Let's
Celebrate!
The theme of birthdays (what do they mean? Why do we
celebrate?) leading into - When was Australia (as a
country/nation) 'born'? Let's have a party for its birthday -
would appeal to younger students enormously and ties in with their
egocentrism. A huge Federation party as a culminating
activity is funtastic! Learning should be fun! The
kids could make cake in the shape of the states (lots of parent
helpers!) and then bring them all together to form our 'country'.
This should aid in conceptual understanding also (state vs/
country). There could even be a 'telegram' from the queen
for 100th birthday! |
Indigenous Issues
exclusion, marginalisation, racism, omission Q |
Women’s Issues
representation, suffrage Q |
Immigration
Asian, non-white vs Australianism - Australian born,
product brand names,
sporting identity, White Australia policy Q |
Protectionism
border customs, duty,
defence vs Free Trade Q
|
Union
movement
strikes, depression vs Employers,
imported labour Q |
Personalities
- Founders
strengths,
weaknesses Q |
Constitution
Key elements and provisions, compromises, omissions,
conventions Q |
Republicanism vs
Federation under Crown |
Concept of Federation
An infants WebQuest/drama
that will focus on a real-life analogy to federation
i.e. classroom rules vs.
school rules (see discussion site). Alternatively, they could contrast the
running of their own households according to the way it would run if they made their
own rules and lived using only those rules (analogy - colony), vs. the
combination of parents and children's rules (analogy - state/federal). |
Recreations of History
A unifying Q? |
Choices
Comparing political structures
Was Federation right choice? |
Notion of Referendums
Comparing nations born out of a vote vs war |
Nationalism vs private
interests?
Causes of Federation |
Comparing Federation
with Republican movement today
current debates on national identity and constitutional reform |
Where in the World?
Looking and comparing world issues at the time of
Federation... today's world Q |
Role of the people
1893 People's Convention in Cowra |