Year Six

Civics and Citizenship Learning

As part of our Year Six Civics and Citizenship unit, we have been exploring the conceptual understanding that Australian citizens have legal rights, responsibilities and civic duties.

Students have been busy putting their new found knowledge into practice! Inspired by Annabel Crabb's non-fiction text There's a Prawn in Parliament House, students have written formal information reports, applying their knowledge of Australia's political system.

We have also had the opportunity to take democracy out of the classroom, holding a mock election with Year Five (democracy sausages included!). Students have also put themselves in the shoes of Members of Parliament in the House of Representatives, taking part in a class mock parliament, debating and voting on a proposed law limiting Australian households to one car. Across Year Six, this law was rejected and will not move onto the Senate.

Throughout these activities, students have shown great enthusiasm for weighing up different perspectives, forming their own opinions, and understanding that being a citizen means more than just following rules. It means having a voice in how our community and country are shaped. These experiences have been a fantastic, hands-on way for students to understand how laws are made and why active, informed citizenship matters.

The Year Six Team

Hannah Bevins, Emma Gallagher, Annie Ioannou, Melissa Paola, Melanie Stefanou, and Carole Upton