HASS · Year 1

Active learning ideas

Celebrating Diversity in Community

Active learning works well for this topic because young children build understanding through concrete experiences and social interaction. Talking about their own lives and seeing others’ traditions firsthand makes abstract concepts like respect and diversity tangible and memorable.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HASS1K08

• 25–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Inside-Outside Circle
• 30 min · Whole Class

Sharing Circle: Family Traditions

Gather students in a circle. Each child shares one family tradition or celebration using a photo or object brought from home. Class notes similarities and differences on a shared chart. Conclude with a group cheer for diversity.

What different traditions and celebrations do people in our community have?

Facilitation Tip

During the Sharing Circle, hold up a small object or photo to represent each family tradition shared to keep the discussion concrete and engaging.

What to look for

Provide students with a worksheet that has two columns labeled 'Tradition 1' and 'Tradition 2'. Ask them to draw or write one similarity and one difference between two community traditions discussed in class.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 02

• Inside-Outside Circle
• 45 min · Pairs

Community Map: Local Celebrations

In pairs, students draw a simple map of the school neighbourhood and mark spots for different celebrations with symbols and labels. Pairs present one finding to the class. Discuss respect for each site.

Why is it important to respect how other people celebrate and live?

Facilitation Tip

When creating the Community Map, provide a mix of pre-labeled and blank stickers so students can add both known and unfamiliar celebrations.

What to look for

Ask students: 'Imagine a new family moves into our neighbourhood who celebrates differently from us. What is one thing you could do to make them feel welcome and respected?' Record student responses on chart paper.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Role Play
• 35 min · Small Groups

Role Play: Celebration Scenarios

Small groups act out short scenes of joining a peer's celebration respectfully. Provide prompts like inviting a friend to a family event. Debrief on what made interactions positive.

How are different celebrations in our community similar to or different from each other?

Facilitation Tip

Use a timer and clear roles (e.g., speaker, listener) during Role Play to ensure all students participate actively and respectfully.

What to look for

Hold up pictures of different cultural items or symbols (e.g., a lantern for Lunar New Year, a specific type of food, a traditional garment). Ask students to give a thumbs up if they recognize it as part of a community celebration and a thumbs down if they do not.

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

Activity 04

• Gallery Walk
• 25 min · Individual

Tradition Gallery Walk

Display student artwork of celebrations around the room. Students walk individually, leaving sticky notes with questions or compliments. Regroup to share insights.

What different traditions and celebrations do people in our community have?

What to look for

Provide students with a worksheet that has two columns labeled 'Tradition 1' and 'Tradition 2'. Ask them to draw or write one similarity and one difference between two community traditions discussed in class.

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

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers approach this topic by centering students’ lived experiences while gradually expanding their perspective outward. Avoid assuming prior knowledge about any tradition, and instead use open-ended questions to invite sharing. Research suggests that guided comparison activities help children move beyond simple recognition to deeper understanding of cultural significance.

Success looks like students sharing their own traditions with confidence, identifying similarities and differences respectfully, and demonstrating curiosity about others’ celebrations. They should use evidence like photos or objects to support their ideas and show empathy in discussions.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Sharing Circle, watch for students assuming others celebrate the same way they do.

  Use a follow-up question like 'How is your celebration the same or different from what we just heard?' to prompt comparison and reflection on diversity.

• During Role Play, watch for students reacting negatively to unfamiliar traditions.

  Pause the role play to ask, 'What can we do to show respect during this celebration?' and model appropriate responses together.

• During Tradition Gallery Walk, watch for students dismissing traditions that differ from their own.

  Ask students to find one thing they appreciate about each tradition they observe and share it with a partner before moving on.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inside-Outside Circle
• Role Play
• Gallery Walk