Classroom Referendum Simulation (Years 6–10 Civics & Citizenship)

Introduction

A referendum simulation is a powerful way to help students understand how constitutional change occurs in Australia. This activity draws on free resources from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and is suitable for upper primary through lower secondary Civics classrooms. It gives students a hands‑on experience of democratic processes, campaigning, and decision‑making, while building their understanding of the Constitution and the role of citizens.

The 'Classroom Resources' page from the AEC website.

How to Use It in the Classroom

Teachers can create a mock referendum on a youth‑relevant issue, such as lowering the voting age or adding a new right to the Constitution. Students take on roles such as campaigners, media, voters and AEC officials. They design campaign materials, analyse arguments, participate in debates, and vote using authentic ballot papers. This simulation builds critical thinking, persuasive communication, and civic literacy. It also supports cross‑curricular links with English, Digital Technologies and Media Arts.

Five useful features for busy teachers

• Uses free AEC resources
• Highly engaging, role‑play based learning
• Builds understanding of real democratic processes
• Easy to adapt for different year levels
• Encourages critical thinking and respectful debate

Australian Curriculum Connections

• AC9HC7K02 – How laws are made and the role of parliaments and courts
• AC9HC8K02 – How Australia’s Constitution enables change through referendum
• AC9HC8S03 – Evaluate information and evidence to draw conclusions
• AC9HC10K03 – How individuals and groups participate in civic life
• AC9HC10S03 – Develop and present reasoned arguments using evidence

 Exploring January 26 Through Multiple Perspectives

Introduction

January 26 is a date that appears across many Australian resources, and teachers often look for ways to explore it in a balanced, curriculum‑aligned and age‑appropriate way. The ABC Education “January 26 – Perspectives and Histories” collection brings together a range of short videos, articles and classroom materials that present different viewpoints without promoting a particular stance. This makes it a helpful starting point for teachers who want to support respectful inquiry, historical thinking and critical engagement with sources. The resource is free, accessible and suitable for upper primary through secondary classrooms.

ABC Education front page.

How to Use It in the Classroom

Teachers can use the collection to help students investigate how and why people understand January 26 differently. Students can analyse short clips, compare viewpoints, and explore how historical events are interpreted in diverse ways. The resource works well for source analysis, class discussions, reflective writing or inquiry tasks. It also supports the development of empathy and respectful communication, as students learn to listen to and understand perspectives that may differ from their own.

Five practical tips, tricks and ideas for the classroom

• Use a simple “What do you notice? What do you wonder?” routine to introduce each clip
• Compare two perspectives and have students identify similarities and differences
• Use a Y‑chart (“Looks like / Sounds like / Feels like”) to explore respectful discussion
• Provide sentence starters to support students in expressing viewpoints thoughtfully
• Invite students to create a short reflection on how perspectives can be shaped by experience

Australian Curriculum Connections

• AC9HS5S02 – Examine primary and secondary sources to identify different perspectives
• AC9HH8S03 – Analyse perspectives and interpretations in historical sources
• AC9HC7S03 – Evaluate information and evidence to draw conclusions
• AC9HC8S02 – Explain how and why people have different points of view
• AC9HH10S03 – Analyse perspectives and interpretations in historical sources

 STTOP – A Fresh Way to Teach Sustainability in HaSS

Introduction

HAA is excited to be working with STTOP (Stay Tuned To Our Planet) to support teachers in bringing sustainability and environmental understanding into HaSS classrooms in a positive, engaging way. STTOP is a free, 28‑episode online series and education program designed to help young people explore environmental and climate issues without fear, overwhelm or doom‑scrolling. Each short episode blends storytelling, science, and practical action, making it ideal for primary and secondary students. The program is Australian, classroom‑ready, and aligns strongly with the sustainability focus embedded across the HaSS curriculum.

Some popular podcast episodes from STTOP.

How to Use It in the Classroom

Teachers can use STTOP episodes as lesson starters, inquiry prompts, or part of a broader sustainability unit. Each episode introduces a key environmental idea, from waste to biodiversity to energy, in a way that encourages curiosity and solutions‑focused thinking. Students can watch an episode, discuss the key message, and then explore how the issue connects to their own community or local environment. The program also includes supporting materials that help teachers build inquiry questions, guide reflection, and connect learning to real‑world action.

Five practical tips, tricks and ideas for the classroom

• Use an episode as a weekly “Sustainability Starter” to spark discussion
• Pair episodes with local case studies to make learning place‑based
• Have students create a “STTOP Action Journal” to track small changes they try
• Use a think‑pair‑share routine to unpack each episode’s key message
• Invite students to design a poster or infographic summarising one episode’s theme

Australian Curriculum Connections

• AC9HG7K02 – Interconnections between people, places and environments
• AC9HG7K03 – Causes, impacts and responses to environmental changes
• AC9HG8K04 – Strategies to enhance the sustainability of places
• AC9HS6S04 – Use digital and spatial technologies to represent data and information
• AC9HG9S04 – Propose actions to respond to geographical challenges

 Trove for Local History Investigations (Years 5–12 History)

Introduction

Trove, created by the National Library of Australia, remains one of the richest free digital archives available to teachers. With newspapers, photographs, letters, maps and oral histories, it offers an authentic window into Australia’s past. This resource is ideal for Years 5–12 History teachers looking to deepen students’ understanding of local stories, diverse perspectives and historical change. Because Trove is free, Australian, and requires no login to browse, it’s a perfect classroom‑friendly tool for inquiry‑based learning.

