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My Go-To Australian Federation Teaching Resources

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Having the right resources can take your lessons to the next level and really reduce your stress levels. Here are my go to Australian Federation teaching resources that are sure to make teaching this boring topic far more interesting and fun - for you and your students.

Need a crash course in Australian Federation?

If you feel that your understanding of Federation needs a refresher check out our posts on Engaging your Students with Federation and The Argument for Federation. Basically, Federation happened in 1901 (after many years of discussion and debate) when the colonies voted to become one nation with a Federal Government that serves the people of Australia and is bound by the Constitution.

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Worth the read! 

If you're looking for more facts and figures and information about Federation and the events that led to it check out the Australian Electoral Commission Education website it has fact sheets that are full of information!

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The National Archives also have several resources that you might find helpful, especially about how the constitution was drafted, reviewed, edited, reviewed and eventually voted on. You can check out this information by clicking on this link.

This PDF fact sheet from the Parliamentary Education Office is also a handy reference about Australia’s Federation. The PEO are a great place to start if you’re looking for information about Australia’s political history.

Australian Federation teaching resources at the ready!

My despair at the lack of Australian Federation teaching resources was the catalyst for Aussie Star and I've received a huge amount of feedback from teachers expressing delight and gratitude for our range of Australian Federation resources. Here is a brief rundown on what's available. 

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Reasons For and Against Federation

This was the very first resource that I ever created and it has recently been updated to be even more engaging and interactive. It is a great discussion starter and is a simple but highly effective way to help students identify and sort the reasons for and against Federation.

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Federation Vocabulary Flip Book

With every new topic there are always a few key words that students need to be able to understand to fully grasp concepts. This flip book dictionary has 6 words that are all related to the topic of Federation. Students are required to define each word and practise using it in context. They are then able to assemble their dictionary to form a funky little flip book that they can refer to later. 

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Australian Federation Hall of Fame

This activity is great fun!
There were several gentlemen who were instrumental in bringing about Federation and this resource is designed to introduce them to your students. They will be able to conduct their own research to find out key information about each person and then enter it in to their Hall of Fame. Once they've got to know these famous faces of Federation they can create a grand double door entrance for their Hall of Fame.
We’ve received great feedback from teachers about this resource for example Michelle said, “Thank you! This saved me hours of work and the children were engaged for what could have been a "boring" lesson!”

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Australian Federation Foldable Timeline

Timelines are a prominent feature in the Australian HASS Curriculum and with good reason. The road to Federation was long and filled with debates, draft constitutions, more debate and a couple of referendums. Without understanding the process students won’t really appreciate the significance of the decision to Federate and how it impacted the development of the Australia they know today.     
Creating foldable timelines is a great way to make sorting information into chronological order interesting and memorable. 

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Sir Henry Parkes Cloze Activity

While not the most exciting bloke Henry Parkes was a major advocate for Federation. He traveled around and gave long rousing speeches about the reasons Australia should Federate. This cloze activity is a great way for students to meet Henry and learn about his role in Federation.

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Edmund Barton Research Puzzle

Edmund Barton was our first Prime Minister and another advocate for Federation and is therefore, worth getting to know. This activity requires students to research information about Edmund and use their answers to unjumble the puzzle to form his image. They must also record the websites they used and the keywords they entered to demonstrate their ability to use reliable information sources and search efficiently.

Each of these resources is available in our shop for immediate download. 

Teaching Federation can be fun and interactive, it is a pretty boring topic but by using some of the ideas above hopefully you can spice it up for your students. 

Let me know if you have any other ideas that you've found helpful in your classroom to teach Federation. I'd love to hear about it. 

Take care

Amy

Hands-on History at Old Parliament House Canberra

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I’ve mentioned previously that the Aussie Star family traveled to Canberra earlier this year. There’s no question that the Museum of Australian Democracy (or Old Parliament House) was the highlight of the trip for all of us but particularly for Miss 11. We went twice and if she’d had her way we would have gone back again. She rated it even higher than Questacon! I also have no doubt that Grace got a great deal out of it from an educational perspective since she is in Year 6 and has been learning about Australian Government in her HASS classes at school. She spent ages reading information plaques, interacting with the touch screens and following their instructions to move around the display.  

