How has Immigration shaped Australia?
When researching this assignment I found that there were many questions which I didn't know the answers to, which would lead to my students asking the same questions. The topic of Immigration is a topic which I think should be taught to the older levels, as they might understand it more thoroughly.
It’s important to start this learning area off with background information on Australia; this information will help students learn about the background history of their country and assist them their learning:
· How and when did Australia become a nation?
· Who were the first people to arrive in Australia?
· Who were the first explorers to arrive in Australia?
Before teaching this area I will refer to the Aus Vels website and look at the Humanities area contents. I will concentrate on History, Geography and Civics and citizenship, because I believe those three areas connect with my inquiry question.
The Key inquiry questions shown under History on the Aus Vels website are:
· What do we know about the lives of people in Australia’s colonial past and how do we know?
· How did an Australian colony develop over time and why?
· How did colonial settlement change the environment?
· What were the significant events and who were the significant people that shaped Australian colonies?
These are great questions that could be investigated in depth with whole class discussions, pair sharing or individual work. Once this area has been taught in depth a great excursion where you can take the students is to the Melbourne Immigration museum. The Immigration Museum tells real life stories of those who immigrated to Australia, with documentaries, images and texts.
The resource I have decided to use is from SBS “Go back to where you came from” The clip number is clip 1 – Hamid’s story. This clip shows a heartbreaking story on how Hamid had to flee his country as he was being threatened to death. He had to leave his wife, kids and family all behind, and one day wishes for them to be together. Hamid’s clip will show the students one of the reasons why people migrate here and seek refuge. With this clip in mind lessons we could base around it would be:
· How do we think Hamid feels?
· What are the next steps his family could take so they can be together?
· Hamid is very positive after everything he has been through, why do you think that is?
Students can use technology to research these answers, or as a class we can research them together on the interactive whiteboard. Most importantly students will be able to make a timeline discussing when people first arrived in Australia and how over the years that has changed; transport, reason.
Civics and citizenship allows students to learn about the origins and settlement of Australia. It highlights the right of various different groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and migrants. This links to our topic of immigration as we consider experiences of diverse cultural groups, and the way they have contributed to Australian identity.
How has Immigration shaped Australia?
With this question students can research and reflect on questions such as:
· What defines an Australian?
· If I came here by boat when I was younger am I now an Australian?
· Who is an Australian?
With these questions student will understand how Australia has come to become such a multicultural country. They will understand that all their classmates’ nationality makes Australia. It is important to teach students that an Australian is just not a stereotype with fair skin, blue eyes and blonde hair.
SBS television show highlights typical Australians who before the program didn't care for immigrants and thought negatively towards them. Clip 8 on the website shows Christmas Island detention center it shows an asylum seeker who is depressed from being too long in the detention center and just wants freedom. This clip will allow students to get a better understanding of the emotions and pain these families have gone through to be here.
An activity we could do regarding civics would be to do a self-reflection on what they think it means to be an Australian? With this question students will be able to see how everything they enjoy in their lives may have come from another country; i.e. soccer, food or language.
A book that can also be read to students is "The little refugee" by Anh Do, who is a famous Australian comedian. Students could reflect on Anh's feelings and then see how far he has come since being a refugee.
The humanities area of Geography will permit students to research the living conditions in which Immigrants once lived and compare it to Australia’s living conditions. In this section students can research the various reasons why immigrants decide to move here such as; war, famine or danger.
Students can discuss how they would feel if they had to just pick up and leave their country and bring nothing with them. On a personal note I can discuss with my students the reasons why my family migrated here due to the civil war in my country. We want the students to appreciate Australia and see how out in the world there are so many different cases of danger.
Clip 3 (Somalia camp) and clip 5(Afghanistan) on the Go Back to where you came from website, will show students how living conditions are so different, to where they live now. Again this will give the students are better understanding in why immigrants choose to seek asylum in our country.
As an activity students can research:
· What they think the main problems these families face?
· Describe the conditions you see in the camp and your feelings towards it?
