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WS02 - Australia's national identity

Humanities and Social Sciences, Civics and Citizenship, Year 8

By the end of Year 8, students explain how Australians are informed about and participate in their democracy. They describe the roles of political parties and elected representatives in Australian government. They explain the characteristics of laws, how laws are made and the types of law in Australia. Students identify ways in which Australians express different aspects of their identity and explain perspectives on Australia’s national identity.

 

Students develop questions and locate, select and organise relevant information from different sources to investigate political and legal systems, and contemporary civic issues.They analyse information and identify and describe perspectives and challenges related to political, legal or civic issues.They explain the methods or strategies related to civic participation or action.Students use civics and citizenship knowledge, concepts, terms and references to evidence from sources to create descriptions, explanations and arguments.

Knowledge and understanding | Citizenship, diversity and identity

AC9HC8K06

different experiences of, perspectives on and debates about Australia’s national identity and citizenship, including the perspectives of First Nations Australians as owners of their respective nations, and of different migrant groups

Skills | Questioning and researching

AC9HC8S01

develop questions to investigate Australia’s political and legal systems, and contemporary civic issues

Skills | Questioning and researching

AC9HC8S02

locate, select and organise information, data and ideas from different sources

Skills | Analysis, evaluation and interpretation

AC9HC8S03

analyse information, data and ideas about political, legal or civic issues to identify and explain differences in perspectives and potential challenges

Skills | Civic participation and decision-making

AC9HC8S04

explain the methods or strategies related to making decisions about civic participation

Skills | Communicating

AC9HC8S05

create descriptions, explanations and arguments using civics and citizenship knowledge, concepts and terms that reference evidence


Annotations

 

1. Develops closed questions to gather demographic data on survey respondents (questions 2–4).

 

2. Considers demographic factors that may impact on personal and national identity (questions 2–4).

3. Develops closed questions related to views on the national anthem (questions 5–8).

 

4. Considers the information needed to identify perspectives on the national anthem as a civic issue (questions 5–8).

 

5. Develops open questions related to views on the national anthem (questions 9 and 10).

 

6. Considers the information needed to identify views on the national anthem as an expression of national identity (questions 9 and 10).


Annotations

 

1. Explains the importance of First Nations Australians’ perspectives on national identity.

 

2. Analyses survey information to identify inclusivity as an important part of national identity and of the message in a potential national anthem, irrespective of our cultural backgrounds. See also annotations 4 and 8.

 

3. Explains the contribution of historic events and people to our national identity. See also annotation 5.

 

4. Analyses survey information to identify inclusivity as an important part of national identity and of the message in a potential national anthem, irrespective of our cultural backgrounds. See also annotations 2 and 8.

 

5. Explains the contribution of historic events and people to our national identity. See also annotation 3.

 

6. Describes the importance of diverse landscapes to our national identity.

7. Describes the importance of First Nations Australian cultures to our national identity.

 

8. Analyses survey information to identify inclusivity as an important part of national identity and of the message in a potential national anthem, irrespective of our cultural backgrounds. See also annotations 2 and 4.

 

9. Identifies hard work, collaboration, and welcoming others as shared values that contribute to our national identity.

 

10. Identifies the Southern Cross as an important symbol for our national identity.

 

11. Describes the shared importance of caring for, and celebrating, the land on which we live.

 

12. Analyses survey information to identify different perspectives on the national anthem as an expression of national identity.

13. Analyses information to explain that people may hold different perspectives on how symbols such as a national anthem accurately represent a true expression of belonging, connection and national identity.

 

14. Uses civic knowledge, concepts and terms such as national identity, symbols, debates, and representative to explain debates on national identity.

 

15. Uses evidence from media sources to explain how First Nations Australian perspectives on national identity may not be reflected in the current national anthem.

 

16. Explains the importance of First Nations Australian and multicultural perspectives in creating a shared national identity.

 

17. Explains the methods and strategies they would adopt to take civic action on the issue of an inclusive national anthem.

18. Analyses data to show that those respondents having a family connection outside Australia considered the current anthem to not be fully inclusive, and the need for an anthem to reflect all Australians and Australia’s diversity.

19. Creates an argument for the adoption of a new anthem, finding that the current anthem is not considered inclusive by all survey respondents.