The aim of this FREE resource is to support teachers in their delivery of Economics and Business in Year 10. Many teachers have found the content descriptors to be a mix of microeconomics and macroeconomics, with business studies thrown in! As such, creating a program which is engaging and which provides a foundation to Years 11 and 12 is challenging. We hope, therefore, that you will find this course outline more palatable. It is designed to maximise student interest in Economics and Business and provides numerous opportunities for teachers to create a variety of learning experiences. It also contains opportunities for teachers to design meaningful Inquiry Projects into Business. You can download this FREE resource here.
{Year 10}: Rights and Freedoms Inquiry
In this inquiry, students begin by using sources from Storify: Rights and Freedoms to investigate the experiences of Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander peoples before 1965. Students can work in groups to investigate the position of Australia's indigenous peoples through photographs, newspaper articles, videos, interviews and documentaries. It is envisaged that a multi-media approach will foster a deep understanding of the inequalities experienced. Students and teachers can access Storify here.
This 16-page resource comes in the form of a work book which students can use to record their notes. There are many reliable sources of information online which student will find useful. For example, in 2007, Ryebuck Media (Studies of Society and Environment Issue 2/2007) published a fantastic article 'Investigating the Changing Rights and Freedoms of Indigenous Australians 1957-1975.' You will find this resource here.
'Rights and Freedoms' also includes an extension activity which encourages students to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who have a story to tell. Engaging students in an oral history task will also encourage students to value the oral tradition. Students are then encouraged to be creative with the presentation of their findings. This task aims to foster reconciliation. You will find this resource on the 'Products' page.
{Review}: Investigating Rights and Freedoms
Teachers will find this resource a perfect fit for introducing the US civil rights movement in Year 10. It was created by PBS History Detectives. The documentary 'Woolworth Sign' by Tukufu Zuberi about desegregation sit-ins in North Carolina will spark student interest in the topic. You will be able to access the full episode here.
'Lunch Counter Closed', a teaching resource, complements the documentary. The key question posed is: "What strategies did the Civil Rights Movement employ in its efforts to end segregation? Were they effective? How so?"
Covering 2-3 lessons, students begin by watching the clip Desegregating the Lunch Counters (there will be some overlap with the documentary). With the aid of graphic organisers, students investigate primary sources with the aim of writing a newspaper article from a particular perspective. Students are provided with a 'Newspaper Article Planner' which provides them with direction and encourages critical thinking. Teachers are provided with excellent discussion questions to develop a deep understanding of the issues surrounding the sit-ins. Other resources included in this 'package' include:
- Integration Report. Full film of “Integration Report” on the Internet Archive
- The March in Washington. Twenty-minute documentary made in 1963 about the March on Washington on the Internet Archive
- Voices of Civil Rights. Online exhibit with images and descriptions from the Library of Congress
- Timeline: Civil Rights Era. Timeline, with links to further information, tracing achievements of the Civil Rights Movement from PBS
{Year 10 Civics and Citizenship}: China Today
The new Year 10 Civics and Citizenship course begins with a comparative study between Australia and a nation in Asia. The content descriptor reads: "The key features and values of Australia’s system of government compared with ONE other system of government in the Asia region."
China Today is a 14-page resource that begins by prompting students to 'take' a snapshot of China's geographical location, economy and population. As students work through the resource, they will gain a sophisticated understanding of China's political system and of her political values. This resource promotes inquiry-based learning and visible thinking principles. Therefore, there are a number of challenging ideas and activities for students to investigate and work through. We would like to thank Dr. Jie Chen for his time and expertise in reviewing this resource.
It is envisaged that China Today will provide all the information necessary for students to make evaluative conclusions in their comparative study of Australia and China. Purchase your copy here and print class sets for your students.
NB: The Rule of Law Institute of Australia provide excellent posters and infographics to teachers for free! Contact the Education Coordinator here.
{Review}: Year 10 History - Investigating Rights and Freedoms
Depth Study 2: Investigating rights and freedoms require students to have an understanding of the extent to which the American Civil Rights Movement influenced Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander activists in Australia. In particular, students need to investigate the methods used by African Americans in the lead up to the 1964 Civil Rights Act which was passed under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The Library of Congress published a free resource in 2014 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. The resource contains a plethora of primary sources which focus on the impact of segregation on African Americans and the various methods they employed to fight for equality. The Idea Book for Educators contains numerous teaching ideas designed to engage students in this important subject. Students can also access various interviews through the Library of Congress to investigate the role music and songs played in the shaping of the civil rights movement. Printing class sets of this resource will provide teachers with a ready 'text' of primary resources which will set the context for Depth Study 2: Investigating Rights and Freedoms.