Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 1 HASS
Year 1 HASS: exploring family histories, how daily life has changed over time, and the features of familiar places. Students develop curiosity about the past and present.
01Family History and Traditions
Students explore their own family history, including where their family comes from, family traditions, and how families have changed over time.
Students create simple family trees, identifying immediate and extended family members and their relationships.
Students share and listen to stories about their family's past, focusing on significant events or memories.
Students identify and describe various family traditions, including celebrations, customs, and daily routines.
Students investigate where their families originated and the reasons for their journeys to Australia or other locations.
Students learn about how families and communities commemorate important events through holidays, anniversaries, and memorials.
Students create simple personal timelines, marking significant events in their own lives from birth to the present.
Students examine old family photographs to identify clues about the past, such as clothing, objects, and settings.
Students learn basic interviewing skills to ask family members about their memories and experiences from the past.
Students explore the concept of cultural heritage through family examples, including language, music, and art.
Students discuss different roles and responsibilities within families and how they contribute to family life.
02The Way We Were
Students compare how things were in the past with how they are now, looking at toys, clothes, transport, and daily routines.
Students compare and contrast toys from different eras, discussing materials, design, and how they were played with.
Students investigate various modes of transport from the past and present, exploring their impact on daily life.
Students explore what a typical day looked like for children in the past, comparing it to their own daily routines.
Students examine historical artifacts and household items to infer their original purpose and how they were used.
Students explore historical classrooms, school rules, and learning tools, comparing them to contemporary school environments.
Students examine how clothing styles have changed over time, considering materials, purpose, and social trends.
Students explore how people communicated in the past (e.g., letters, telegrams) compared to modern digital methods.
Students investigate how homes and living spaces have changed, considering materials, design, and amenities.
Students learn about the types of food people ate and how it was prepared before modern refrigeration and cooking appliances.
Students analyze a historical problem (e.g., lack of clean water) and explore how people in the past attempted to solve it.
03Our Places and Spaces
Students explore the features of their local area, including the natural and built environment, and how people use and care for places.
Students identify and categorize natural and built features within their immediate local environment.
Students create simple maps of their school grounds, using basic symbols and directional language.
Students observe and record local weather patterns, discussing how weather influences daily activities and clothing choices.
Students explore the concept of seasons, including how they are marked by changes in weather, plants, and animals.
Students identify ways to care for the natural environment, focusing on reducing waste, recycling, and conserving resources.
Students identify significant local landmarks (natural or built) and learn about their history or importance to the community.
Students practice using simple maps to follow and give directions, developing spatial awareness and understanding of location.
Students explore how human activities, such as building or farming, can change natural environments.
Students compare different types of environments (e.g., urban, rural, coastal) and their unique features.
Students learn about local endangered animals or plants and discuss ways to protect their habitats.
04Community and Connection
Students learn about what people need to live and how people work together in communities to help one another.
Students differentiate between essential needs for survival and well-being, and non-essential wants.
Students identify various community helpers and explain their contributions to the well-being of the community.
Students participate in collaborative activities to understand the value of teamwork, sharing, and taking turns.
Students explore the concept of their school as a community, identifying roles, responsibilities, and shared values.
Students engage in discussions about fairness and learn simple methods for making group decisions that consider everyone.
Students explore and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions within their local community.
Students learn about the purpose of rules and simple laws in maintaining order and safety within a community.
Students discuss what it means to be a responsible member of their community, focusing on actions like helping others and caring for public spaces.
Students are introduced to the idea of local government and the services it provides (e.g., parks, libraries, rubbish collection).
Students explore how their community connects with other communities, both locally and globally, through trade, communication, or shared interests.