An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations, and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilisations, from local and global perspectives.

Central Idea: Diversity enriches communities.

Lines of Inquiry:

An inquiry into:

1. How family life and places have changed over time (Change)
2. The diversity of traditions (Connection) 
3. How appreciating diversity helps us understand each other (Perspective)

Thinkers - I am thoughtful and think before I speak and act.

Open-minded - I know that people are different and may think differently than me, I appreciate my culture and the values and traditions of others.

Caring - I have a caring attitude towards people and places. I want to make a positive difference in the lives of others, and I am sensitive to their needs.

Research Skills - I can ask questions and make connections. I can make a choice about what information I need to answer a question.

Thinking Skills - I am being exposed to new ideas that inspire me. I can support my decisions using information I have learnt.

Social Skills - I show respect for others and their cultural heritage and traditions.

Provocation – World Cultures Experience 

Students looked at images representing different cultures around the world - traditional dress, music, landscape, housing etc. Students recorded their thinking on these posters that will remain on display in the classroom.

Provocation Music Immersion – Student Voice:

• I think the music came from different countries like Japan and Europe. (Emme)
• I heard bagpipes and I know they are from Scotland. (Eloise)
• I thought of different countries when I listened to the music. (Henry)
• I heard the Haka, it’s from a different culture. (Eva)
• I think we might be learning about different countries around the world. (Max)

Provocation – Student Reflections 

After the provocation activity, the students engaged in a reflection regarding what they saw and what they were wondering.

Harmony Day 

Holy Trinity students dressed up in a cultural costume or wore the colour orange to celebrate Harmony day. We discussed all the places around the world that they were born and where their family came from. The students are all very proud of their cultural heritage.

National Museum of Australian Excursion 

Students participated in the ‘A Living Culture’ education program at the National Museum of Australia. Students handled and explored a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander objects to help them understand the ways in which Indigenous cultures have evolved and adapted in the last 200 years.

Excursion Student Reflections

Students wrote a reflective recount about their excursion to the National Museum of Australia. They all found different things of interest and asked some inquisitive questions about what they had seen, heard, and learnt.

 “Island Born” by Junot Diaz 

After reading this story about cultural heritage, each student artistically created an image from the place they were born, a place where they have lived or the place where their family originated from.

Guest Speaker – Gerard Hogan 

One of the parishioners from our Church, Gerard Hogan, spoke to the students about being a soldier in the war. He made some interesting comparisons between the clothes, food and equipment the soldiers had in the past and what current soldiers use today. The students asked, “Do bullets explode when they hit the ground?” “How did the soldiers heat their food?” “What information was on your id tag?”

Constable Kenny Koala Visit 

Year 1 had a visit from Constable Kenny Koala. Kenny gave us some tips about how we can stay OK in our community. These included:

• When crossing the road always stop, look, listen, think then walk.
• If you get lost: stay calm, don’t wander, tell a trusted person.
• If you get lost find someone you can trust wearing a uniform like a police officer or a shop keeper.
• Wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard.
• Always stop and think before making a choice. Ask yourself…is it safe, healthy, or kind?

Teacher Topic Talks & Guest Speaker 

The Year 1 Teachers & our Guest Speaker each presented a topic talk about themselves. They presented information about what life was like for them growing up in the past. They shared information about their family, where they lived, where they went to school, the sports they played, what they enjoyed doing in their spare time and what they wore.

Compare & Contrast 

In response to the teachers and guest speaker’s topic talks, the students were asked to complete a Venn diagram. They identified similarities and differences between life in the past to the life they experience in the present.

Staying Safe in the Community – Early Warning Signs 

Students were asked to identify the changes in their body that occur when their body is telling them that they are unsafe. They were also asked to explain why their body’s respond in this way.

Staying Safe in the Community – Safety Network 

Students were asked to identify the people in their community that they trust. They were asked to consider the adults in their life and people within the community that are trustworthy.

Community Brochures 

Students created a brochure about a local community they are a part of. Students included necessary information for prospective members considering joining this community.

Student Voice:

• I learnt that people around the world live differently and have different cultures, we should be grateful for all the things we have. We are fortunate to live in Australia. (Arthur)
• I learnt that all countries around the world are special. We are all unique and we should celebrate that, like we did on Harmony Day. (Lilliana)
• I learnt about different cultures, like how the Indigenous people lived off the land and took care of the environment many years ago. (Jackson)
• I learnt what things were like in the past. I learnt that people wore different clothes, they lived in smaller houses and what life was like for the teacher when they were kids. (Georgia)
• I learnt how to keep myself safe in my community. I need to ask a grown-up with a uniform and a badge for help if I am lost. (Finley)