Democracy in Australia: Elections and Voting

Active learning works for this topic because commemoration and remembrance are deeply personal and require emotional engagement. When students physically practice respectful behavior and explore symbols of meaning, they connect cognitive understanding with embodied experience.

• Foundation
• HASS
• 3 activities
• 30 min–60 min

Simulation Game

⏱ 60 min·Whole Class

Classroom Election Simulation

Students nominate for classroom roles (e.g., line leader, helper). They create simple posters, present their 'platforms,' and then vote using paper ballots. Tally the votes to determine the 'winners.'

Prepare & details

Explain the key principles of Australia's democratic system.

Facilitation Tip: During the Simulation: A Minute of Silence, model the physical cues yourself first before asking students to practice.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Simulation Game

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Voting Booth Experience

Set up a mock voting booth with privacy screens. Provide picture ballots for simple choices, like choosing a class pet or a book for story time. Model the process of marking a ballot and placing it in a box.

Prepare & details

Describe the process of elections in Australia, including voting and preferential voting.

Facilitation Tip: For Collaborative Investigation: Symbols of Respect, assign small groups one symbol to research so all voices contribute.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Simulation Game

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

What Makes a Good Leader?

Brainstorm qualities of good leaders as a class. Students can draw pictures or use simple sentence starters to illustrate these qualities. Discuss how these qualities relate to choosing representatives.

Prepare & details

Analyze how citizens can participate in and influence democratic decision-making beyond voting.

Facilitation Tip: During the Gallery Walk: NAIDOC Posters, have students jot down one new thing they learned from each poster to encourage close observation.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Teaching This Topic

Teach this topic by first establishing clear behavioral expectations for respectful behavior during ceremonies. Use concrete examples like photos or videos of ANZAC Day services to ground abstract concepts in observable actions. Research shows that when students physically practice solemnity, they internalize its significance more deeply than through discussion alone.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students demonstrating respect during ceremonies, accurately identifying symbols of remembrance, and explaining why these symbols matter. They should articulate the difference between celebration and commemoration with clear examples.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Simulation: A Minute of Silence, watch for students giggling or fidgeting, which suggests they may confuse remembrance with celebration.

What to Teach Instead

Redirect by modeling the expected behavior and explaining that remembrance is about quiet respect. Use the 'Quiet vs. Loud' comparison and have students practice standing still and silent for short intervals until the behavior becomes automatic.

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: Symbols of Respect, watch for students assuming symbols like the poppy are about winning wars.

What to Teach Instead

Guide students to focus on the qualities represented by each symbol. For the poppy, emphasize bravery and sacrifice. Provide stories of helpers like nurses to shift the focus from conflict to service.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Simulation: A Minute of Silence, ask students to draw a picture of someone showing respect and label it with one word that describes remembrance. Collect these to assess their understanding of solemnity.

Discussion Prompt

During Collaborative Investigation: Symbols of Respect, listen for students’ explanations of the symbols. Ask clarifying questions like 'Why do you think this symbol is important?' to assess their depth of understanding.

Exit Ticket

After Gallery Walk: NAIDOC Posters, provide students with a simple reflection sheet asking them to name one symbol they learned about and why it matters. Collect these to check their recognition of respectful symbols.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to research another country’s remembrance day and compare its symbols and ceremonies to Australia’s.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters for students to use during the Gallery Walk, such as 'I notice...' or 'This symbol makes me think of...'.
• Deeper exploration: Invite a local elder or veteran to share their personal story of remembrance with the class.