5 Reasons you should visit Old Parliament House

Given her enthusiasm for Old Parliament house I asked her for her Top 5 reasons to visit the Museum of Australian Democracy as part of your trip to Canberra and here’s what she said.

  • I liked that they had loads of hands-on things to do.
  • It was so cool sitting in the big seats in the Upper and Lower Houses.
  • I liked that you could spy on the Prime Minister in his office through a spy hole!
  • It only cost $5 for the whole family. What a bargain!
  • They have a little kid’s area and an awesome dress-up photo area.
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Getting in to character at The Museum of Democracy

All day fun with an Australian History lesson too!

There’s not much that’s off limits at Old Parliament House. Grace and Mr 3 loved sitting on the deep worn leather seats in the Upper House and Senate, they’re surprisingly comfortable and I can understand how they could be tempted to nod off during parliament! The Speaker of the House’s office was very plush and while you’re not allowed to sit at the official desk you can sit at the secretary’s desk and have a great time looking efficient typing away and answering phone calls like these two monkeys.  

Hands on fun in the press room.

Hands-on learning and engaging activities

The Press Room was also a favourite, sitting in the sound proof booth and reading a press release for others to hear in the next room was a highlight as were Bob Hawke’s office, the dress-up room and the Cabinet room with its sound proof door and  plush interior.  

For parents of little people there’s an excellent playroom that kept our little guy entertained for ages and gave us all a place to rest up before more exploration.

If you’re heading to Canberra, either on your own or with your class for camp, make sure you add The Museum of Australian Democracy to your itinerary. I’ve been twice as part of a school group and the guides are wonderful however, I would allow time for small group exploration if you have enough teachers and parent helpers. I saw more, and engaged in the museum more, by just being free to wander the halls and explore so if you have time this is worth doing after your guided tour.

So, there you have it, Grace’s top 5 reasons to visit Old Parliament House in Canberra and my quick run-down to back them up. The museum really has been well planned and organised to maximise learning opportunities and to genuinely engage students with Australia's democratic history. Make sure you visit when you’re in town. If you’re looking for some more information their website is very helpful.

I’d love to know your favourite place to visit in Canberra or the highlight of your school trip so feel free to leave a comment below.

Take care

Set the course for your Australian Explorers unit

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I loved learning about the Australian Explorers waaay back in 1986 with one of my favourite teachers Mrs Gunn (awesome name for a teacher hey? #dontmesswithher).

It was one of my favourite topics at school and I can remember being enthralled with stories of Captain Cook and his adventures, fascinated by the mystery of Ludwig Leichhardt and his disappearance, and baffled by the poor choices of Burke and Wills. The topic of explorers was exciting and interesting, so much so that 30 years later I can still remember it.

Australian Explorers unit plan

Set off your unit on Australian Explorers on the right foot 

Starting a new topic in any subject is exciting, the students are ready to move on to something new, and let’s face it, we usually are too. Starting a new topic well is vital and sometimes this can be a challenge and kill the fun before it gets going. To help you get your Australian Explorers teaching unit off to a great start I’ve put together some ideas that might help you get your classroom expedition ready and inspire your students.

  • Ahoy there!
  • Decorate your classroom to look like the inside of a ship. Raid op shops, garage sales and antique shops for old furniture, wooden chests of various sizes, vintage looking bottles, books, telescopes, boating paraphernalia such as buoys and ropes, and other bits and pieces. Consider a new teacher chair that is worthy of a ship’s Captain or a wooden chest that holds dodge balls and cricket bats. Setting the scene will help your students to connect with the Australian explorers and give them some hands-on fun to engage with the topic outside of HASS lessons.
  • Land ahoy!
  • Guide your students to your new topic by inspiring them with old maps, drawings, letters and diary records. There are many images available online of detailed drawings done by Botanist Joseph Banks while on his voyage with Captain James Cook. There are also many images of captain cook’s journals. Or you could even create your own aged looking journal that students can record the day’s events in. If you are lucky enough to have a quill and ink pot this would add to the authenticity. Map shops and online suppliers have vintage maps that can be purchased and laminated for later use.

