©ABC 2013
Activity
Parliament House
Key Learning Students will describe the history of Australia’s Parliament House using primary and secondary sources. Students will learn about the people, place, policies and systems of Australia’s democratic process.
The Australian Curriculum History / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / Australia as a Nation
Key figures and events that led to Australia’s Federation,
including British and American influences on Australia’s system
of law and government. (ACHHK113)
History / Historical Skills / Chronology, terms and concepts
Use historical terms and concepts (ACHHS118)
History / Historical Skills / Historical questions and research
Identify questions to inform an historical inquiry (ACHHS119)
Identify and locate a range of relevant sources (ACHHS120)
History / Historical Skills / Explanation and communication
Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and
digital technologies (ACHHS125)
English / Literacy / Interacting with others
Use interaction skills, varying conventions of spoken
interactions such as voice volume, tone, pitch and pace,
according to group size, formality of interaction and needs and
expertise of the audience(ACELY1816)
Use interaction skills when discussing and presenting ideas and
information, selecting body language, voice qualities and other
elements, (for example music and sound) to add interest and
meaning (ACELY1804)
Discussion Questions
1. Where in Australia is Parliament House? Locate using Google Maps.
2. The House of Representatives is also known as the ________ house.
3. Apart from federal members who else can sit in the House of Representatives?
4. Describe the purpose of Question Time.
5. What does it mean when the speaker says ‘order’?
6. How many senators are there in the Senate?
a. 56
b. 76
c. 106
7. What happens in the Prime Minister’s sitting room?
8. How much does the flag on top of Parliament House weigh?
9. Describe the Parliament House building.
10. Can you name two past Australian Prime Ministers?
Episode 24
27th August 2013
©ABC 2013
Activities
The history of Parliament House
In this activity students analyse primary and secondary sources describing the history of Australia’s
Parliament House.
Provide students with the opportunity to present their findings in an interesting way using a range of
communication forms (a combination of oral, graphic, written modes) and digital technologies. Here are
some ideas:
Find and collect images, photographs and illustrations that represent the history of Australia’s Parliament
House. Students may want to organise and sequence their pictures in the form of a timeline.
Refer to the following websites for sources of information.
The National Archives of Australia - http://www.naa.gov.au/
Parliament of Australia - http://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Photo_gallery
Parliamentary Education Office – http://www.peo.gov.au/students/cl/CloserLook_Parliament-House.pdf
Images: Parliamentary Education Office – http://www.peo.gov.au/students/cl/CloserLook_Parliament-House.pdf
Locate Canberra and Parliament House using Google Maps.
Students will draw their own map and include the following features: scale, key, direction, title and border.
Calculate the proximity of Canberra to Sydney and Melbourne.
What is the climate of Canberra?
Research Questions
How and when did Canberra come to be Australia’s capital city?
When and where did Australia’s Federal Parliament first meet?
When was Australia’s ‘new’ Parliament House built?
Where is it located?
Who officially opened the building?
Who designed the building and how long did it take to construct?
©ABC 2013
Place, People, Policies and Systems
After watching the BtN Parliament House story invite students to
participate in a class discussion. Find out what your students know
about Parliament House, what they learnt from the story and what
questions they have about the topic.
Where do your students stand? abc.net.au/btn/government.htm
Live exports, car manufacturing, foreign aid, funding
for education, migrants, becoming a republic, the
NBN and climate change. Where would you stand
on these issues?
Download BtN’s AUSSIE KIDS VOTE 2013 activity
which asks students where they stand on important
issues that are relevant to the 2013 Federal
Election. abc.net.au/btn/government.htm
Complete the activity as a class. Make three large
signs reading AGREE, NEUTRAL and DISAGREE
and arrange them on the classroom floor. As you
work through the activity ask students to stand on
either the agree, neutral or disagree sign.
Ask students why they agree, disagree or are
neutral on an issue?
What is democracy?
What is the difference between a bill and a law?
What is the difference between the House of
Representatives and the Senate?
Explore these questions, plus more on:
Federation
The Australian Constitution
Three levels of law-making
Members of parliament
The houses of parliament
http://www.peo.gov.au/publications/get_parliament_
web.pdf
http://www.peo.gov.au/quick-answers/bills-
laws.html
What happens at Parliament House?
Meeting place for members of parliament – what
is a meeting place?
Symbol of Australia’s democracy
A place where decisions that shape the nation
are made.
Site for celebration
Site for memorial
Site for protest
Tours
http://www.peo.gov.au/quick-answers/parliament-
house-building.html
Who visits Parliament House?
Member of the Australian public
Parliamentarian
Media
Protestor
International visitor or dignitary
If you were to be a guest at Parliament House
which one would you be? Explain your answer.
Compare and contrast the roles of these people.
http://www.peo.gov.au/quick-answers/people-
parliament-house.html
©ABC 2013
Further activities – Get involved!
