Civics & Citizenship · Year 5

Active learning ideas

Anti-Discrimination Laws

Active learning helps Year 5 students grasp the complexities of anti-discrimination laws by moving beyond rote memorization. Engaging with scenarios and perspectives allows them to internalize the principles of fairness and equality in a tangible way.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HASS5K04

• 30–60 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Case Study Analysis
• 30 min · Small Groups

Scenario Sorting: Law or Not Law?

Present students with various scenarios depicting unfair treatment. Students work in small groups to decide if the scenario likely violates anti-discrimination laws, justifying their choices based on learned principles. This encourages critical analysis of real-world situations.

Explain the purpose of anti-discrimination laws in Australia.

Facilitation Tip

During the Scenario Sorting: Law or Not Law activity, encourage small groups to discuss the reasoning behind their classifications, ensuring they reference the core principles of unfair treatment.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 02

• Case Study Analysis
• 45 min · Small Groups

Role-Play: Fair Treatment Scenarios

Students role-play short scenarios where discrimination might occur, then re-enact them demonstrating how anti-discrimination principles would ensure fair treatment. This activity helps students practice applying legal concepts in a practical, empathetic way.

Analyze real-world scenarios where anti-discrimination laws apply.

Facilitation Tip

During the Role-Play: Fair Treatment Scenarios, prompt students to consider the emotional impact of discrimination on individuals and how the re-enacted scenarios could be resolved fairly.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Case Study Analysis
• 60 min · Pairs

Poster Campaign: Promoting Equality

In pairs, students design posters that explain a specific anti-discrimination principle or highlight the importance of equality. They present their posters to the class, explaining the message and its relevance.

Evaluate the effectiveness of current laws in promoting equality and preventing discrimination.

Facilitation Tip

During the Poster Campaign: Promoting Equality, guide pairs to ensure their posters clearly communicate a specific anti-discrimination principle, making the message accessible to their peers.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

This topic is best approached through inquiry-based learning, allowing students to discover the purpose and application of anti-discrimination laws themselves. Presenting real-world scenarios and encouraging discussion helps students develop empathy and critical thinking skills, moving beyond abstract concepts to concrete understanding.

Successful learning is demonstrated when students can clearly articulate why certain actions are discriminatory and how laws aim to prevent this. They will show an understanding that these laws promote equal opportunities and respect for all individuals.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Scenario Sorting: Law or Not Law, students might incorrectly label scenarios where reasonable adjustments are made as 'not law' because they involve treating people differently. Clarify that these laws aim for equal opportunity and protection from unfair treatment, not identical treatment; reasonable adjustments are part of ensuring equality.

  Redirect students by asking them to consider if the 'different' treatment in the scenario provides the person with the same opportunity as others. For example, a ramp for a wheelchair user ensures equal access to a building, which is in line with anti-discrimination principles.

• During Role-Play: Fair Treatment Scenarios, students might focus only on overt acts of discrimination, missing subtle or implicit biases. Discuss subtle forms of discrimination that might not be immediately apparent.

  After the role-play, prompt students to discuss if any characters displayed 'microaggressions' or acted on unconscious biases. Use the scenarios to illustrate how discrimination can be both overt and covert, even in everyday interactions.

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Methods used in this brief

• Case Study Analysis