    • Stock ye slop chest!
    Dress ups are still loved by older students and some rough and ready explorer attire can help set the mood and inspire your students to get in to character. You may even have a local theatre group who may like to come in and help the students dress up and act out the story of the Australian explorers. Your local Maritime Museum may have some helpful advice too.

    Craft ye Companion Way! 
    I love to decorate the windows of my classroom – Cut out circles to create portholes or if your school allows it paint them to create a desert scene or ocean waves. If your school doesn’t allow painting on the windows I have seen a very clever solution! Stretch Cling wrap across the window, secure with clear sticky tape, and then paint on the Cling Wrap! It can easily be removed by peeling off. Genius!

    I hope you've found these ideas helpful! If you're looking for more inspiration I’m always adding more ideas to my Australian Explorers Board on Pinterest.

    If you're looking for a great start to your unit on Australian Explorers our Australian Explorers Intro Pack with 5 activities is the perfect solution. Click on the image to check it out!


    Canberra – A City Built for Learning

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    Recently the Aussie Star family went on holiday to Canberra. Our daughter changed schools a couple of years ago. While she’s very happy where she is, it did mean that she would miss out on going to Canberra for camp in year 6. Also, I have taken students to Canberra for camp a couple of times and think it is one of the best family holiday destinations in Australia – there is so much to do!

    So, we set off from our home near Adelaide and broke up the 16 hour drive across three days. We travelled through Western Victoria, stayed at Goroke, then Rushworth and finally made it on to the Hume Hwy to Canberra on the third day. It was a lot of driving but we got there! I felt very inspired driving through the old gold mining areas and stopping to take photos of Melville’s cave at Mt Arapiles.

    The first time I went to Canberra on camp with my class I was extremely nervous! The thought of taking 40 students interstate on a long bus trip, with a day in the snow, seemed daunting. But I needn’t have worried – it was brilliant! There are so many things to do and see, that the students were always engaged and ready to go. The other wonderful thing was that the students were really able to consolidate their learning in HASS. In first semester we had focused on topics like Australian Federation, Civics and Citizenship, and Experiences of Democracy. We were also able to have the perfect introduction to our Earth Sciences unit by visiting the Geo Science Centre.

    These learning opportunities were my major motivation for taking the family to Canberra and, as usual, it didn’t disappoint. If you ask my husband he will probably tell you it wasn’t a very restful holiday, because I had organised an itinerary that didn’t allow for much down time! If you ask me, I think we could’ve fit a couple more things in.

    Even if you’re not going to Canberra for your school camp, it is well worth including a few lessons on Canberra in your HASS unit. Help students understand the history, purpose and function of our nation’s capital. Here I’ve listed a few points to get you started. There are lots of resources online to help and I’ve included links to them with each point in the title.

    Parliament House 

    In Canberra they call it New Parliament House which makes me laugh considering it’s nearly 30 years old. But it does distinguish it from Old Parliament House. This building is spectacular and consists of approx 4500 rooms! Everywhere you look there are clocks (2700 to be exact) so there’s no excuse for an MP to miss out if a division is called. I’d love to be there to see that!

    An interesting fact I learned on this trip is that Romaldo Giurgola, the principal architect, designed the building with our nation’s democracy in mind. You’ve probably noticed that Parliament House is built into Capital Hill. This is because he believed that the building shouldn’t tower over the people and dominate them. Instead, it was designed so Australia’s citizens could actually climb it and stand above their government. The Aussie Star family were pretty keen to take advantage of this, so we took the lift up and stood on top of our government! (And stretched Mr 3’s legs)

    Join a tour group if you are visiting Parliament House. I highly recommend it! The guides are a wealth of information and do a great job of catering to all ages.

