The Every chance to learn: Curriculum framework for ACT schools has essential content within the later childhood band relevant to the Discovering Democracy unit, ‘Stories of the People and Rulers’.

Later childhood band

ELA 22 The student understands and values what it means to be a citizen in a democracy.

Democratic features

• 22.LC.3 The three levels of government in Australia (local, state, federal).

Democratic principles

• 22.LC.6 The role and purpose of having a constitution, elections, parliament, government, political parties, elected representatives and civic participation.
• 22.LC.7 Key civic terms used in Australia that have been inherited from other times and places (eg ‘democracy’, ‘citizen’, ‘government’ and ‘parliament’).
• 22.LC10 The influence of different types of rule on people’s lives (eg absolute monarchy, democracy).

ELA 23 The student understands world events and issues.

Historical and cultural context

• 23.LC.6 How issues and events that are happening in the world are connected to things in the past.
• 23.LC.7 Features of cultures and societies relating to world events and issues.
• 23.LC.8 How different people can have different values and beliefs in different times and places.

Learning outcomes within Stages 2 and 3 of the Human Society & Its Environment K–6 Syllabus are relevant to the Discovering Democracy unit, ‘Stories of the People and Rulers’.

Stage 2

Social Systems and Structures

Roles, Rights and Responsibilities

• SSS2.8 Investigates rights, responsibilities and decision-making processes in the school and community, and demonstrates how participation can contribute to the quality of school and community life.

Stage 3

Change and Continuity

Time and Change

• CCS3.2 Explains the development of the principles of Australia democracy (eg definitions of citizenship).

Social Systems and Structures

Roles, Rights and Responsibilities

• SSS3.8 Explains the structures, roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes of state and federal governments, and explains why Australians value fairness and socially just principles (eg democratic political structures; civic action; civic decision-making; representation and democratic processes; electoral processes; Australian and other systems of government).

Student learning outcomes within bands 1 and 2 of the Studies of Society and Environment Learning Area of the Northern Territory Curriculum Framework are relevant to the Discovering Democracy unit, ‘Stories of the People and Rulers’.

Band 1

Social Systems and Structures

Civics, Governance and Social Justice

• Soc 1.3 Participate in and reflect on a range of group decision-making processes and explain how individual and group behaviour affect the rights of others.

Band 2

Social Systems and Structures

Time, Continuity and Change

• Soc 2.1 Research past events to evaluate why change occurs and its impact on the community (eg aspects of life in previous generations such as Ancient Egypt).

Civics, Governance and Social Justice

• Soc 2.3 Make informed decisions and choices about immediate local issues and define social justice and its relevance to societies (eg define democracy and use democratic processes).

Student learning outcomes within Levels 2 and 3 of the Studies of Society and Environment Years 1 to 10 Syllabus are relevant to the Discovering Democracy unit, ‘Stories of the People and Rulers’.

Level 2

Time, Continuity and Change

• TCC 2.1 Students explore different meanings about an event, artefact, story or symbol from different times.

Level 3

Systems, Resources and Power

• SRP 3.4 Students describe the basic principles of democracy and citizenship from ancient to modern times.
• SRP D3.8 Students develop an argument for citizenship from the perspective of a person without citizenship in a democracy of the past.

Standard 2 in Society and Environment of the South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability Framework is relevant to the Discovering Democracy unit, ‘Stories of the People and Rulers’.

Standard 2

Time, continuity and change

• 2.3 Analyses aspects of people’s lives and heritages in relation to broader social issues and events, and imagines future possibilities (eg why things happened).

Social systems

• 2.12 Describes and participates in decision-making processes and interprets the effects of decisions on people (eg decision-making processes to determine which groups have power; impact of decisions on different groups).

Strands and Performance criteria at Standard 2 in the Society and History Syllabus of The Tasmanian Curriculum are relevant to the Discovering Democracy unit, ‘Stories of the People and Rulers’.

Standard 2

Strand 2 Democratic values and processes

• Students understand democratic values and processes in society, government and the law (eg Stage 4: democratic values and processes; Stage 5: participation in democratic processes).

Strand 5 Responsible citizenship

• Students understand how individuals and groups take action to positively influence change (eg Stage 4: decision-making; Stage 5: participation in democratic processes; Stage 6: how democratic decisions are made and applying democratic decisions in small groups).

Strand 6 Historical inquiry

• Students undertake historical inquiries in relation to continuity and change in society (eg Stage 4: compare information and sequence events; Stage 5: identify connections between evidence from different time periods; Stage 6: recognise that historical events can influence the future).

Strand 7 Philosophical inquiry

• Students undertake philosophical inquiries into issues and beliefs in society (eg how and why people make decisions; direct and indirect democracy).

Strand 8 Communication

• Students acquire, critically examine and communicate information (eg Stage 4: combine information to make simple meaningful communications; Stage 5: recognise that different people can have different perspectives).

A standard in the domain of Civics and Citizenship within the Victorian Essential Learning Standards is relevant to the Discovering Democracy unit, ‘Stories of the People and Rulers’.

Level 3

Civic knowledge and understanding

• Students describe the purpose of government, some familiar government services and the roles of some leaders and representatives.