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Lesson ideas

Your identity, your heritage

Students examine the impact of personal experience in shaping identity.
Students identify behavior and attitudes to different cultural gatherings and the unique nature of cultural events.
Through an understanding of different cultural events students learn of the similarities between individuals within their own community.

These activities allow students to reflect on their own heritage and personal identity while researching the identity of the Italian migrants who came to New Italy in 1881.

• Individually students list some of their memorable moments from childhood.
  (These may include first day of school, death of a pet, losing a tooth, staying home due to illness, the arrival of a family member, the first sporting match, first visit to the dentist, going on a holiday, taking communion, going to a wedding, celebrating a birthday or other festival or moving house.)

• List some of these experiences on the board or paper and discuss how our experiences shape our identity. Divide the list, combining all the cultural events into one section. Ask students to add to this list. These may be religious events, artistic events or celebrations unique to a particular group.

• If necessary ask students to explain the cultural event to the other students.

• Distribute Handout 1: Your identity, your heritage and ask students to work in groups of 3 or 4 to complete the sheet.

• Your heritage: Discuss the term 'heritage'. Ask students to consider their own heritage, if possible researching where their grandparents and great grandparents are / were from?

• Look at the sites below for information regarding genealogy.

• Ask students if they have information about their families' genealogy or heritage.

• Discuss the circumstances in which some migrants came to Australia.

• Download http://www.totaltravel.com.au/link.asp?fid=518668. (Should this link be too long, go to http://www.totaltravel.com.au then write in 'New Italy' in the search box. Information about New Italy will appear. Click on the New Italy museum on the right hand side. New Italy website)

• Distribute Handout 2: Their identity, their heritage New Italy.

• If possible allow time for students to look through the New Italy website before reading the handout.

• Read through the questions on the handout together.

• Students either complete all activities on the sheet or select one from the three provided.

• Using the resources below, ask students to research key aspects of Sir Henry Parkes in order to write a speech for parliament outlining the reasons why you believe the Italian families should stay in Australia.

SBS video series Tales from a suitcase 1 - 4
The Afghan experience
(Available from the NSW State Equity Centre Library.
Contact: 02 9582 5894 (DET))

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/family
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives
http://www.naa.gov.au/The_Collection/Family_History/immigrants.html
http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/
http://www.ahc.gov.au/publications/chineseheritage
http://www.ahc.gov.au/publications/
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/06_subnav_04.htm