HASS · Year 7

Active learning ideas

The Australian Legal System

Active learning helps students move beyond abstract ideas of national identity to tangible, personal connections with Australia’s evolving story. By engaging with maps, discussions, and real-life portraits, students see how history and migration shape who we are today.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9C7K03

• 20–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 45 min · Whole Class

Inquiry Circle: The Migration Map

Students place a 'pin' on a world map for where their ancestors came from (including First Nations connections). They then share a 'cultural contribution' from that place (a food, a word, a tradition) that is now part of Australian life.

Differentiate between civil law and criminal law with relevant examples.

Facilitation Tip

For the Migration Map, assign small groups distinct decades to research so each student contributes unique data to the collective timeline.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are a juror in a trial. What specific actions would you take to ensure you remain impartial and make a fair decision based only on the evidence presented?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to share their reasoning.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: What is an 'Australian'?

Students list 5 things they think define 'being Australian'. They then compare their list with a partner to see how many different versions of 'Australianness' they can find, discussing why there isn't just one 'right' answer.

Explain the role of a jury in ensuring a fair trial.

Facilitation Tip

During the Think-Pair-Share, circulate to listen for evolving definitions of 'Australian' and gently challenge binary responses with probing questions.

What to look for

Provide students with a short scenario, e.g., 'Two friends have a disagreement over a borrowed item that was not returned.' Ask them to write down whether this is likely a civil or criminal matter and briefly explain why. Collect and review responses for understanding.

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

Activity 03

• Gallery Walk
• 30 min · Pairs

Gallery Walk: Faces of Australia

Display photos of famous Australians from many different backgrounds (e.g., an Indigenous athlete, a refugee scientist, a migrant business leader). Students move in pairs to identify how each person has contributed to our national identity.

Justify the importance of judicial independence in a democratic society.

Facilitation Tip

For the Gallery Walk, provide sentence stems on cards to scaffold responses, such as 'This photograph shows... because...'.

What to look for

On a slip of paper, ask students to write one sentence explaining the difference between a judge and a magistrate, and one sentence explaining why an independent judiciary is important for a fair legal system.

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

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teaching this topic works best when you frame identity as a living conversation, not a fixed label. Avoid oversimplifying multiculturalism as 'harmony'—instead, highlight tensions and negotiations that shape belonging. Research shows students retain more when they analyze primary sources like policy documents alongside personal stories.

Students will demonstrate understanding by tracing migration patterns, articulating diverse perspectives on Australian identity, and connecting historical policies to present-day values. Success looks like clear reasoning, respectful dialogue, and evidence-based claims.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Migration Map activity, watch for students who conflate 'integration' with 'loss of culture.'

  Use the Migration Map to highlight specific communities that maintained traditions while adopting new ones, such as Greek Australians in Melbourne preserving language through schools while also participating in Anzac Day.

• During the Think-Pair-Share activity, watch for students who describe Australian identity as a single, unchanging image.

  During the Think-Pair-Share, prompt students to compare their initial definitions with a partner’s, then share how their views shifted after hearing different perspectives.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Think-Pair-Share
• Gallery Walk