HASS · Year 6 · Australia as a Nation · Term 1

Australia's Role in World War I

Examine Australia's involvement in WWI, focusing on the Anzac legend, key battles, and the impact on national identity.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HASS6K02

About This Topic

The Great Depression explores the decade of the 1930s, a time when Australia faced its most severe economic crisis. Students look at the causes of the crash and the devastating impact of mass unemployment, which reached nearly 30 percent. The topic covers the resilience of Australian families, the rise of 'susso' (sustenance payments), and the construction of major infrastructure projects like the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a means of providing work.

This unit is crucial for understanding economic concepts like scarcity and the role of government in times of crisis. It connects to ACARA standards by examining how global events have local consequences. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation, particularly when comparing the hardships of the 1930s to modern economic challenges.

Key Questions

1. Analyze how Australia's participation in World War I contributed to a distinct national identity.
2. Explain the origins and enduring significance of the Anzac legend.
3. Compare the experiences of Australian soldiers on the Western Front with those at Gallipoli.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the motivations behind Australia's decision to join World War I and its initial contributions.
• Explain the significance of the Gallipoli campaign and the development of the Anzac legend.
• Compare the conditions and experiences of Australian soldiers on the Western Front with those at Gallipoli.
• Evaluate the impact of World War I on Australia's developing national identity and its relationship with Britain.
• Identify key battles and events involving Australian forces during World War I.

Before You Start

Australia's Federation

Why: Understanding the formation of Australia as a nation helps students contextualize its role and identity on the world stage at the time of WWI.

The British Empire

Why: Knowledge of Australia's position within the British Empire is essential for understanding the political and military reasons for its involvement in WWI.

Key Vocabulary

Anzac legend	The enduring story and set of ideals associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers at Gallipoli, representing bravery, mateship, and sacrifice.
Western Front	The main theatre of war in World War I, located in Belgium and France, where Australian soldiers fought in trench warfare against German forces.
Mateship	A core Australian value emphasizing loyalty, friendship, and mutual support, often highlighted in the context of soldiers' experiences during the war.
National identity	The sense of belonging to a nation, shaped by shared history, culture, and experiences, which was significantly influenced by Australia's involvement in WWI.
Trench warfare	A type of land warfare characterized by opposing troops fighting from ditches dug into the ground, common on the Western Front.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Great Depression only happened in America.

What to Teach Instead

Australia was one of the hardest-hit countries in the world because we relied so heavily on exporting wool and wheat. Using comparative graphs helps students see the global and local connection.

Common Misconception

People were poor because they didn't want to work.

What to Teach Instead

There simply were no jobs available, regardless of skill level. Active role plays of a job interview with 100 applicants for one position can quickly dispel the idea that unemployment was a personal choice.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Great Depression Budget

Pairs are given a limited number of 'tokens' representing a family's weekly susso. They must decide how to allocate them across food, rent, and medicine, experiencing the difficult trade-offs families faced.

40 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Images of the 1930s

Display photos of 'shanty towns' (Happy Valleys), men 'jumping the rattler' (trains), and soup kitchens. Students use post-it notes to record their observations and questions about how people maintained their dignity.

30 min·Individual

Inquiry Circle: The Bridge and the Dole

Small groups research how projects like the Great Ocean Road or the Sydney Harbour Bridge provided jobs. They create a 'news report' explaining how these projects helped the national spirit.

50 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• Museums like the Australian War Memorial in Canberra preserve artifacts and stories from WWI, allowing historians and the public to understand the human cost and impact of the war.
• The annual Anzac Day commemorations on April 25th bring communities together across Australia and New Zealand to remember those who have served and died in conflicts, demonstrating the lasting cultural significance of the war.
• Genealogists and historians use military service records, held in national archives, to trace family histories and study the detailed experiences of individual soldiers during WWI.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'How did fighting in a war far from home, alongside British and other Empire forces, help shape a unique Australian identity?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to reference specific events or concepts like the Anzac legend and mateship.

Quick Check

Provide students with a Venn diagram template. Ask them to compare and contrast the experiences of soldiers at Gallipoli versus those on the Western Front, listing at least three distinct points for each side and any shared elements in the overlapping section.

Exit Ticket

On a small card, ask students to write two sentences explaining why the Anzac legend is still important in Australia today, and one sentence identifying a key difference between fighting at Gallipoli and fighting on the Western Front.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the Great Depression in Australia?

It was caused by a combination of the 1929 Wall Street Crash in the US and Australia's high levels of international debt. When the prices for our main exports, wool and wheat, collapsed, the economy spiralled, and banks stopped lending money.

What was 'the susso'?

The 'susso' was short for sustenance. It was a government payment given to the unemployed in the form of food coupons rather than cash. It was barely enough to survive on and often carried a social stigma, making it a last resort for families.

How did people survive without a job?

Families became very resourceful. They grew their own vegetables, mended clothes repeatedly, and shared housing. Some men 'jumped the rattler' (hitched rides on freight trains) to travel to the country in search of seasonal farm work.

How can active learning help students understand the Great Depression?

Active learning helps students move from abstract statistics to human empathy. By participating in a 'budgeting simulation', students feel the stress of scarcity. This hands-on experience makes the historical facts about unemployment rates and government policy much more memorable and impactful.