jobs
  • Drawing activity: “If I were the Prime Minister, I would…” (use sentence starter and assist as needed)
• Provide sentence prompts and allow drawing for expression if writing is difficult

---

🕐 0:25–0:30 – Reflection & Recap

Ask Check-In Questions:

• What is Democracy again?
• Can you name one level of government?
• What did we do when we voted — what did that show?

Think-Pair-Share Style (one-on-one): You show a flashcard, student tells you what it is.

Award a simple certificate:
🎉 Junior Democracy Leader 🎉

---

🔄 Adjustments for Learning Difficulties

• Visual supports throughout lesson
• Short, simple sentences and clear pacing
• Frequent recapping and summarising
• Hands-on and movement-based (vote activity)
• Celebration of effort over accuracy

---

📌 Extension Opportunities

• Watch a short roleplay or animation on Parliament House (in a future lesson)
• Write a letter/drawing to local council suggesting an idea
• Create a classroom “Election Day” next week—nominate ideas, make posters

---

🧾 Notes for Teacher

• This is a foundational lesson: repetition across multiple lessons is recommended
• Consider building a visual word wall for terms like vote, government, democracy
• Pair this with a future visit from a community leader like a Local Council member if possible

---

🏁 Summary

This lesson provides an engaging, accessible and fun introduction to Australia's system of democracy, especially designed for Year 6 students with learning difficulties. Through storytelling, hands-on voting, colourful visuals and a warm learning pace, students will walk away feeling included and informed about how people help shape Australia – including them.