HASS · Year 3

Active learning ideas

National Days: Meaning and Perspectives

National days invite students to engage with complex ideas about identity, history, and belonging. Active learning works here because it transforms abstract concepts into visible discussions and debates, making perspectives concrete.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HASS3K02

• 20–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Formal Debate
• 50 min · Small Groups

Formal Debate: The Purpose of National Days

Divide the class into groups to discuss whether national days should be about celebrating the past, thinking about the future, or saying sorry for mistakes. Students present their arguments to a 'community panel.'

Explain the historical context and purpose of Australia's national days.

Facilitation Tip

During the Structured Debate, assign roles clearly so all students have a chance to speak, even those who are less confident.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Why do you think different people feel differently about Australia Day?' Guide students to share their ideas, encouraging them to use respectful language and listen to their classmates' viewpoints. Record key ideas on a class chart.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Stations Rotation
• 45 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: A Calendar of Significance

Set up stations for different days (e.g., Harmony Day, NAIDOC Week, Australia Day). At each station, students find one fact about why the day started and one way people observe it today.

Compare the different perspectives on celebrating Australia Day.

Facilitation Tip

For the Station Rotation, set a timer to keep groups moving and prevent one voice from dominating the discussion.

What to look for

Provide students with a graphic organizer with three columns: 'Australia Day', 'NAIDOC Week', 'National Sorry Day'. Ask them to write one sentence in each column explaining what the day is about and who it honours. Review responses for accuracy.

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

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Why do we say 'Sorry'?

After learning about National Sorry Day, students reflect on why an apology is important for healing. They share their thoughts with a partner on how saying sorry helps people move forward together.

Analyze the significance of NAIDOC Week and Sorry Day for First Nations peoples.

Facilitation Tip

Use the Think-Pair-Share to give students quiet time to process before sharing with a partner, reducing anxiety about speaking.

What to look for

Ask students to write down one thing they learned about why national days are important and one question they still have about these days.

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

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should approach this topic by creating safe spaces for disagreement. Avoid framing national days as only positive or negative; instead, guide students to see multiple perspectives. Research shows that structured dialogue helps students process conflicting emotions and build empathy. Model respectful language and interrupt any disrespect immediately.

Students will show curiosity about different viewpoints and speak with respect when discussing national days. They will connect the purpose of each day to its historical roots and current significance.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Structured Debate, watch for students who say national days are only about celebration.

  Pause the debate and ask students to refer to the news clips or stories from the debate preparation time, prompting them to share contrasting viewpoints they observed.

• During the Station Rotation, listen for students who say NAIDOC Week is only for Aboriginal people.

  Direct students to the station materials that include quotes from non-Indigenous Australians participating in NAIDOC Week, then ask them to reflect on why these voices matter.

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Methods used in this brief

• Formal Debate
• Stations Rotation
• Think-Pair-Share