Introduction To This Webquest

Introduction

It is said that Australia is 'The Lucky Country'. As Australians, we have much to be grateful for. We live in a country that has a great deal of freedom, opportunity and prosperity compared to much of the world. As citizens of Australia, it's important to understand something of our nation's history. There is much to be proud of in being a part of this great country and we have a rich and colourful history. Not all of our history has been happy for everyone however. For many Indigenous Australians, our nation's history has has been filled with difficulties and injustice. This has led to the need of a process of reconciliation. Part of this reconciliation is about education and acknowledging the good and the bad of our nations history. This webquest has been designed for grades 5 and 6 primary school aged children. In going through this webquest, children are encouraged to think, learn about and discuss some aspects of Australian history, with the aim of building a sense of appreciation for Indigenous Australians and attitudes that are inclusive towards all Australians, facilitating the process of reconciliation.

How To Use This Webquest
In this webquest, simply follow the directions as outlined. Over four weeks, students shall go through each of the four tasks, doing one task each week. However, because each task goes toward your assessment,  be sure to read through the section titled RUBRIC EVALUATION CRITERIA as this will help you make sure that you are meeting the assessment requirements that you will be marked on for each task.

Generally, each week you will have a task that will require you to watch some video clips and discuss in small groups (two to three students per group), your thoughts, opinions and understandings about the content. You will then as a group, give a short (3-5 minute) verbal presentation to the class about what you discussed. For homework, you will individually write up a short post on your individual blog that we all started before this webquest began. An example of what your first post may look like can be seen HERE. Lets have fun exploring this subject together.

1st Lesson

Task 1 - Week 1
In task 1 we shall begin to explore the some of the viewpoints of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around some of the issues surrounding land rights, social justice and equality. Some of you may have some strong opinions on these issues, others might not have yet formed any opinion or may not know much about these topics. We all come together with different opinions and knowledge about the subject matter. Let's be open to explore and discuss this together as a group, find out what we already know and believe about some of these issues and most importantly, be receptive to learn and be open to the possibility of seeing things from a new perspective. Let's begin!

Process - Follow each step in order.
Step 1. Begin by opening the web pages linked below. Have a read of the information on the lyrics page and then listen to the song by Yothu Yindi called 'Treaty'. Whilst you listen, also read along to the song lyrics. You will need to re-size each web page to fit on your screen so you can see each web page simultaneously.
You can learn a bit about the song and read the lyrics HERE
You can watch & listen to Treaty on Youtube below:



Step 2. Now you have watched and listened to the video clip. You have also read through the lyrics.  Keep the page with the lyrics open. look through the lyrics together in your small group. Discuss the following questions in your group and also any other questions or related points of discussion.
Some questions for your group to discuss:
- Have you heard this song before, if so, when?
- What do you think the song is actually about?
- What do you think of the song and its message? Have you formed an opinion?
- Do you have any prior knowledge of the issues and themes raised in the song?
- What do you think the person who wrote the song is aiming to communicate?
- What do you think the author was feeling when they wrote the words for this song?
- What feelings and thoughts does this song and it's message bring about for you?

Step 3. Now, go to and watch the following video below. You can stop watching after the video has played for about 5 minutes and 15 seconds.

Step 4. After having seen the previous video, discuss the following:
-  Does the song Treaty have any more meaning to you now that you have viewed this second video?
- What is your opinion of the message behind the song now, has your opinion changed?
- Look at the lyrics of the song Treaty again. What sentences jump out at you? Can you find anything in the words of the song that help you identify what the song writer is trying to communicate?
- What did you learn from watching these two videos? Have you learnt anything new or has your perspective changed at all regarding any of the topics we have discussed today?

Step 5.  Your group will now make a verbal presentation to the class. Each person should have a chance to briefly tell the rest of the class what the group discussed and what you have learnt individually, how it has influenced your opinions and thoughts about the topic.


Step 6. For homework you have two individual tasks.  First, individually make a short post on your blog. It should describe in more detail, what you have taken away from this lesson. How has watching the videos and having the discussions we had in class today influenced your thoughts and opinions. Feel free to discuss your feelings about the topic in a way that suits you. Discuss any prior understandings you had before today and anything new that you learnt. Use this blog to explore and discuss anything meaningful to you and any learning taking place for you. You can see a guide to a basic blog post for Lesson 1 HERE. Use this example simply as a guide to how you might write your post, don't limit yourself to writing only about the questions posed on the guide but use these to stimulate what you night want to say.

Step 7. Your second piece of homework is to find out what the words 'Terra Nullius' mean and how it relates to the colonisation of Australia in the minds of the British. Be ready to share your understandings next week in class.

2nd Lesson

Task 2 - Week 2
In task 2 this week we shall look at three video clips and discuss each of them. You will find some interesting information about the roots of AFL football, about a man named Sir Doug Nichols and about how things like sport can be used as a means for the reconciliation process between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians.

Process - Follow each step in order.
Step 1. Last week you were instructed to find out about what the words 'Terra Nullius' mean and how it relates to the colonisation of Australia in the minds of the British. With your group, share your understandings and discuss this together for 5 minutes. 

Step 2. Have a read of the notes of this web page HERE.

