1.1 Civics and Citizenship: Learniing in the grade 6 classroom

ESH360: Blog Post

Blog # ____	Your name: Tammy Grimley Student ID: 168155
Year:	AC/HASS Topic: Civics and Citizenship                                    Grade 6
Title: Civics and Citizenship: Teaching controversial topics
What children are learning? The learning that your children are undertaking or will undertake in future endeavours falls under the subject of Civics and Citizenship in the Australian Curriculum.  In other words, the education of children to live in a democratic society such as Australia. Currently, your children are responding to the threat of the local Hazelwood Power Station, and the emergence of Windfarms around the local area. Students are learning about coal power versus renewable energy and the consequences to environment and society.  Discussion will progress to more formal debate next week for and against coal energy.  Within each group, students will then compose a newspaper article that will be published in The Star Newspaper in column 7. Our aim is to start with local issues and progress to issues that affect our country e.g. Aboriginal rights and then global issues such as asylum seekers.  As you would gather, these topics tend to be controversial and that’s ok, this is a prime opportunity for learning valuable skills for everyday life and a source of interest.  Why are they learning? We take a lot of pride in educating the whole child, to foster the knowledge, skills, values and actions that are required to live a happy and healthy lifestyle within a community and society.  Healthy societies are dependent on the active engagement of the people in it. We care for your children’s future, giving them skills to make a difference, have a voice.  Developing skills in reasoning, critical thinking, empathy and acceptance of others and different views.  Ultimately giving students a sense of empowerment and to know that they can be agents of change. How are they learning? Active participation is vital for the success of learning in this unit where students are doing, rather than receiving.  The first step is to look at the issue in the intention that everything unfolds from here- critical thinking, discussion, reasoning, debates and then actions. Importantly, the learning is nestled in the broader school environment, a democratic one.  An example is our weekly classroom meetings where they are structured so everyone gets a say and contributes to the running of the classroom.  Lastly, it’s important to realise that controversial topics are opportunities to develop vital skills.  As teachers our role is to present facts on both sides and not influence children one way or another.  These opportunities for learning will be nurtured in a safe, respectful, accepting, sensitive environment where students and their diverse backgrounds are acknowledged and embraced.  How parents/carers can support their child’s learning? We are aware that family life outside school hours can be hectic.  You may be able to help your child with any projects they are doing and that’s a bonus.  If not, they have ample time in class to complete them so don’t worry.  We do encourage you to discuss topics with your child and be available to answer any questions should they arise.  Encourage their voice and their view and ask them questions. Get them to further explain something, or extend their thinking. If you disagree, listen, then state your view. We want them to be able to articulate and express themselves in a confident, expressive way.
References Australian Curriculum Assessment & Reporting Authority. (2012). Australian Curriculum:      History. Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/humanities-and-           social- sciences/history/rationale Brett, P. (2016). Civics and Citizenship Education (CCE) -What’s it all about? (Part 1)      [Video link]. Retrieved from: https://mylo.utas.edu.au/d2l/le/content/178687/view      Content/2133838/View?ou=178687 Brett, P. (2016). Putting into Practice transformative Citizenship Education (Part ) [Video          link]. Retrieved from: https://mylo.utas.edu.au/d2l/le/content/178687/view      Content/2133838/View?ou=178687 Gilbert, R., Hoepper, G. (2011). Teaching society and environment. Melbourne:           Cengage Learning Australia Pty Ltd. Reynolds, R. (2009). Teaching studies of society and environment in the primary school.       Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
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