Civics: Democracy Year 5-6
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Teaching program – Citizenship, rights and responsibilities
Pre-assessment
Australia outline (carousel)
Question stems
Citizenship sorting statements
Rights and responsibilities assessment
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Teaching program – Symbols and emblems
Symbols photo cards
Blank playing card
Flags of Australia
SWOT chart Exit card
Teaching program – Week 3: Democracy, values and bicameral Parliament
- To understand the origins of Australia’s bicameral parliamentary system
- To describe the values that underpin Australia’s system of government
Introduce Modelled reading: “There’s a prawn in Parliament House” by Annabel Crabb
Differentiation / Adjustments: Whole class
Resources: “There’s a prawn in parliament house” by Annabel Crabb
Introduction
What is DEMOCRACY?
Using a dictionary, find the meaning of the word ‘democracy’. What is the origin of the word? What root words does it come from? Students write answers in books. What is the origin of parliament?
Differentiation / Adjustments: Independent
Resources: Democracy factsheet ; Democracy Poster ; Dictionary
Activity 1:
Watch the video Democracy Explained: Episode 1 What is Democracy? This video gives a summary of world governments.
Teacher writes key words on board as visual prompt and pauses video for discussion.
List different types of governments on the board as they are mentioned in the video.
Differentiation / Adjustments: Whole class; Independently take notes – visual prompts used
Resources: Democracy Explained: Episode 1 What is Democracy?
Activity 2: Governments throughout the world
As a whole class read through the world map showing Countries by Government System.
Discuss the following:
Where are these different types of government located?
Are they developing or developed countries?
Which countries are part of the Commonwealth?
A table of information has been provided and 3 differentiated worksheets for students to understand the different government systems in the world - some are democracies, some not and some vary in democratic health.
Read the information on the Westminster System, the Washington Federal Model and the Australian ‘Washminster” system. On a poster show the similarities and differences of each. Think creatively to show detailed information alongside illustrations.
Differentiation / Adjustments: Whole class discussion; 3 differentiated worksheets – PROCESS: incl scaffold & extension; In groups of 3
Resources: Countries by Government System incl table of Government Systems and differentiated worksheets; Comparison of Parliamentary Systems Information worksheet; Poster paper
Activity 3: Watch video
Watch video: Australia’s System of Government – A general introduction to the unit. Students can take notes and teacher writes key words on board a visual prompt.
Differentiation / Adjustments: Whole class; Independently take notes – visual prompts used
Resources: ClickView video: Australia’s System of Government
Activity 4: Visible thinking routine — Compass Points – N | S | E | W
In groups of 4, students use the four compass points to write their perspectives on each of the Australian Values.
N- Need to Know: What else do we need to investigate about these values? What unanswered questions do we have? Who decides on these values?
S – Stance and steps forward: What is your personal stance on these values? What practical action steps can we take in our school or community to uphold them?
E – Excitements: What is fantastic about these values? How do they make Australia a great, democratic place to live?
W – Worries: What worries or challenges do you see? When might these values clash with each other?
Differentiation / Adjustments: Groups of 4
Resources: Compass Routine – enlarge to A3 size
Discussion: What other values could be part of this poster? Trust, humility, kindness, compassion, equality, reconciliation. Create a Word Cloud showing all the values.
Differentiation / Adjustments: Whole class discussion; Independent
Resources: Word Cloud in Microsoft Word or another program
Activity 6:
Teacher explains that the State parliament and Federal (or Commonwealth) Parliament both have a bicameral system of government – a Lower and Upper House.
Watch first video on House of Representatives. Teacher writes key words on board as visual prompts and pauses video to explain and discuss key point.
Watch second video on The Senate. Teacher writes key words on board as visual prompts and pauses video to explain and discuss key point.
Students are to take notes in their books as they may refer back to these later in the unit when building the Houses.
Compare the poster of the Bicameral System of Government: Commonwealth Parliament and the Bicameral System of Government: NSW Parliament poster. What are the similarities and differences?
Differentiation/Adjustments: Whole class; Visual prompts on board – writing key words. Pause video to explain if needed.
Resources: House of Representatives ; The Senate ; Bicameral System of Government posters -Commonwealth Parliament + NSW Parliament
Key Words: bicameral, parliamentary, representative democracy, values, governance structures, separation of powers
Activity 7: Who are the main players in parliament?
In groups of 3 complete the worksheet on the Roles and Responsibilities of People in Parliament. Use library or online information sources.
Differentiation/Adjustments: Whole class
Resources: Roles & Responsibilities of People in Parliament worksheet
Personal Project – Global Governments:
Introduce and go through personal project on global governments. Time needs to be allocated in class to complete this on-going project, and presentations will be made at the end of the term.
Students are given a country & will research the government system used, the origins of it, & the history of the government including a timeline.
Students will need to:
Include a map of location of the country, important features & cities.
Explain the system of government and who is in control. How did they become the leader? How long do they remain in power for?
Who gets to vote?
How are laws passed?
How does this system of government function and interact with other world countries’ governments?
How does this government compare to Australia’s government?
Students can choose how they will present their information: create a picture book, teach a lesson incl lesson notes and resources, create a PowerPoint, give a speech, make a video or podcast.
Countries to be studied: USA, United Kingdom, China, North Korea, Iran, UAE, South Africa, Canada, France, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Türkiye, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Spain, Cuba, Thailand, Russia, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Laos, Vietnam
Differentiation/Adjustments: Independent ; 3 Differentiated Projects – including scaffold and extension project incl Marking Rubric ; Differentiation of CONTENT PROCESS PRODUCT (own choice)
Resources: Personal Project – Global Governments incl Marking Rubric
Discussion: Teacher writes discussion questions on board. In table groups, students choose a question & discuss. Report back to the class.
What is the purpose of government?
What makes a government ‘fair’?
What is democracy?
How do you know a government system is successful?
What government system is the most ideal?
How does our parliamentary system of government reflect our Australian values?
Differentiation/Adjustments: Table groups
Resources: N/A
Extension work: What is the European union, it’s role and origin? Write
a description.
Differentiation/Adjustments: CONTENT
Resources: N/A
Assessment: Submission of project at end of the term.
Differentiation/Adjustments: Independent
Resources: Rubrics for marking
People in Australia have democratic roles and responsibilities
- Describe the origins and values underpinning Australia’s bicameral parliamentary system of government
Related Resources
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A summary of the key arguments for and against Federation in Australia, including support for unified defence, emerging nationalist ideas, immigration control, and economic disagreements. It also outlines major developments from the 1880s to 1901, from the Federal Council and Tenterfield Oration to the Conventions, referendums, and final passage of the Constitution.
Explore Related Topics
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Federation of Australia
Explore resources on Federation in 1901, outlining how Australia became a nation, divided powers, and established the constitutional structures and institutions that govern today.
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Democracy
Explore resources on democracy, highlighting how accountability and representative institutions ensure power is exercised fairly and transparently through open processes, civic engagement and responsible governance.
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Human Rights
Explore resources on human rights and freedoms, outlining the key protections, legal frameworks, that support rights, and explore how rights and responsibilities are balanced against government power in Australia.