Examine the floor plans of Parliament
House. Identify key objects and
locations including the chambers,
offices and other rooms. Draw your own
floor plan or diagram of Parliament
House. Include a border, title, source
and north and south directions.
Here is an example taken from the
Parliamentary Education Office website:
http://www.peo.gov.au/students/cl/Close
rLook_Parliament-House.pdf
Refer to these maps of Parliament
House for more detail:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/
Planning_a_visit/Maps
Create your own tour of Parliament House, in an interesting way (for example make a book or Prezi
presentation), which can be used by other students at your school. Students may want to include some
interesting features in their ‘tour’, for example:
Photographs to represent the old and new Parliament House
Information about the art collection
How many people work there
A model or floor plans
Interesting fun facts: How many clocks can be found at Parliament House? How large is the
flagpole? Why is the House of Representatives green and the Senate red?
We’re inviting students to do a drawing of a pollie and send it into
us.
Download the activity sheet http://www.abc.net.au/btn/resources/teacher/events/2013election/electionissues.pdf or visit BtN’s Government page abc.net.au/btn/government.htm Students can create their caricature using pen, pencils, collage, ink,
paint or watercolours! Submit your student’s designs via email
(scanned 200dpi):
[email protected] or post to: Education Adviser, 85
North East Road Collinswood SA 5081.
Image: Parliamentary Education Office
©ABC 2013
Students can also gather inspiration for their portraits from the following websites:
National Portrait Gallery – http://www.portrait.gov.au/
Australia’s PM’s – http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/
Display your students work as an art exhibition to be displayed in the classroom or art area which can be
accessed by the rest of the school.
How does portraiture increase understanding and appreciation of the Australian people – their identity,
history, culture and diversity?
Refer to the National Portrait Gallery’s 2013 Portrait School document for a guide on portraiture programs for
students. http://www.portrait.gov.au/UserFiles/resources/downloads/NPGPortraitSchool13.pdf
Related Research Links
Parliament of Australia – Tours
http://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Tours
Parliamentary Education Office – Closer Look: Australia’s Parliament House
http://www.peo.gov.au/students/cl/aph.html
Parliamentary Education Office – Fact Sheet: Parliament House
http://www.peo.gov.au/students/fact_sheets/parliament_house.html
Parliamentary Education Office – Parliament House: the building
http://www.peo.gov.au/quick-answers/parliament-house-building.html
Parliamentary Education Office – People in Parliament House
http://www.peo.gov.au/quick-answers/people-parliament-house.html
Parliamentary Education Office – Parliament House: our house
http://www.peo.gov.au/kidsview/parlhouse/ourhouse_tnotes.html
Parliamentary Education Office – Get Parliament: How your federal parliament works
http://www.peo.gov.au/publications/get_parliament_web.pdf
DISAGREE
AUSSIE KIDSVOTE 2013
The government should spend more on defence.
Live exports should be banned.
The government should give money to help car manufacturers.
Mining companies should pay more tax.
Companies should be allowed to explore for coal seam gas on private property.
All schools should receive the same amount of money from the government.
Australia should become a republic.
More migrants should be allowed into Australia.
Medicare should offer basic dental care for everyone.
The NBN should deliver faster speeds even if it costs more.
Australia should spend more on foreign aid.
The government should spend less money and start paying off its debt.
A carbon tax for Australian businesses is a good idea.
The government should do more to tackle climate change.
Asylum seekers arriving by boat shouldn’t be allowed to settle in Australia.
Defence Dollars http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3502465.htm
Live Exports http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3236813.htm
Car Manufacturing http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3769106.htm
Mining Tax http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3374193.htm
Gas Dispute http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3148196.htm
School Funding http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3440825.htm
Republic http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3775972.htm
Migration Cuts http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2523683.htm
Dental Check-Up http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3445933.htm
NBN Plans http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3744562.htm
Overseas Aid http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3759807.htm
Budget Surplus http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3493730.htm
Carbon Tax http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3277508.htm
ETS Shelved http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2885085.htm
PNG Plan http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3809180.htm
AGREE NEUTRAL
Find out more information on these issues and politics at: abc.net.au/btn/government.htm
DrawPollie
Politician Caricature by:(USE ONLY YOUR FIRST NAME OR NICKNAME)
School Name:(INCLUDE STATE OR TERRITORY)
POLITICIANS NAME: SUBMIT YOUR DESIGNScanned (200dpi): [email protected] Post: Education Advisor, 85 North East Rd, Collinswood 5081PLEASE PROVIDE CONTACT DETAILS WHEN SUBMITTING.[please note, we may not be able to put all entries online]
You can create your caricature using pen, pencils, collage, ink, paint, watercolours, anything you like really! Listing: http://www.openaustralia.org/mps/