Teacher notes

This resource is designed for use with the following syllabuses:

Commerce Years 7-10

Board of Studies: Commerce Years 7-10²

• Core 2.1 - Law and Society

• Option 6 - Political Involvement

Read detailed information about the Commerce syllabus links within Making a difference

History Years 7 -10

Board of Studies: History Years 7 -10³

• Topic 6 - Changing rights and freedoms

• Topic 7 - People Power and Politics in the Post-war Period

• Civics and Citizenship

Read detailed information about the History syllabus links within Making a difference

Geography Years 7-10

Board of Studies: Geography Years 7-10⁴

• Focus Area 5A4 - Australia in Its Regional and Global Contexts

Read detailed information about the Geography syllabus links within Making a difference

• Civics and Citizenship

Legal Studies

Board of Studies: Legal Studies⁵

• Preliminary - Part I: the legal system

• HSC - Part II: Human Rights

Read detailed information about the Legal Studies syllabus links within Making a difference

Intellectual quality

This resource focuses on developing student understanding of society, political involvement, and civics and citizenship. The resource encourages students to deepen their understanding of active citizenship by providing opportunities for further research. Students are also provided with opportunities to engage in discussions which require them to manipulate information and ideas. The resource allows students to examine information from real stories and to use these examples of active citizenship to guide them in the process of becoming an active citizen.

Quality learning environment

The resource lends itself well to student-directed learning. Rather than having a linear structure, the resource allows and encourages students to move around the resource at their own pace. The rich nature of the case studies and discussion starters means that students are able to engage with the difficult concepts at a level which is suitable for their own learning style and background knowledge.

Significance

The resource has a high focus on civics and citizenship, enabling meaningful connections between the classroom and government and the political process, enabling them to become informed citizens. Students engage with the rich narrative of stories of active citizenship from the perspective of real people involved in them. In each case study students are engaging with actual situations and are encouraged to make connections with people outside the classroom, such as Members of Parliament. Students learn that by being an active citizen they really could make a difference.