Showcase and Celebration

Unit: Past, Present and Future

Lesson 4 of 20

Duration: 60 minutes Class size: 2 students Year level: Year 1 Subject: Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

Lesson Overview

This lesson focuses on organising and preparing an exhibition showcasing the projects completed during the "Past, Present and Future" unit. Students will reflect on their learning journey, share their work, and present it to invited family members or community participants. This provides an authentic context for students to communicate their understanding of change and continuity over time, aligned with the NSW Curriculum for Year 1 Social Sciences.

Learning Objectives (NSW Curriculum-aligned)

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

Communicate their understanding of change and continuity in family, community and daily life through sharing completed projects.
Reflect on what they have learned about the past, present and future.
Demonstrate the ability to present information to a familiar audience.
Use subject-specific vocabulary related to time and history such as "past," "present," "change," and "continuity" when discussing their projects.

These objectives align with the Year 1 Humanities and Social Sciences Achievement Standard, which expects students to identify continuity and change in family structures and significant aspects of daily life, share narratives about people and the past, and use subject-specific terms when recounting observations and experiences.

Curriculum Links

Outcome: HT1-1 — identifies past and present family life, and the ways people and objects change over time.
Skills: Questioning, researching, communicating, reflecting.
Content focus: Understanding change and continuity in the past and present, sharing learning through oral and visual presentations.

Resources Required

Completed student projects (artwork, posters, dioramas, timelines, stories)
Exhibition space (classroom corner, wall space, table)
Labels or name cards for each project
Reflection sheets with simple prompts (e.g., “What did I learn?”, “My favourite part was…”)
Family and community invitations (optional, can be digital or paper)
Visual aids: photos, printed timelines, key vocabulary cards
Basic presentation tools: microphone (optional), camera or tablet for recording

Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Description and Teacher Notes
0-10 mins	Setup and organisation	- Students help arrange their projects in the exhibition space. - Teacher provides guidance on display order and item labelling. - Introduce the purpose of the exhibition and special guests (family/community). - Discuss expectations for sharing work respectfully.
10-15 mins	Reflection activity	- Use reflection sheets with simple sentence starters to prompt thinking about the unit. - Encourage students to talk about one thing they learned and one thing they enjoyed. - Teacher supports language and scaffolds responses with examples.
15-40 mins	Rehearse presentations	- Students practice explaining their projects to the teacher or peer. - Teacher models how to use key vocabulary terms. - Encourage descriptive language about past, present, and what was new or changed. - Provide feedback on clear communication and eye contact.
40-55 mins	Family/Community Exhibition and Presentation	- Invite family or community members to visit the exhibition. - Students share their projects, using their rehearsal skills. - Encourage questions from visitors; teacher or aide to facilitate interaction. - Positively reinforce student effort and use of vocabulary. - Encourage students to listen and respond politely.
55-60 mins	Closure and celebration	- Gather students for a short talk about celebrating learning. - Recap the key ideas of past, present, continuity and change. - Congratulate students on their sharing and reflection skills. - Provide a small token or certificate of achievement to mark the celebration.

Assessment Approach

Formative assessment through observation during rehearsals and reflection activities; teacher notes on use of historical terms and understanding.
Summative reflection via completed reflection sheets capturing key learning.
Anecdotal records on students’ confidence and ability to explain their projects and respond to questions.
Evidence gathered will inform progress on the Year 1 HASS achievement indicators related to understanding change, continuity and communication.

Differentiation and Support

For students needing assistance: provide sentence starters and visual prompts for presentations and reflections.
For extension: encourage students to include a future prediction or hope as part of their sharing.
Use positive reinforcement and plenty of encouragement to build confidence in public speaking.

Teacher Tips

Create a warm, supportive environment for the exhibition experience.
Engage families by sending a personalised invitation highlighting their role.
Use simple language and model vocabulary repeatedly.
Record presentations to show students their progress and for sharing with absent parents.
Integrate technology subtly, such as a digital slideshow of student work, if available.

This lesson celebrates the culmination of students’ exploration of past, present and future, providing them with a meaningful context to consolidate learning in Social Sciences consistent with the NSW Year 1 curriculum framework. It fosters communication skills, reflection, and community involvement, making learning visible and valued.

Teaching Instructions