Trove Home Page - Demonstrating the ever evolving resources!

How to Use It in the Classroom

Trove works beautifully for source analysis, local history projects, and comparative investigations. Students can search for their suburb, a local event, or a national moment and uncover primary sources that bring history alive. Teachers can scaffold inquiry by providing curated search terms or Trove Lists, or allow students to explore independently. The platform supports critical thinking, as students evaluate reliability, identify bias, and compare perspectives across time. Trove also supports differentiation: advanced students can conduct open‑ended investigations, while others can work with teacher‑selected sources.

Five useful features for busy teachers

• Completely free and Australian‑based
• Massive archive of newspapers, photos, maps and documents
• No login required for browsing
• Built‑in citation tools
• Trove Lists allow teachers to curate sets of sources

Australian Curriculum Connections

• AC9HS5S02 – Examine primary and secondary sources to identify different perspectives
• AC9HS6S02 – Interpret information and ideas from a range of sources
• AC9HH8S02 – Analyse the origin, purpose and context of primary sources
• AC9HH10S02 – Evaluate the reliability and usefulness of primary and secondary sources
• AC9HH12S02 – Analyse and synthesise evidence to develop historical arguments

 Global Footprint Network: Understanding Human Impact

Resource overview:
The Global Footprint Network is an online platform that provides interactive tools and datasets to explore humanity’s ecological footprint and sustainability challenges. Students can compare countries’ consumption patterns, carbon emissions, and natural resource use, helping them understand the relationship between human activity and environmental limits. The platform includes calculators, charts, and case studies that make abstract sustainability concepts tangible for learners. It encourages critical thinking about personal, local, and global impacts, and supports cross-curricular learning in Geography, Civics, and Science.

In the classroom:

Teachers can have students calculate their own ecological footprint, then compare results with national and global data. Year 8 students might investigate why some countries have disproportionately large ecological footprints, while Year 10 students could develop strategies for reducing resource use and present policy recommendations. It can also be linked to sustainability projects, debates, and inquiry-based learning about environmental management.

Five features teachers may find useful:

• Interactive calculators for individual, national, and global footprints.

• Visualisations and charts showing human impact on ecosystems.

• Case studies highlighting environmental challenges and solutions.

• Free, browser-based access suitable for classroom and homework.

• Supports inquiry learning, data analysis, and critical thinking.

Australian Curriculum links:

• Year 7: AC9HS7K04 – Examine the influence of human activity on environments.

• Year 8: AC9HS8K05 – Explore the interconnections between people, places and environments.

• Year 10: AC9HS10K06 – Evaluate the impact of human activity on environmental sustainability.

Eco-Schools Digital Toolkit: Sustainability in Action

Resource overview:
Eco-Schools Digital Toolkit is an online platform offering lesson plans, interactive resources, and practical activities to engage students in sustainability and environmental citizenship. It provides structured guidance for auditing environmental practices, planning initiatives, and implementing actions in school communities. Students learn about topics such as waste management, energy efficiency, biodiversity, and sustainable development goals. The platform encourages hands-on learning, project-based experiences, and critical thinking, while linking local actions to global sustainability issues.

In the classroom:

Teachers can guide students through sustainability audits of their school, develop action plans for improving recycling and energy use, or run campaigns promoting biodiversity on school grounds. Students can track progress over time and present findings digitally or in displays. The toolkit supports both independent and group work, making it ideal for fostering environmental leadership and civic responsibility.

Five features teachers may find useful:

• Curriculum-aligned lesson plans and practical activities.

• Interactive digital tools for tracking projects and outcomes.

• Encourages student-led initiatives and project-based learning.

• Adaptable to different school contexts and year levels.

• Supports integration of local actions with global sustainability goals.

Australian Curriculum links:

• Year 5: AC9HS5S06 – Use digital tools to communicate ideas about sustainability.

• Year 7: AC9HS7K04 – Explore human impact on environments.

• Year 9: AC9HS9S06 – Plan and evaluate environmental initiatives.

 

World Population Review: Understanding Demographics

Resource overview:
World Population Review is an interactive online platform that provides up-to-date statistics and visualisations about population, demographics, and social indicators for countries and regions worldwide. Students can explore population growth, urbanisation, age structures, life expectancy, and migration patterns. The platform also offers downloadable charts, graphs, and tables that can be incorporated directly into classroom projects or presentations. It is particularly useful for developing quantitative literacy, understanding global patterns, and comparing demographic trends between countries or regions.

In the classroom:

Teachers can guide students to investigate topics such as the impacts of ageing populations, urbanisation in developing countries, or migration patterns and their social implications. Year 8 students might create population pyramids, while Year 10 students could analyse how demographic trends influence economic development or urban planning. The resource also encourages students to develop graphing and data interpretation skills in line with the Australian Curriculum.

Five features teachers may find useful:

• Interactive charts and maps for visualising demographic data.

• Regularly updated global statistics.

• Downloadable tables and graphs for classroom use.

• Enables comparison of countries and regions across various indicators.

• Supports inquiry-based learning, data analysis, and discussion.

Australian Curriculum links:

• Year 8: AC9HS8K05 – Examine how population distribution and characteristics influence places.

• Year 10: AC9HS10K05 – Analyse global demographic trends and their implications.