This week our Stage focus is the 'Development of Democracy in Australia,' and the key participants in the process such as Sir Henry Parkes, Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin.
This comprehensive timeline documents the development of democracy in Australia.
The Parliament of NSW has a more child-friendly timeline and explanation of the events that contributed to federation, as well as an explanation on 'Federation and the Parliament of NSW.'
The National Museum of Australia has a 'Life at the time of Federation' Curriculum materials that are fully downloadable from their website.
This unit of work encourages students to investigate what life was like in Australia at the time of Federation through an examination of a 'time capsule' containing seven key objects used at the time of Federation. Students explore the meaning of these objects to reveal their role in our national identity and their importance in the Federation process.
The Australian Constitution is explained by the Parliamentary Education Office here.
A copy of the Australian Constitution is available here.
The 'Discovering Democracy' website has an amazing array of downloadable material and worksheets appropriate for upper primary students. They are also directly linked to NSW Outcomes. Now I need to go back to school and see if we have the 'video' ;) Can't wait until these websites are all updated with downloadable media.
Here are also some ESL Links that might be worth exploring.
A continent for Federation:
In Search of Democracy - Federation:
Presentation summarising the life and achievements of Sir Henry Parkes:
Actual footage of Australia's Federation Ceremony (silent):
