Civics and Citizenship (Version 8.4)

Please select at least one year level to view the content
Please select at least one Strand to view the content

Rationale

A deep understanding of Australia's federal system of government and the liberal democratic values that underpin it is essential in enabling students to become active and informed citizens who participate in and sustain Australia’s democracy.

Read More >>

Aims

The Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship aims to ensure students develop:

a lifelong sense of belonging to and engagement with civic life as an active and informed citizen in the context of Australia as a secular democratic nation with a dynamic, multicultural, multi-faith society and a Christian heritage

Read More >>

Structure

The Years 7–10 Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship is organised into two interrelated strands: civics and citizenship knowledge and understanding, and civics and citizenship inquiry and skills.

Read More >>

PDF documents

Resources and support materials for the Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship are available as PDF documents. 
Civics and Citizenship: Sequence of content 7-10
Civics and Citizenship: Sequence of achievement 7-10  

Read More >>

Glossary

Read More >>

Year 8

Year 8 Level Description

The Year 8 curriculum provides a study of the responsibilities and freedoms of citizens and how Australians can actively participate in their democracy. Students consider how laws are made and the types of laws used in Australia. Students also examine what it means to be Australian by identifying the reasons for and influences that shape national identity.

The civics and citizenship content at this year level involves two strands: civics and citizenship knowledge and understanding, and civics and citizenship skills. These strands are interrelated and have been developed to be taught in an integrated way, and in ways that are appropriate to specific local contexts. The order and detail in which they are taught are programming decisions.

Key inquiry questions

A framework for developing students’ civics and citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills at this year level is provided by the following key questions:

  • What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens in Australia’s democracy?
  • How are laws made and applied in Australia?
  • What different perspectives are there about national identity?

Year 8 Content Descriptions

Government and democracy

The freedoms that enable active participation in Australia’s democracy within the bounds of law, including freedom of speech, association, assembly, religion and movement (ACHCK061 - Scootle )
Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Examine values
  • Explore rights and responsibilities

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Reasoning in decision making and actions
  • Consider consequences

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Understand relationships
  • Contribute to civil society

  • explaining how each freedom supports active participation in Australia’s democracy
    Ethical Understanding

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Consider consequences
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Listen and respond to learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Contribute to civil society

  • discussing how and why ‘the bounds of law’ can limit these freedoms
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Literacy

    Grammar knowledge
    • Use knowledge of words and word groups
    • Express opinion and point of view
    • Use knowledge of sentence structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Ethical Understanding

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Contribute to civil society
    • Understand relationships

  • considering the circumstances that can lead to dissent in a democracy
    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Contribute to civil society

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Consider consequences
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

  • debating how to manage situations when rights and freedoms are in conflict (for example, whether it should be a matter for parliaments or judges to resolve)
    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Consider points of view
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social management
    • Communicate effectively
    • Negotiate and resolve conflict

How citizens can participate in Australia’s democracy, including use of the electoral system, contact with their elected representatives, use of lobby groups, and direct action (ACHCK062 - Scootle )
Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Explore rights and responsibilities
  • Examine values

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Reasoning in decision making and actions
  • Consider consequences

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Organise and process information
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Understand relationships
  • Contribute to civil society

  • comparing the effectiveness of different forms of participation in Australia’s democracy
    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Contribute to civil society

  • exploring how elected representatives can advocate on behalf of citizens
    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Literacy

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Contribute to civil society

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

  • investigating examples where citizens have taken direct action such as organising a public demonstration or social media campaign
    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Contribute to civil society
    • Understand relationships

  • analysing how opinion polls are conducted and the ways they are used in democratic debate
    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Literacy

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Contribute to civil society

  • exploring the different ways that citizens can participate in and support Australia’s democracy through their working lives, such as by serving in the armed services or as a reservist, teaching, representing Australia abroad as a diplomat or aid worker, or joining the police service or the public service
    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Contribute to civil society
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

Laws and citizens

How laws are made in Australia through parliaments (statutory law) and through the courts (common law) (ACHCK063 - Scootle )
Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Explore rights and responsibilities

