HASS · Foundation

Active learning ideas

Australian Parliament: Structure and Function

Active learning helps students grasp the structure and function of Australian Parliament because it turns abstract concepts like bicameral systems and legislative processes into tangible, memorable experiences. When students role-play roles or analyze real-world examples, they connect textbook knowledge to lived civic experiences, making the topic more relevant and engaging.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HC7K01

• 15–30 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Gallery Walk
• 30 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Celebration Stations

Set up tables with items from different holidays (e.g., a Diya lamp, a Christmas cracker, a red envelope). Students move in small groups to each table, using their senses to explore the items and guessing what kind of celebration they are for.

Describe the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the Australian Parliament.

Facilitation Tip

During the Gallery Walk, place a timer at each station so students move at a steady pace and engage with every celebration example before discussion begins.

What to look for

Show students pictures of the House of Representatives and the Senate chambers. Ask them to write down one thing they remember about the job of each house on a sticky note. Collect and review for understanding of basic roles.

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

Activity 02

• Role Play
• 20 min · Small Groups

Role Play: Preparing for the Big Day

In small groups, students act out the 'preparation' for a special day, such as cleaning the house, cooking a special meal, or putting on traditional clothes. The rest of the class tries to identify the feeling of 'excitement' being portrayed.

Explain the process of how a bill becomes a law in Australia.

Facilitation Tip

For the Role Play activity, assign roles the day before so students have time to research their character’s responsibilities and the significance of the day they are celebrating.

What to look for

Provide students with a simple flowchart template showing a bill moving through Parliament. Ask them to fill in the blanks for 'Introduced in House', 'Debated and Voted', 'Goes to Senate', 'Approved by Senate', and 'Becomes Law'. Review for correct sequencing.

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

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: My Favourite Holiday Food

Students think of a food they only eat on a special day. They describe the taste and smell to a partner without naming the food, and the partner tries to imagine it.

Analyze the importance of checks and balances within the parliamentary system.

Facilitation Tip

In the Think-Pair-Share, explicitly model how to give specific examples of holiday foods and their cultural meanings before students begin their discussions.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Why do you think Australia has two houses of Parliament instead of just one?' Guide students to discuss the idea of review and different perspectives, linking it to the Senate's role. Record key student ideas on the board.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Experienced teachers approach this topic by first grounding students in the lived experience of celebrations before introducing formal civic structures. Avoid starting with definitions—use stories, photos, and student experiences to build curiosity. Research shows that students learn civic concepts best when they see themselves as active participants in the system, not just observers.

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate, tracing how a bill becomes law, and discussing why Australia’s parliamentary system includes two houses. They should use key terms accurately and connect civic processes to real-world examples they research or role-play.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Gallery Walk activity, watch for students assuming all holidays look the same as the ones they celebrate.

  Use the 'Class Celebration Calendar' at the gallery stations. Ask students to note two similarities and two differences between the celebrations they see and their own, then share with a partner before discussing as a class.

• During the Role Play activity, watch for students focusing only on gifts or decorations rather than the stories and traditions behind celebrations.

  Provide a 'Tradition Tracker' sheet during role play where students must identify and describe one cultural story, one shared food, and one family ritual for the celebration they are preparing.

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Methods used in this brief

• Gallery Walk
• Role Play
• Think-Pair-Share