    Old Parliament House

    This gracious old building is now called the Museum of Australian Democracy and was Miss 11’s favourite place on our trip. We went twice and, had time permitted, we would have gone again! (I would have gone for the chocolate slice in the cafe alone!)

    You can really explore this building and it is very hands-on and interactive. We sat in the big comfy chairs of the Upper and Lower Houses and discussed what the roles and responsibilities of each house are. We climbed up to the Press Gallery, and also peeked through the spy hole between Bob Hawke and his Secretary’s office! The kids loved pretending they were giving a live media release – especially when it came out on the speakers in the next room. We listened to the stories of the Prime Ministers and looked at how Australia’s democracy has evolved over the last 116 years. We waited patiently while the kids typed important documents in the Speakers chambers and took lots of photos in the dress up area. There is so much to do in this wonderful place for all ages. The hands-on learning opportunities are wonderful! And there is the opportunity to join a tour group if you would like more information.  

    If you intend to go to The Museum of Australian Democracy allow plenty of time. If you’re not visiting, check out their website and explore their comprehensive range of teaching resources for years 5 and up that can be used in your classroom.

                

    In the next post I’ll focus on two more locations and provide you with further information about the learning opportunities of each place.  Stay tuned!

    Cheerio

    Five Awesome HASS Resources You Need To Include In Your Planning.

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    No doubt you’ve been flat out since school started! The start of the year is a really exciting time but it can also be exhausting. There’s so much to do! Set up your room, prep stationery, make labels, clean and most importantly PLAN!

    I’m one of those weird people that love to plan! #inserteyeroll However, I’ve changed my planning strategy over the last 2 years, particularly when it comes to the HASS component of the Australian Curriculum. I used to write my HASS plan and then look for resources and assessment ideas to suit my plan. This worked well – some of the time. It was great if I could find appropriate resources, but was a nightmare if I couldn’t find any and had to make them myself. Mostly it was just mind numbing worksheets from a book, that all looked the same and the students hated.

    That struggle was really the catalyst for Aussie Star Resources. I wanted to be able to find HASS resources that were specific to my needs and the curriculum I was teaching. Now I approach planning differently. I actually start off with a search of Teachers Pay Teachers, Pinterest and good ol’ Google, to see what resources are available that meet my HASS topics and are appropriate for my lessons. Then I plan and write my lessons based on these resources. I feel far more prepared and I feel that the lessons are more engaging because I’m not trying to fit the resource in to my original plan.  If I do need to make some resources, it’s far less than what I have had to make in the past. I’ve also used resources I’ve found for assessment tasks, which makes preparation and marking even easier.

    So, here are five HASS resources you should consider adding to your HASS plan. These resources are a great sample of the many resources fantastic Aussie Teacher Authors are creating. Be sure to check out their stores – it’ll save you loads of resource creation time and let you get on with the things you really want to do. You can quickly access their stores by clicking on the title.

    Keystone Creations 

    Are you musically inclined? I’m not which is why it’s so great to find two educators who firmly believe that Children Learn What They Sing™. To that end, Keystone Creations write and publish curriculum-aligned songs & lesson materials that support and enhance classroom learning. #score

    Nuala O’Hanlon is a veteran teacher, lyricist, and a full writer member of APRA AMCOS. Her experience includes work in mainstream, open-plan, independent progressive, pre-school, ESL, special needs, and music classrooms. She has worked as a development and training officer in a hospital setting, and a camp counsellor (Ages 7-14). Nuala has a background in the Creative and Performing Arts.
    Nuala’s colleague, Kathryn Radloff, is an Arts (Hons) Psych. graduate with a Creative Arts Diploma. Kathryn has worked in the area of social justice and advocacy. In addition, she has implemented social skills and behaviour modification programs for students with significant behavioural and learning difficulties. A singer/songwriter in her own right, Kathryn has a background in the creative & performing arts, social work & Psychology.

    All Australian

    This great resource has been created for Middle/Upper Primary students. It contains 5, Australian-specific, curriculum-aligned songs & lesson materials that target outcomes & learning sequences of curriculum documents. Also, they integrate learning across key subject areas.