By the end of this topic and activities students will have learnt how immigration has shaped Australia over the years.
http://www.sbs.com.au/goback/
http://www.acara.edu.au/home_page.html
http://ausvels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fml6dIcfQFA
When researching this assignment I found that there were many questions which I didn't know the answers to, which would lead to my students asking the same questions. The topic of Immigration is a topic which I think should be taught to the older levels, as they might understand it more thoroughly.
It’s important to start this learning area off with background information on Australia; this information will help students learn about the background history of their country and assist them their learning:
· How and when did Australia become a nation?
· Who were the first people to arrive in Australia?
· Who were the first explorers to arrive in Australia?
Before teaching this area I will refer to the Aus Vels website and look at the Humanities area contents. I will concentrate on History, Geography and Civics and citizenship, because I believe those three areas connect with my inquiry question.
The Key inquiry questions shown under History on the Aus Vels website are:
· What do we know about the lives of people in Australia’s colonial past and how do we know?
· How did an Australian colony develop over time and why?
· How did colonial settlement change the environment?
· What were the significant events and who were the significant people that shaped Australian colonies?
These are great questions that could be investigated in depth with whole class discussions, pair sharing or individual work. Once this area has been taught in depth a great excursion where you can take the students is to the Melbourne Immigration museum. The Immigration Museum tells real life stories of those who immigrated to Australia, with documentaries, images and texts.
The resource I have decided to use is from SBS “Go back to where you came from” The clip number is clip 1 – Hamid’s story. This clip shows a heartbreaking story on how Hamid had to flee his country as he was being threatened to death. He had to leave his wife, kids and family all behind, and one day wishes for them to be together. Hamid’s clip will show the students one of the reasons why people migrate here and seek refuge. With this clip in mind lessons we could base around it would be:
· How do we think Hamid feels?
· What are the next steps his family could take so they can be together?
· Hamid is very positive after everything he has been through, why do you think that is?
Students can use technology to research these answers, or as a class we can research them together on the interactive whiteboard. Most importantly students will be able to make a timeline discussing when people first arrived in Australia and how over the years that has changed; transport, reason.
Civics and citizenship allows students to learn about the origins and settlement of Australia. It highlights the right of various different groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and migrants. This links to our topic of immigration as we consider experiences of diverse cultural groups, and the way they have contributed to Australian identity.
How has Immigration shaped Australia?
With this question students can research and reflect on questions such as:
· What defines an Australian?
· If I came here by boat when I was younger am I now an Australian?
· Who is an Australian?
With these questions student will understand how Australia has come to become such a multicultural country. They will understand that all their classmates’ nationality makes Australia. It is important to teach students that an Australian is just not a stereotype with fair skin, blue eyes and blonde hair.
SBS television show highlights typical Australians who before the program didn't care for immigrants and thought negatively towards them. Clip 8 on the website shows Christmas Island detention center it shows an asylum seeker who is depressed from being too long in the detention center and just wants freedom. This clip will allow students to get a better understanding of the emotions and pain these families have gone through to be here.
An activity we could do regarding civics would be to do a self-reflection on what they think it means to be an Australian? With this question students will be able to see how everything they enjoy in their lives may have come from another country; i.e. soccer, food or language.
A book that can also be read to students is "The little refugee" by Anh Do, who is a famous Australian comedian. Students could reflect on Anh's feelings and then see how far he has come since being a refugee.
The humanities area of Geography will permit students to research the living conditions in which Immigrants once lived and compare it to Australia’s living conditions. In this section students can research the various reasons why immigrants decide to move here such as; war, famine or danger.
Students can discuss how they would feel if they had to just pick up and leave their country and bring nothing with them. On a personal note I can discuss with my students the reasons why my family migrated here due to the civil war in my country. We want the students to appreciate Australia and see how out in the world there are so many different cases of danger.
Clip 3 (Somalia camp) and clip 5(Afghanistan) on the Go Back to where you came from website, will show students how living conditions are so different, to where they live now. Again this will give the students are better understanding in why immigrants choose to seek asylum in our country.
As an activity students can research:
· What they think the main problems these families face?
· Describe the conditions you see in the camp and your feelings towards it?
By the end of this topic and activities students will have learnt how immigration has shaped Australia over the years.
http://www.sbs.com.au/goback/
http://www.acara.edu.au/home_page.html
http://ausvels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fml6dIcfQFA