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Contribute to civil society

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

  • comparing some examples of statutes and common laws and the way they are made and outlining the hierarchy of these different types of laws (for example, that statutes will override the common law)
    Literacy

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Listen and respond to learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

  • distinguishing statutory and common law from executive law (delegated law) and identifying how the Houses of Parliament can disallow delegated legislation
    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Listen and respond to learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

  • discussing examples of recent laws passed through parliaments that enact government policy
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Pose questions
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Grammar knowledge
    • Use knowledge of words and word groups
    • Express opinion and point of view
    • Use knowledge of sentence structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Ethical Understanding

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Consider consequences

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

The types of law in Australia, including criminal law and civil law, and the place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customary law (ACHCK064 - Scootle )
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
Ethical Understanding

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Reasoning in decision making and actions
  • Consider consequences

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Consider points of view
  • Explore rights and responsibilities

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Understand relationships
  • Contribute to civil society

Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Develop respect for cultural diversity
  • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

  • explaining the difference between criminal law and civil law
    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
    • Use language to interact with others

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

  • considering the significance of customary law for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
    Ethical Understanding

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Examine values
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society
    • Understand relationships

    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others

Citizenship, diversity and identity

The values and beliefs of religions practised in contemporary Australia, including Christianity (ACHCK065 - Scootle )
Ethical Understanding

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Consider points of view
  • Examine values

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives
  • Contribute to civil society

Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Investigate culture and cultural identity
  • Develop respect for cultural diversity
  • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

  • identifying Christian traditions that have influenced the development of Australian society, democracy and law
    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Contribute to civil society
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Examine values

    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Investigate culture and cultural identity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

  • identifying the values and beliefs of religions practised in contemporary Australia (for example, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism)
    • Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia
    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Examine values

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Investigate culture and cultural identity
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

Different perspectives about Australia’s national identity, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, and what it means to be Australian (ACHCK066 - Scootle )
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
  • Develop respect for cultural diversity
  • Investigate culture and cultural identity

Interacting and empathising with others
  • Empathise with others
  • Consider and develop multiple perspectives

Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
  • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Organise and process information
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas

Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Examine values
  • Explore rights and responsibilities

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives
  • Contribute to civil society

  • investigating representations of Australian identity evident in national day events (such as Anzac Day), and in the media and popular culture, to analyse different perspectives on the interpretation of national identity
    Intercultural Understanding

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Empathise with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Investigate culture and cultural identity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity

    Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
    • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Pose questions
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Draw conclusions and design a course of action
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

  • examining contemporary influences on the shaping of Australian national identity, such as the natural environment, immigration, attitudes to Asia and Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other Australians
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Investigate culture and cultural identity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
    • Empathise with others

    Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
    • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning
    • Draw conclusions and design a course of action

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Pose questions
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Examine values
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

How national identity can shape a sense of belonging in Australia’s multicultural society (ACHCK067 - Scootle )
Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
  • Investigate culture and cultural identity
  • Develop respect for cultural diversity

Interacting and empathising with others
  • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
  • Empathise with others

Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
  • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Consider points of view
  • Explore rights and responsibilities

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives
  • Contribute to civil society

  • examining personal stories to explore how individuals relate to national identity and how it impacts on their sense of belonging in the Australian community
    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity
    • Investigate culture and cultural identity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
    • Empathise with others

    Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
    • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Ethical Understanding

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning
    • Draw conclusions and design a course of action

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

  • exploring the extent of ethnic diversity in Australia
    Literacy

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
    • Investigate culture and cultural identity

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Examine values

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

Questioning and research

Develop a range of questions to investigate Australia's political and legal systems (ACHCS068 - Scootle )
Literacy

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
  • Compose texts

Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
  • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
  • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
  • Comprehend texts

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Ethical Understanding

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information
  • Pose questions

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Understand relationships
  • Contribute to civil society

Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Investigate culture and cultural identity

  • developing complex and open-ended questions to explore a civics or citizenship topic such as ‘freedoms’ (for example, ‘What do our freedoms mean in practice?’ and ‘What do you consider to be the most important freedom?’)
    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Contribute to civil society

    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Pose questions

    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Investigate culture and cultural identity

