STANDARD PROGRAMS AT THE CENTRE
We can come to your school or you can visit our Centre.
We provide:
- Interactive activities such as debates;
- Clear links to the Curriculum Framework and Outcome Statements; and
- Teacher’s notes & resources
All programs are free of charge and presenters are happy to return to your school to undertake additional programs at a mutually convenient time or have you visit the Centre.
PRIMARY
Primary Programs at the Constitutional Centre of Western Australia
YEARS 1 - 3
1. Larfalot’s Letter (Years 1-3) (45 minutes)
An introduction to Constitutions and Democracy. Using a big book with puppets, this program uses the imaginary town of Parkesville and its inhabitants to explore the concept of rules forming a constitution and the democratic process of voting to elect representatives. For Year 3, the program includes a role play – The Parkesville debate.
2. Prejudice in Parkesville (Years 1-3) (45 minutes)
Prejudice is a prequel to Larfalot’s Letter. The program uses a big book and puppets to focus on the problem of prejudice in the new town of Parkesville and how the residents deal with this issue.
3. Where I Live (Year 3) (45 minutes)
A new program which introduces the role of local government in Australia. It examines the need for rules at school and focuses on life and laws in the wider community. Students will participate in hands on activities – “fishing” to discover who their local council is, and the role of responsibilities of this level of government.
MIDDLE / UPPER PRIMARY- ALL PROGRAMS LINKED TO OUTCOMES
3. Three Levels of Government (Years 4-5) & (Years 6-7) (60 minutes)
There are two versions of this program, one for Years 4/5 and another for Years 6/7. It is based around the role of government and the three levels of government in Australia. The program involves an interactive quiz that enables students to progress through the levels of government looking at how they came into being, the roles of each and their responsibilities.
4. Rules and Laws – (Years 4-5) (60 minutes)
This program looks at the difference between rules and laws. It uses a fun approach to explore the processes used in making rules and to compare this to the process used to make laws.
5. Making Laws (Years 5-7) (60 minutes)
A new interactive program that can have either a State or Federal Government focus. Students explore the rules or constitutional set up that determines how Government works. Students consider an issue and follow its path as it progresses through Parliament from Bill to Law.
Note: To complement this program a voting program is available from the Electoral Education Centre (6552 6077).
6. Federation (Years 6-7) (60 minutes)
The aim of this interactive program is to provide students with an understanding of federation and enables students to investigate why federation occurred, how it came about and how this led to the formation of our nation.
7. Constitutional Challenge (Years 6-7) (60 minutes)
Students work their way through a series of seven activities to learn more about our federation and our constitution. The topics include Federation, The Australian Constitution, and The Three Levels of Government, House of Representatives, Senate, State Parliaments and Constitutional Referendum voting. This program provides an excellent follow up to the Joint Civics Education program and Federation programs.
SECONDARY
Secondary Programs at the Constitutional Centre of Western Australia
1. Making Laws (Years 5-7) (60 minutes)
A new interactive program that can have either a State or Federal Government focus. Students explore the rules or constitutional set up that determines how Government works. Students consider an issue and follow its path as it progresses through Parliament from Bill to Law.
Note: To complement this program a voting program is available from the Electoral Education Centre (6552 6077).
2. Federation (Year 8-10) (60 minutes)
The aim of this interactive program is to provide students with an understanding of Federation and enables students to investigate why federation occurred, how it came about and how this led to the formation of our nation.
3. Inside the Constitution (Year 9-12) (60 minutes)
An introduction to the major elements of chapters 1-3 in the Constitution. Major points covered are: the composition of the two houses of Federal Parliament, the 3 Arms of Government and the interrelationship of each arm. Concludes with how the eight chapters set up how our nation is governed.
4. The 1975 Dismissal (Years 11-12) (60 minutes)
A Constitutional perspective of the events leading up to the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor Government. Major points include the Constitutional sections relevant to the 1975 Constitutional crisis, explanation and identification of various relevant Constitutional conventions. Suitable for both P&L and History students.
5. Constitutional Concerns & Crises (Years 11-12) (60 minutes)
Selected Constitutional issues over the past 100 years and their implications are examined and discussed, including relevant landmark High Court judgments. Major points include Constitutional sections relating to each crisis, the increase in federal powers since 1920 through High Court judgments. This program can be used for Politics and Law students as well as History students.
6. The Three Arms of Government (Years 10-12) (60 minutes)
A look in detail at the first 3 chapters of the Constitution, setting up the two houses of Parliament, the role of the Executive and finally the role and responsibilities of the Judiciary. In each instance the roles and responsibilities are related to sections of the Constitution.
7. The Role of the Senate (Years 10-12) (60 minutes)
This program looks at the role of Senate Committees through the use of a current issue. An example, the issue of Genetically Modified crops, goes through the process of pressure and interest groups making submissions to the committee and the committee’s deliberations.
8. Popular Participation in Decision Making (Years 10-12) (60 minutes)
To explore the role of the voice of the people in bringing about change by using specific examples of Constitutional and Advisory Referenda – eg Conscription and Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal People) 1967