    The content covers Australia, the Gold Rush, key people and events leading up to Australian Democracy, the government’s 9 values for Australian schools, and the Australian version of our song, ‘Healthy Kids’. There’s ‘A Lesson In Every Lyric’®.

    The songs are perfect for:

    • Engaging & motivating students
    • Introducing new units of work
    • Kick starting discussion
    • Summarising and reinforcing content
    • Aiding recall of important information
    • Extending literacy
    • Assembly & performance items…

     

    Galarious Goods

    The Creative Teacherpreneur behind Galarious Goods is a Queensland middle grades teacher with an Ancient History, History and Government background. Her store offers comprehensive resources to help get students enthusiastic about HASS.

    Elections in Australia Bundle

    This resource bundle has been designed for Year 6 students and up. It meets the content requirements for Civics and Citizenship – Elections and Electoral Systems. The advantage of this bundle is that it can be used as a complete unit, for small group work or to complement other election resources. Bundles are a great way to buy resources! You have everything you need in one file and they are usually generously discounted.

     

    Paula’s Place

    Paula is the inspired author of Paula’s Place. Paula has been teaching for 32 years and loves that each day is different. Her store caters for K-6 Grades. This year she is back teaching 5/6 and has taken on the role of Leading Teacher for Maths and Digital Technology. She loves sharing her teaching and learning space with others.

    Gold – Blood on the Southern Cross

    This is a unit of work based on the Australian Curriculum for Year 5. It contains an enormous 51 pages! Within this resource you will find the following:

    • Australian Curriculum references
    • Outline of Inquiry
    • Key Understandings
    • Inquiry Questions
    • Preparing for the Gold Rush – KWHL, Word Wall, spelling words, gold rush/fever. Alphabet key, google it, list where gold can be found, multiple intelligences, different ways to mine for gold,
    • How to get hold of gold – Gold towns, what tools do we use?
    • Life on the Goldfields – Venn diagrams and flow charts
    • Eureka Stockade – draw and label tools, gold licenses
    • Famous People – research, summary and note taking
    • Items for display
    • Ten suggested writing tasks that include oral language
    • Ideas for Maths, ICT and Visual Arts
    • Homework ideas

    I think you’ll agree that’s a huge amount of resources available in one resource. It’s also a huge amount of resources you don’t need to create yourself. #winning

    Teach To Dream

    This creative Resource Developer has been teaching for the last 12 years, all grades from K to 7. Although, for the last 8 years she has been a Year 6/7 teacher. She really enjoys teaching and loves to travel in her spare time.

    History Project Year 6 Australian Curriculum

    This project has students researching Australian federation, life in 20th century Australia and an Iconic figure. It has been designed to tie in with the Australian Curriculum Year 6. But it could be modified to meet Year 5 standards or for any class completing research on Australia.

    It includes key websites to help students start their research, Assessment rubric, bibliography and note taking sheets and Australian Curriculum standards. Everything you need is supplied — it’s pretty much print ‘n go!

     

     

     

    Aussie Star Resources

    Yes I know it’s a bit cheeky putting my own store on here but I love to share! When I first looked at the Year 6 Australian Curriculum topics I wanted to cry. They seemed so DULL! I found teaching them mind numbingly boring. It wasn’t until I went to Canberra with my class on camp that I really upped my game when teaching HASS. I became determined to ensure the students were aware of our political history. Ince 2016 I’ve been working in other areas of education that work around our family, but I’m looking forward to getting back into the classroom next year.

    Three Levels of Australian Government Sorting Activity

    This great activity has been designed to assist you in your year 6 classroom while studying the Three Levels of Government as part of your Civics and Citizenship unit. This easy to use, fun and engaging flip book will help students to understand the following concepts:

    ★ Why does Australia have three levels of Government?
    ★ The roles and responsibilities of The Federal Government
    ★ The roles and responsibilities of The State Governments
    ★ The roles and responsibilities of Local Governments

    I hope you’ve found these helpful!

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