Blog Post 1: Civics & Citizenship


Year 3/4

Purpose of this unit:
The Australian Curriculum content for Year 3/4 in the Civics and Citizenship Education (CCE) strand delivers opportunities for students to improve their understanding about diversity, identity, democracy and laws (ACARA, 2018). My students will explore how individuals contribute to their community which links to the year level content descriptor as they are questioned how and why they can participate and actively contribute within communities.  This allows the students to have the opportunity to explore how they can become involved in a school community project which links to the Australian Curriculum elaboration for the year group (ACARA, 2018). The purpose of this unit is so that our students are able to operate as informed and active citizens in their local communities, to enhance their own personal learning and sense of identity and to develop global consciousness (Gilbert and Hoepper, 2014). 






How the students will learn?

Your children will be learning how to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of CCE through a range of teaching styles. 

In our classroom, the students will engage in their learning by examining local issues and ways to work towards sustainable futures by undertaking lessons of researching and group work tasks (Gilbert and Hoepper, 2014). The use of activity methods, role playing and varied group compositions are effective teaching strategies that will be evident within the classroom (Gilbert and Hoepper, 2014). It is essential to have support for students to evolve and clarify their own value systems within the school community. Tudball & Brett (2014) note that it is important that teaching and learning strategies engage students meaningfully in active participation in their communities in multiple ways and contexts. 

How can you get involved?

As parents and carers, we would encourage you to support your child’s learning of CCE to develop their understanding. It is important for parents and carers to also be involved in their child’s learning progression by also teaching them or having discussions about the importance of CCE knowledge.  This will develop the students understanding in order to become active citizens throughout their life (Marsh, Clark & Pittaway, 2014). In addition, it is necessary that parents and carers are aware that our students will develop the knowledge and skills required to facilitate the development of the attitudes and values needed to fully participate in civic life as active citizens in their communities, which is a class goal for this unit of work (ACARA, 2012).

References:

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2013). Draft Years 3-10 Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship. Accessed 14th March 2018. Retrieved from http://consultation.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Static/docs/HSS/Draft%20Years%203%20-%2010%20Australian%20Curriculum%20-%20Civics%20and%20Citizenship%20-%20May%202013.pdf

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2018. F-10 Curriculum: Version 8.3. Accessed 15th March 2018. Retrieved from https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/download?view=f10

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2012). The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship. Accessed 12th March 2018. Retrieved from


Gilbert, R. & Hoepper, B. (2014). Teaching humanities and social sciences: history, geography, economics & citizenships in the Australian Curriculum. (5th ed.). Melbourne: Cengage learning.

Home Educated Youth Incorporated. (2016). Civics and citizenship [Photograph].
Retrieved from http://heyfever.com.au/civics-citizenship/

Marsh, C., Clarke, M., & Pittaway, S. (2014). Marsh's becoming a teacher (6th ed.). Frenchs Forest: Pearson Australia.

Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (2008). Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians. Retrieved from: http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/verve/_resources/national_declaration_on_the_educat ional_goals_for_young_australians.pdf

Nick Turra. (2016, June 25). Intro to civics and citizenship [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-WlPDsVnOI

Tudball, L., & Brett, P. (2014). What matters and what's next for civics and citizenship education in Australia? The Social Educator, 32(2) 4-15



Comments

  1. Unknown25 March 2018 at 22:25

    Hi Alana! You have done well to emphasise the way in which CCE is an important learning area for children to explore. I like how you have made note of the importance of parents/carers within the learning progression of CCE and encouraging them to continue conversations at home. In addition to your examples of teaching/learning strategies such as role play, you could include specific lesson ideas or topics where you will use this strategy. This way, parents will gain further insight into what their child is actually doing in the classroom. To give yourself more words as the word count is very limited, you could include the excerpt from the Melbourne Declaration as a photo rather than quoting it within the blog post. Good use of YouTube clip also, I like how it gives a quick snapshot to those viewing the post about what CCE is all about. Great job!

    Hope this is helpful feedback for you :)
    Cassie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown26 March 2018 at 18:53

    Hi Alana,

    Your blog post clearly outlines the importance of CCE and furthermore, how CCE will benefit students in and beyond their schooling life. You have thoroughly described a range of pedagogical strategies that are all relevant to students in grade three. I like that you have included a range of scholarly articles that legitimizes what you are writing. For future blog posts, it is important to take into consideration the diversity of the target audience. Not all parents may be familiar with an academic writing style and therefore may not be able to fully engage with their child’s CCE. However, you have included a YouTube clip that clearly summarises the topic for parents who may need further information on the topic. Overall, I think your blog post demonstrates a successful integration of CCE into the classroom and how this links to various cultures and identity.

    I hope you find this feedback useful when writing future blog posts.

    Kind regards,

    Samantha

    ReplyDelete

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