Civics and Citizenship Education (CCE) is an important
component included in the Australian Curriculum as it provides
students with the knowledge and understanding of what makes an effective citizen
and how they can actively participate in society. Through the teaching of CCE,
students can develop skills of initiative, they can identify how different
beliefs effect people, how to propose possible actions, appreciate varied perspectives and create debates (Gilbert & Hoepper, 2017). This
blog post is to reassure all parents how necessary it is to for this subject to
be part of the curriculum and how it can change children’s lives through their
schooling years and into adulthood.
An activity has been developed for our Year 3 students
that directly links to the Civics and Citizenship strand in The Australian
Curriculum (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] 2020). This project investigates the idea of
volunteering and how it assists different members of the wider community. To
introduce the lesson students will be asked ‘what is a volunteer?’. All answers
will be written on the board as students brainstorm ideas and contribute to
class discussion. Students will list volunteer examples and what it entails and
what benefits there can be from volunteering. Groups will be formed and asked to think about the following question:
Once students have generated various ideas, each group will be tasked
to interview and research these different volunteers to collect information on
their roles and duties. Students will then create posters with creative imagery
depicting these volunteers and a description of what they do and how it
benefits the school, while also providing recognition for these volunteers’
efforts by presenting achievements with their names. I will then also ask
students how they can help in the school and will encourage everyone to take
initiative in small volunteer opportunities.
"How can we actively contribute to the wellbeing of our school and its people?"
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| Source: https://pixabay.com/ |
The content descriptors that link
to this activity is shown below. Students learns ways in which they can
contribute to their community by undertaking investigations and posing
questions. Students also develop personal and social capability skills through
working collaboratively as a team and valuing other people’s thoughts and
perspectives (ACARA, 2020). Students develop creative thinking and are
encouraged to use their curiosity and imaginative side to envision a number of
possibilities and come up with solutions.
Heggart, Arvanitakis and Matthews (2018) state that volunteering acts as a form of civic engagement, which is defined as ways in which citizens participate to help develop the shape of the community’s future. Students can learn how to advocate the involvement in communities and make a difference in civic life. According to Volunteering ACT (2015) students can learn how to demonstrate respect and understanding for the needs of others and how to develop positive relationships. Participating in this activity allows students to gain knowledge on how much volunteers contribute to civil society, along with encouraging student group collaboration. I hope this blog post has influenced a more positive view on teaching HASS education.
References
Australian Curriculum,
Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] (2020). The
Australian:
Foundation to year 10 curriculum: HASS: Year 3. Retrieved
from:
Gilbert, R., &
Hoepper, B. (2017). Teaching Humanities and Social Sciences (5th edn).
Melbourne:
Cengage.
Heggart, K., Arvanitakis,
J., & Matthews, I. (2018). Civics and citizenship education:
What have we learned and what does it mean for the future of Australian
democracy? Education Citizenship and Social Justice, 1-17.
What have we learned and what does it mean for the future of Australian
democracy? Education Citizenship and Social Justice, 1-17.
Volunteering ACT. (2015).
Practical lessons and resources for teachers from foundation
to year 10. Volunteering Australia. Retrieved from:
https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-
content/files_mf/1438056660VA03895_Resources_Book_WEB_150727.pdf
to year 10. Volunteering Australia. Retrieved from:
https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-
content/files_mf/1438056660VA03895_Resources_Book_WEB_150727.pdf
You have provided a meaningful, engaging and relevant activity for year three Civics and Citizenship (CC) learning.
ReplyDeleteAspects which I found most insightful were:
- Your explanation of what, why and how this learning is essential within schools;
- Opportunities for students to contribute their prior/developing knowledge independently and collaboratively - and at appropriate stages;
- Well supported by scholars, especially to conclude;
- Great class/whole school engagement/learning experience potential, including students taking the lead in regards to research/interviewing/providing awards to volunteers;
- Students actually 'do'/experience CC learning, what it feels like to become a volunteer - great significance/relevance;
- Taking initiate as a goal for students - was an imperative aspect to mention - so very relevant to 'real life' volunteering (autonomy) and good for parents to assist with the encouragement of it;
- All relevant for parents/no educational jargon - good mentioning the capabilities - parents would understand why these are important (rather than mentioning details of content descriptors).
The only things I would consider (I'm being 'picky' here):
- Mentioning CC conceptual understanding:
-- such as Identity (collaborative task such as this one - can have great influence on the way in which we view ourselves,
--and perhaps Civics - as social interaction increases our body of knowledge (social heritage).
- Not sure whether my grammar here is precise, however, the following reads better for myself:
-- "how to: propose possible actions, appreciate varied perspectives and create debates (Gilbert & Hoepper, 2017)".
- I would place quotation marks around your inquiry, and perhaps place a 'little more' emphasis. Example: "How can we actively contribute to the wellbeing of our school and its people?" (only an idea! Is still though provoking the way it currently stands).
Well done Kate!
Kind regards,
Nicole Taylor.
nicoletaylor12.blogspot.com