Step 3. Before watching the first video clip HERE, read the curator’s clip description. Read also the educational notes as well. Then watch only the first clip and have a discussion with your group for a few minutes about this video. Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- Did you know about the game 'Marn Grook' and how it influenced the development of AFL? What do you think of this?
- Do you think most people that like AFL football know how the game Marn Grook influenced the development of AFL?
- Do you you think that by learning more about Aboriginal people and their culture that it would make Australia a better place, if so, how? Would it improve relations between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians?


Step 4.  Read the curator’s clip description and notes of the of the bottom of the web page before watching the next clip  HERE. After watching the clip have another short discussion with your group. Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- Who was Sir Doug Nicholls?
- Do you think that the attitudes of many Australian's towards Aboriginal people were different back in the 1920's and 1930's than today?
- Why was Doug known at one time as a type of policeman by his people? What was that about?
- What do you think of his achievements, was he only known as a great footballer? Do you know any other famous Aboriginal people known for their achievements?

Step 5.  Read the curator’s clip description and notes of the of the bottom of the web page before watching the final clip HERE. After watching this clip have another short discussion with your group. Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- Do you think AFL football players have a responsibility to be good role models in our communities?
- What do you think of how Indigenous football player Gilbert McAdam dealt with the incident he described?
- Why do you think racist attitudes exist?
- Do people always understand that they are being discriminatory or saying something hurtful?

Step 6.  Your group will now make a verbal presentation to the class. Each person should have a chance to briefly tell the rest of the class what the group discussed and what you have learnt individually, how it has influenced your opinions and thoughts about the topic.

Step 7. For homework, individually make a post on your blog. You can use any of the questions above to guide your writing or you can see this guide HERE to assist you.

3rd Lesson

Task 3 - Week3
In task 3 this week we shall look at another three video clips and discuss each of them. This week's topic is about something known as 'The Stolen Generation'. These clips look at the topic in a profoundly personal way as one man explores his past and how this affected him and his mother.

Process - Follow each step in order.
Step 1. Have a read of the notes of this web page HERE.

Step 2. Before watching the first video clip HERE, read the curator’s clip description and notes. Read also the educational notes as well. Then watch only the first clip and have a discussion with your group for a few minutes about this video. Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- According to Section 8 of the Native Administration Act of that time, who was the legal guardian of every native child?
-  Why do you think that the law allowed of that the removal of Aboriginal children from their parents and families?

Step 3.  Read the curator’s clip description and notes of the of the bottom of the web page before watching the next clip HERE. After watching the clip have another short discussion with your group. Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- How did the removal of Frank affect Frank's mother?
- What do you think is driving Frank to find out about his past and his mother?

Step 4.  Read the curator’s clip description and notes of the of the bottom of the web page before watching the final clip HERE. After watching this clip have another short discussion with your group. Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- 60, 000 children were forceably removed from their parents in Australian history. If these stories were never told from the perspective of someone who experienced this but only taught as statistical facts of history, would people really grasp the depth of the injustice involved?

Step 5.  Your group will now make a verbal presentation to the class. Each person should have a chance to briefly tell the rest of the class what the group discussed and what you have learnt individually, how it has influenced your opinions and thoughts about the topic.


Step 6. For homework, individually make a post on your blog. You can use any of the questions above to guide your writing or you can see this guide HERE to assist you.

4th lesson

Task 4 - Week 4 
By now, you would have some understanding of the topics we have discussed in our theme for this webquest, 'Indigenous Australia'. It should be clear to you by now that the Aboriginal people have endured many injustices. The idea of 'reconciliation' has been previously mentioned. Today we shall look at a couple of videos. One of these videos have a former Prime Minister of Australia giving a speech. The other lists some facts about Aboriginal health. Today we reflect upon not only on what has been said by our former Prime Minister but also on what reconciliation would possibly look like.

Process - Follow each step in order. 
Step 1. Watch this first clip HERE. You will need to download the WMV format video. After watching, have a  discussion with your group for a few minutes about this video.
Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- What were the main points former Prime Minister Rudd raised?
- Do you remember when this happened only a few years ago? Do you think this had an effect on the mind sets of Australians?
- Do you think this speech is all that is required for true reconciliation to take place?
- What do you think about the words former Prime Minister Rudd made in the speech about a 'new page being written' and ''new solutions to enduring problems''?

Step 2. Watch the video below. After watching, have another discussion with your group.
Some points you may wish to use for discussion:
- What were some of the current issues and statistics relating to Aboriginal health?
- What were the statistics regarding Aboriginal unemployment and average weekly incomes compared to non Indigenous Australians?
- Have you heard of the 'Close the Gap' campaign before? What do you think it is about?
- In endeavoring to close the gap on some of the health issues, many Indigenous health workers are being trained up so they can be of service to their own people. Could this be seen as ''new solutions to enduring problems''? How does this approach compare with the government just sending in some non Indigenous health workers into Aboriginal communities?


Step 4. After finishing your discussion in your group, we shall come together as a whole class and listen to each group make their presentation as conducted in previous weeks.

Step 5. As a whole class, we shall finish off this unit for some discussion and reflection about what we have learned during this unit of study.

Step 6. For homework, be sure to make your final post on your blog. A guide to your 4th post can be seen HERE.

Rubric Evaluation Criteria

Below you will find all the criteria that you will be assessed on for this unit of study over the four weeks. Please note: Group presentations will be marked with reference to the whole group as well as individual contributions.