Co-operative learning Humanities/English Activity

Considerations of identity

Instructions for each student/the class:

Australian identity today has a long and complex

history with lots of influences from different
cultures, traditions and people. This activity draws
on historical, cultural, economic and political
aspects that have influenced our identity as a
community. There are many more influences than
what is included here and if your teacher allows
you could look at the role of Christianity, Muslim
immigrants, Reconciliation, etc. There are so many
topics to study that to help the class gain a full
understanding of Australian culture and identity,
every student must put in effort with the intention of teaching their peers.

The class will split up and focus on different topics. For your topic you need to follow the
instructions, prepare a page of information that can be displayed, and prepare to share your
learning with the class. Reading about the topic you have been given may have helped raise
questions. Did it spark any interest or a curiosity to learn more? If so, write down your questions
and conduct further research. If not, look at the question at the bottom of your instructions and
answer it in full sentences, and in as much depth as you can.

Some information and topics are brief. Feel free to do additional research by using key word
searches, make sure you site the sources that you use to expand your knowledge.

Teacher: cut out the following ‘cards’ and give one to each student, or hand out to pairs.

History: Women in Colonial times

Focus: Truganini
Go to: https://australianmuseum.net.au/truganini-1812-1876
Scroll down until you find information on Truganini-negotiator, diplomat and guerilla
fighter. Record the dates that Truganini was alive. Write a summary of her life and
what she faced as a child and woman. Include a photo of her.

What do her experiences say about early colonial life for Aboriginal people?

History: Women in Colonial times

Focus: Free settlers
Go to: http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/colonial-melbourne/everyday-life/
women-settlers

Scroll down until you find information on free settler women. Read the information
and summarise it in your own words.

Explain the experiences of early colonial life for English women.

Co-operative learning Humanities/English Activity

Culture: The Dreaming

Focus: Land, animals and people.
Go to: http://www.workingwithindigenousaustralians.info/content/
Culture_2_The_Dreaming.html

Read the information and summarise it in your own words. Include an image of
dancers showing dream time stories.

Traditions of a group of people become a part of their identity. How do these stories
and traditions influence current Australian Identity?

Beliefs: Creation stories

Focus: Stories of the stars and sky.
Research: https://www.sbs.com.au/programs/first-contact/article/2014/11/14/
stories-sky-indigenous-astronomy

Scroll down to find the information on ‘stories of the stars and sky’.
Read the information. Summarise it in your own words. Include an image in your
notes (eg. of the Southern Cross as seen on the Australian flag).

Faith and beliefs are passed on from parent to child as is knowledge of the world
around us. Religions and traditions help to make sense of the world, set out laws
for people to abide by, teach people how to act in the world. Do you think one
religion should represent all of the people in one country? Explain.

Beliefs: Creation stories

Focus: The Rainbow Serpent
Go to: http://www.kullillaart.com.au/dreamtime-stories/The-Rainbow-Serpent

Read the information. Summarise it in your own words. Include an image.

Faith and beliefs are passed on from parent to child. Religions and traditions help to
make sense of the world, set out laws for people to abide by, teach people how to
act in the world. They also provide a sense of belonging to a community. Do you
think one religion should represent all of the people in one country? Explain.
Co-operative learning Humanities/English Activity

History: ANZAC Day

Focus: The ANZAC legend.
Go to: https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/dawn/spirit

Read the information. Summarise it in your own words. Include an image.

Myths, legends and stories told and re-told become a part of the identity of a
community. Is the ANZAC legend representative of all Australians today? Explain.

History: Mateship, diggers and wartime.

Focus: Mateship and the goldfields.
Go to: http://www.convictcreations.com/research/myths.html

Read the information and consider the evolution of the idea of ‘mateship’.

How are ideas about Australian identity continued from one generation to another?
What impact do you think the idea of mateship has on modern day Australians?

History: Weary Dunlop in World War II

Focus: Qualities of individual Australians.
Go to: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Weary-Dunlop

Read the information and summarise it in your own words. Include an image.

An individual can become a symbol of a community. What qualities did Weary

Dunlop show that made him a person that Australia wanted to celebrate and
acknowledge?

Culture: Chinese influences on Australian identity.

Focus: Multicultural society
Go to: https://chineseaustralianhistory.org/history-pre-1949/

Read the information and summarise it in your own words. Include an image.

Australia is considered a multicutural country that embraces people from different

places. What benefits come from being a mutlicultural country?
Co-operative learning Humanities/English Activity

Politics and Law: White Australia Policy.

Focus: Chinese settlement and the White Australia Policy.
Go to: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-04/white-australia-policy-project-
transcribes-history/8868680

Read the information and summarise it in your own words. Include an image.

Australian settlers who were mainly Caucasian reacted badly to Chinese people
living and becoming a part of Australian society. Why do you think this was? Do you
think this still happens today? Explain.

Economy and the Environment: Agriculture and farming

Focus: Why is farming important in our history and identity?
Go to: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/australian-agricultural-and-rural-life/first-
farms

Read the information. Conduct further research. Summarise the information in your
own words. Include an image.

Urbanisation has meant that the numbers of people living in farming areas has
decreased. Do you think that farming will still be an important part of our Australian
identity in the future? Explain why.

Economy and the Environment: Agriculture in the future.

Focus: Maintaining agriculture and feeding communities in the future.
Go to: http://theconversation.com/agriculture-in-australia-growing-more-than-our-
farming-future-22843

Read the information and summarise it in your own words. Include an image.

Why is it important for Australia to continue to idenitfy as an agricultural country?

What are the challenges to maintaining agriculture and farming
in Australia?
Co-operative learning Humanities/English Activity

History and politics: British Settlement.

Focus: Introduction of democracy
Go to: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/about/Pages/1788-to-1810-Early-
European-Settlement.aspx

Read the information and summarise in your own words. Note that while many
websites say that the British “discovered” Australia this language is disrespectful to
the Indigenous populations and their ancestors. Use words such as ‘settled’,
‘colonised’ and ‘occupied’.

For 40000-60000 years before the British landed in Sydney Cove and decided to
begin a colony, Aboriginal tribes had lived in organised societies with laws and
beliefs. What changes to the original Australian culture and identity did the British
bring?

Culture and Society: Sport

Focus: Football. Aussie Rules.
Go to: https://www.britannica.com/sports/Australian-rules-football

Read the introduction to Football in Australia and the scroll down to ‘History of the
Game’. Read the information and summarise it in your own words. Include an
image.

What are the benefits of people following a ‘national’ sport?

Culture and Society: Sport

Focus: Aboriginal footballers.
Go to: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-13/historian-reveals-marngrook-
influence-on-afl/8439748

Read the information and summarise it in your own words.

The AFL has an “Indigenous round” to help recognise the culture of these players. It
is also used as a way to try and reduce racism. Do you think it is effective in its
goals? How else could the AFL combat racism and celebrate the history of
Aboriginal influences on this national sport?