Stories of the People and Rulers

At a glance

• Focus question 1: Who rules?
• Focus question 2: Should one person rule?
• Focus question 3: Should the people rule?
• Focus question 4: Who rules in Australia?
• Focus question 5: How should a nation be ruled?

Focus question 1: Who rules?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
absolute power   rulers and decision-makers	list and share information create a concept map	poster paper and markers student folders to store work

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 2: Should one person rule?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
Ancient Egypt   monarchy   rights and responsibilities	conduct a role-play   construct a power pyramid present oral/written reports complete a CD ROM interactive	whole class: Handouts 1, 2, 3 atlas or globe   groups: Handout 4   cut out the eight boxes from Handout 4 Stories of Democracy CD ROM

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 3: Should the people rule?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
Ancient Greece     direct democracy Assembly and the Council of 500 majority voting	conduct a ballot simulation   use source material present oral and written reports complete a CD ROM interactive complete information charts prepare captions for drawings	whole class: Handouts 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 OHT: Handout 8 Stories of Democracy CD ROM

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 4: Who rules in Australia?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
representative democracy Australian government Australian citizenship	interpret visuals   apply criteria   compile retrieval charts design a ballot form vote for representatives	copy and cut up: Handout 11 OHT: Handout 12   whole class: Handout 13 Parliament@Work website prepare about 17 (in a class of 28) 'right to vote' cards: 5 'Born in Australia'; 5 'Born overseas, Australian parent'; 2 'Adopted in Australia'; and 5 'Naturalised'. See Activity 3 for full details cut students' names from a class list, fold the strips of paper and place them in a hat

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 5: How should a nation be ruled?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
different forms of rule	complete a simulation   form comparisons conduct a role-play create a poster create and play a game complete a CD ROM interactive	whole class: Handouts 14, 16 (on card) OHT: Handout 15 drawing materials, poster paper game tokens and dice The Time Tube poster Stories of Democracy CD ROM

Teaching and learning activities