Australia


 * Narrative Lesson Plan: **

I have very little personal knowledge on Australia, so I wanted to develop my lesson plan around this continent. I saw on the NCSCOS that one of the objectives was to: (**4.01)** Describe the patterns of and motives for migrations of people, and evaluate the impact on the political, economic, and social development of selected societies and regions. Using this objective, I want students to explore the indigenous cultures prior to European colonization, and then explore the effects of European migration on the indigenous cultures of Australia.

To introduce the concept of indigenous cultures, I will have a slideshow of pictures scrolling across the projector as the children walk in for class. It will then be their assignment to freewrite about the groups they see, speculating on family style, economics, cultural traditions, religion, etc.

To help scaffold students in their understanding of the assignment, we would have a short classroom discussion of what "indigenous cultures" are, and what happened during Colonization/The Age of Exploration. I would have students take notes during this discussion for future study aids.

Because there are several different indigenous groups in Australia, after freewriting and the class discussion, the class can break up into small groups, each group exploring a different people group of Australia. They will be required to research cultural information about the group they are assigned to and can present the information in any written way they wish - a poster, an organizational chart, comics, etc. - so long as the information is covered.

Classes are typically only 50 minutes so after freewriting, explaining the concept of the assignment, dividing students into groups, and researching and creating a presentation...that is probably all the class would be able to do in a day. However, to explore the issue in its entirety would take several days.

The purpose behind this activity exposes students to the rich culture developed in each indigenous group of Australia...however, just as in America and Africa, colonization began to destroy the thousands of years worth of culture already established in Australia. In the days following small group research, the class would be exposed to the Dutch and English explorers that first created establishments in Australia, and then proceed to research the colonization of Australia post- European settlement; and also explore how colonization affected the local economy, government, family structure, etc.

 So often in history classes, we look at a term like colonization and think to ourselves, oh yeah 'The Age of Exploration'...that was a cool time in history, Europe took over a lot of land; yet, we fail to realize there were serious ramifications to thousands of ethnicities worldwide because of the presumptuous nature of European expansion. As a social studies teacher I desire to tell both sides of the story to my students, because I was only given the European perspective in school. I want my students to be well-informed and exposed a worldview that looks beyond the Euro-American story.


 * Outline of Lesson Plan: **


 * Subject: **  Social Studies


 * Classroom: **  7th Grade, 50 min


 * Location: **  Australia

**Objective**: **4.01** Describe the patterns of and motives for migrations of people, and evaluate the impact on the political, economic, and social development of selected societies and regions.

As a result of today's lesson, SWBAT:
 * Goals: **
 * Locate Australia on a map
 * Identify and describe indigenous cultures of Australia
 * Analyze some of the major tenants creating a culture (food, economics, family, tradition, etc)
 * Collaboratively develop presentation skills


 * Materials: **
 * Picture slide show
 * Freewriting journals
 * 1:1 computers (or at least enough for several different groups)
 * Internet
 * poster board, flip charts, butcher paper


 * Procedure: **
 * 1) ** Warm-Up (10 mins) **
 * Picture slideshow will be playing as class starts
 * Have students freewrite: Pretend you are a part of one of the people groups seen on the screen. What is your family structure like? How do you get food? How do you make products like plates, utensils, clothing, houses, etc? Are you ruled by a chief? What roles do women and men play in your group? Do you have any traditions?


 * 1) ** Class Discussion (10 mins) **
 * Identify Australia on a map
 * Define 'indigenous', explain that each people group consists of a different culture, unique in many ways. Explain that we will explore different types of indigenous, or Aboriginal groups in Australia as small groups and present to the class.
 * Briefly discuss colonization, what is was and how its effects of indigenous cultures.


 * 1) ** Small Groups (30 mins) **
 * In pre-assigned/heterogeneous ability small groups, students can break up and begin exploring their assigned people group.
 * Wikipedia is a great place to start, but also have students use Google to search other information about the groups.
 * Different art materials will be placed throughout the room for groups to use as their presentation mechanism. Students can be as creative as they wish in a short amount of time.
 * Posters will be put up around the classroom for the next day's class as an 'in class museum' where students can look at and learn about the varying 'exhibits on display'


 * Assessment:**
 * By assessing the content of the group's visual, I will be able to assess their understanding of the uniqueness of each culture. Throughout the unit, students will become more familiar with Australia's location on a map, and the effects of colonization on local culture. At the end of the unit, students would have to write either through essay or some other creative outlet (ie - a brochure, scrapbook, movie, etc) how colonization affected indigenous culture and how this occurrence was not limited to Australia but also Africa and America.