Civics & Citizenship · Year 7

Active learning ideas

Roles in Parliament: Members and Senators

Active learning helps students grasp the distinct roles of Members of Parliament and Senators by making abstract concepts concrete through role-play, mapping, and real-world tasks. When students act as representatives, analyze cases, or debate bills, they see how representation works in practice, not just in theory.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9C7K02

• 35–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 50 min · Small Groups

Role-Play Simulation: Parliament Session

Assign students as MPs or Senators. Provide scenario cards with constituent issues or bills. Groups debate and vote in a 20-minute session, then reflect on role differences. Debrief as a class.

Differentiate the responsibilities of a Member of Parliament from a Senator.

Facilitation Tip

Set clear rules for the Parliament Session role-play so students stay focused on their roles as either an MP or Senator, not just debating freely.

What to look for

Present students with two scenarios: one describing a local community issue (e.g., a new park needed) and another describing a national policy debate (e.g., healthcare reform). Ask students to identify which role, MP or Senator, would likely be the primary contact for each scenario and briefly explain why.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Role Play
• 40 min · Pairs

Constituent Case Study: Mapping Roles

Distribute real or fictional letters from constituents. Pairs identify if the issue suits an MP or Senator, map electorates on Australia outline, and draft responses. Share findings in plenary.

Analyze how elected representatives serve their constituents.

Facilitation Tip

Provide large maps or digital tools for the Constituent Case Study to help students trace electorate and state boundaries as they discuss representation.

What to look for

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'Imagine you are a constituent with a problem. How would you approach your local MP versus a Senator for your state? What different outcomes might you expect from each?' Encourage students to use key vocabulary.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Jigsaw
• 45 min · Small Groups

Jigsaw: Scrutiny Tasks

Divide class into expert groups on MP duties, Senator powers, or shared roles. Each group researches one area using provided resources. Experts then teach home groups via jigsaw rotation.

Evaluate the importance of diverse representation in the legislative process.

Facilitation Tip

Assign specific scrutiny tasks to each Committee Jigsaw group so they practice targeted review of legislation, mirroring real Senate committee work.

What to look for

Ask students to write down one specific responsibility of a Member of Parliament and one specific responsibility of a Senator. Then, have them write one sentence explaining how either role serves the people they represent.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Gallery Walk
• 35 min · Pairs

Gallery Walk: Diversity Focus

Students create posters on diverse representatives. Place around room for gallery walk. In pairs, note how backgrounds influence roles, then vote on impactful examples.

Differentiate the responsibilities of a Member of Parliament from a Senator.

Facilitation Tip

Use the Representation Gallery Walk to highlight diverse perspectives by curating images and quotes from real MPs and Senators before the activity.

What to look for

Present students with two scenarios: one describing a local community issue (e.g., a new park needed) and another describing a national policy debate (e.g., healthcare reform). Ask students to identify which role, MP or Senator, would likely be the primary contact for each scenario and briefly explain why.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teaching representation requires students to experience tension between local and broader priorities, which simulations naturally create. Avoid long lectures about rules; instead, let students discover differences through structured tasks. Research shows that when students embody roles, they retain concepts longer and develop empathy for civic processes. Keep activities short and debrief immediately to reinforce learning.

Students will move from general ideas about Parliament to specific understandings of MPs’ local focus and Senators’ state-wide oversight. By the end of the activities, they should confidently explain which role handles which type of issue and why, using clear examples from simulations or case studies.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Role-Play Simulation: Parliament Session, watch for students who treat MPs and Senators as interchangeable.

  Use the simulation’s setup phase to emphasize differences: assign MPs to advocate for local issues like schools or roads, while Senators focus on state-wide concerns like healthcare or transport policy.

• During Constituent Case Study: Mapping Roles, watch for students who confuse state boundaries with electorate lines.

  Have students trace both types of boundaries on the same map, then discuss why Senators represent entire states while MPs focus on smaller electorates.

• During Committee Jigsaw: Scrutiny Tasks, watch for students who assume Senators only debate and don’t review details.

  Provide sample legislation with line edits or questions for groups to answer, making the scrutiny process visible and hands-on.

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Methods used in this brief

• Role Play
• Jigsaw
• Gallery Walk