The Elephant 2020 13
D ISC OVERING
Australia
In the changing landscape of education and cultural awareness, it is now more pertinent than ever that our students explore the challenges and opportunities of those before us to ensure they fully appreciate the lucky country that Australia is today. In Term 1, our learning and camp experiences had our students in awe of our history and inspired by how our country is governed. In Year 5, the Unit of Inquiry centred around understanding the push and pull factors of migration. This topic had our students considering why their ancestors chose Australia as a place to reside and allowed them to delve into the concepts of social inclusion and social exclusion. Developing an understanding of what life was like in the 19th century Gold Rush era had our students realise how grateful they are for their democractic lives today, and how equality has improved over time. Our Year 6 Canberra study tour allowed our children to delve into civics and citizenship whilst discovering landmarks and systems in our nation’s capital. Across a week of learning with their peers, our students were front row observers in Parliament and formed a stronger understanding of how legislation is debated and passed.
The connection built to our country’s system of governance is imperative, and having watched and listened with interest to the first sitting of Federal Parliament of the year, I have no doubt that they have taken much interest in the actions of our government during recent times. Mrs Naomi Linssen Deputy Head of Wardle House
