Year 6

English

Understand that different social and geographical dialects or accents are used in Australia in addition to Standard Australian English(ACELA1515)

  • Use the Australian languages map to recognise that there are hundreds of Aboriginal languages and two Torres Strait Islander languages and that they relate directly to geographic areas in Australia.

  • Recognise that all languages and dialects are of equal value, although we use different ones in different contexts. For example the use of Standard Australian English, Aboriginal English and forms of Creole used by some Aboriginal groups and Torres Strait Islander groups.

  • Research your own cultural heritage and languages are in your own family history. Reflect on how they influence the way you speak today e.g. particular words as well as dialects and accents in your family. Write about why you think it's important to celebrate your cultural heritage and know your family's languages and histories. Consider ways you can celebrate the diversity of the languages in your school community.

Make connections between students’ own experiences and those of characters and events represented in texts drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (ACELT1613)

  • Identify and appreciate differences and complexities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages used in diverse family settings e.g. parents from different language groups, family connections to different communities / countries etc.

Humanities and Social Sciences - History

Experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants, women and children (ACHASSK135)

  • Investigate the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (in your local area) and their lack of citizenship rights with regard to speaking their traditional languages throughout history.

  • Consider particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policies introduced over time and their impact on language (including the subsequent loss of language) e.g. forcible removal and control of people on settlements and missions, the forcible removal of children from families (The Stolen Generations) etc.

The contribution of individuals and groups to the development of Australian society since Federation (ACHASSK137)  

  • Consider notable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australian public life across a range of fields (for example the arts, science, sport, education), from a range cultural and linguistic Indigenous Australian backgrounds e.g. Faith Bandler, Pat Dodson, Eve Fesl, David Uniopian, etc..

Humanities and Social Sciences- Geography

The world’s cultural diversity, including that of its indigenous peoples (ACHASSK140)

  • Identify examples of Indigenous peoples who live in different regions in the world and understand the similarities and differences with regard to the language situation of these groups. For example, the Maori of Aotearoa New Zealand, the First Nations of North America and the Orang Asli of Malaysia and Indonesia.

  • Investigate the similarities and differences in official languages and religions between Australia and selected countries of the Asia region and other parts of the world. Reflect on this in terms of the experiences of the Indigenous peoples of those countries compared to the Australian situation.

Science

Sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions can affect Earth’s surface (ACSSU096)

  • Explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories from a range of languages groups that help explain geographical changes that have occurred throughout Australian history e.g. Awarbukal story: The Kangaroo that lives inside Nobby’s, explaining the earthquakes of the Newcastle are in NSW.