Parliament versus Monarch

At a glance

• Focus question 1: What does it mean to have absolute power?
• Focus question 2: What is a parliament?
• Focus question 3: What is the difference between 'divine right' and 'citizen's right'?
• Focus question 4: How has the power moved from the monarch to the people?
• Focus question 5: How does Australian parliamentary democracy reflect its British inheritance?

Focus question 1: What does it mean to have absolute power?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
introducing absolute monarchy King John and Magna Carta	listen to narratives   use sources   collate information complete oral or written reports	whole class: Handout 5 groups: Handouts 3, 4 OHTs: Handouts 1, 2 student folders to store information sheets throughout the unit one envelope of 'clues' for each group (see Activity 3)

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 2: What is a parliament?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
introducing parliament Westminster system	translate diagrams	OHTs: Handouts 2, 6 whole class: Handout 7

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 3: What is the difference between 'divine right' and 'citizen's right'?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
Stuart Parliament   divine right   King Charles I	listen for  information develop student glossaries complete a simulation use source material construct a timeline prepare oral or written reports	one copy (cut up): Handout 8 whole class: Handouts 9, 13 groups: Handouts 10-12 Stories of Democracy CD ROM clue envelopes containing Handouts 10-12 (cut up) container, money (food or tokens)

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 4: How has the power moved from the monarch to the people?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
William and Mary of Orange constitutional monarchy Declaration of Rights	translate diagrams   complete a diagram	OHTs: Handouts 14, 15 whole class: Handouts 5, 7, 16 Parliament versus Monarch poster

Teaching and learning activities

Focus question 5: How does Australian parliamentary democracy reflect its British inheritance?

Content	Activities (Assessment activities are in bold italics.)	Preparation
Australia's system of government   comparing systems	develop student glossaries   summarise ideas compare systems     complete oral and written reports	whole class: Handouts 7, 17, 18, 19 Stories of Democracy and Parliament at Work CD ROMs The Commonwealth Government poster

Teaching and learning activities