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Lesson ideas

Aussie Legends

Students appreciate the contribution of members of various communities in Australia, their roles in their own communities and Australia generally, and their support of particular causes. Students understand better the value of caring for others or fighting for a cause.

In all Australian community groups there are people who have distinguished themselves in many fields contributing not only to their immediate communities but also to Australia and the world. This activity could be used as a single lesson or developed as a longer unit of work.

Access to computers, books, newspaper articles, videos and songs related to various community backgrounds

• Introduce the theme and choose one or two "Aussie legends" from different community groups as a focal point. Examples include doctors Victor Chang and Fred Hollows, actors Nick Giannopoulos, Aaron Pederson and Tara Morice, musicians Deni Hines and James Morrison, public figures Sir William Deane, Dr Evelyn Scott and Neville Bonner, explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, aviators Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith and Nancy Bird Walton, Young Australians of the Year Khoa Do, Hugh Evans and Scott Hocknull, scientists Sir Mark Oliphant, Lord Howard Florey and Sir Gustav Nossal and sports people Sir Donald Bradman and Cathy Freeman. The list is nearly endless. Brief biographies of other "Aussie legends" can be found at the Discovering Democracy website.
• Brainstorm for "Aussie legends" and list. Include well-known people from various community groups as well as famous people from Australian history. Also include unsung heroes in students' own lives. Students could ask parents or local officials to help in identifying legends. In discussion, try to draw out what characteristics the legends have in common.
• Students select an "Aussie legend" to research either in the library or online. Research should include the person's family, cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds as well as information on the contributions they have made.
• Students give an oral or written presentation to the class.
• Students put together a display, a Wall of Fame, or a collage of photographs of their "Aussie legends" and indicate what their contributions were.

Additional Strategies
1. Students interview local legends and conduct their own Spotlight on Racism for this site. Download proforma. Submit completed interview to webkeeper@racismnoway.com.au
   
2. Students visit one of the community sites created for Peoplescape: A Federation Celebration in 2001 and read stories of local Australian heroes. Individuals and groups across Australia nominated their personal heroes, someone they felt has significantly affected their life, their community or their country. Bringing together stories from the city, the country, the outback, from the past and the present, from the celebrated to the unknown, the Peoplescape projects celebrated the diversity and the contribution of ordinary Australians. Examples online of school, community and institutional Peoplescape initiatives include Strathfieldsaye Primary School, Queanbeyan City Council and the National Library of Australia.
3. Students write a play or skit based on the life of the person they researched and perform for other classes or for the community.
   
4. Students write poems and songs about their "Aussie legends".


Related Resources

NSW Country Areas Program/Teacher Resources/ Online Research Modules/ Stage Four/ Australian Heroes



Relevant websites to visit

Discovering Democracy
Peoplescape: A Federation Celebration
Racism. Stop it!
ABC Behind the News: Australians



Copyright Acknowledgement
Based on an activity from the Canadian web site
Racism. Stop it! www.march21.com


Date: 28 September 2001