Identify, gather and sort information and ideas from a range of sources (ACHCS069 - Scootle )
Literacy

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose texts
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
  • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
  • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
  • Comprehend texts

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Organise and process information
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas

Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
  • Consider alternatives

  • identifying sources offering different perspectives on an issue (for example, finding out about the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customary law)
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
    Literacy

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Intercultural Understanding

    Recognising culture and developing respect
    • Develop respect for cultural diversity
    • Explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Consider and develop multiple perspectives

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

  • collating a list of different sources of information and prioritising the list based on an assessment of usefulness and reliability
    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Apply logic and reasoning

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives

Analysis, synthesis and interpretation

Critically analyse information and ideas from a range of sources in relation to civics and citizenship topics and issues (ACHCS070 - Scootle )
Literacy

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
  • Comprehend texts
  • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
  • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
  • Compose texts

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Critical and Creative Thinking

Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
  • Consider alternatives

Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
  • Draw conclusions and design a course of action
  • Apply logic and reasoning

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

  • examining language choices in a range of texts to identify purpose, audience and reliability (for example, those used by candidates in an election campaign or by a lobby group)
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action
    • Consider alternatives

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Literacy

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

  • using a variety of sources to develop conclusions about Australian national identity
    Literacy

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Consider points of view

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reflect on ethical action
    • Consider consequences
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Consider alternatives
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

Problem-solving and decision-making

Appreciate multiple perspectives and use strategies to mediate differences (ACHCS071 - Scootle )
Literacy

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
  • Comprehend texts
  • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
  • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose texts
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

Personal and Social Capability

Social management
  • Make decisions

Social awareness
  • Contribute to civil society
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives

Intercultural Understanding

Interacting and empathising with others
  • Consider and develop multiple perspectives
  • Empathise with others

Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
  • Mediate cultural difference
  • Reflect on intercultural experiences

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Consider points of view

  • using empathy to appreciate the influences or circumstances that may have informed different perspectives
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Consider points of view
    • Examine values

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Explore ethical concepts in context
    • Recognise ethical concepts

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reflect on ethical action
    • Reason and make ethical decisions

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Contribute to civil society
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

  • recognising assumptions in their own and other people’s thinking when mediating differences
    Intercultural Understanding

    Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
    • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices
    • Mediate cultural difference

    Interacting and empathising with others
    • Empathise with others

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Consider points of view

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences
    • Reflect on ethical action

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social management
    • Negotiate and resolve conflict

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

  • using culturally inclusive behaviours during class discussions and meetings
    Intercultural Understanding

    Reflecting on intercultural experiences and taking responsibility
    • Challenge stereotypes and prejudices

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Personal and Social Capability

    Self-management
    • Become confident, resilient and adaptable
    • Express emotions appropriately

    Social management
    • Work collaboratively
    • Communicate effectively

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others

Use democratic processes to reach consensus on a course of action relating to a civics or citizenship issue and plan for that action (ACHCS072 - Scootle )
Literacy

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Grammar knowledge
  • Express opinion and point of view

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts
  • Compose texts
  • Use language to interact with others

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
  • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
  • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
  • Comprehend texts

Personal and Social Capability

Social management
  • Make decisions

Social awareness
  • Contribute to civil society
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
  • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Consider points of view

  • participating in a simulation to achieve consensus (for example, a mock court case or parliamentary committee)
    Ethical Understanding

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Consider consequences
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Reflect on ethical action

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social management
    • Make decisions

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

  • working in groups to evaluate the options before deciding on any course of action (for example, to influence change relating to a current event or issue)
    Literacy

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Social management
    • Communicate effectively
    • Work collaboratively

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action
    • Consider alternatives

    Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
    • Evaluate procedures and outcomes

Communication and reflection

Present evidence-based civics and citizenship arguments using subject-specific language (ACHCS073 - Scootle )
Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Organise and process information
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas

Literacy

Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
  • Navigate, read and view learning area texts
  • Comprehend texts
  • Listen and respond to learning area texts

Grammar knowledge
  • Express opinion and point of view

Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
  • Deliver presentations
  • Compose texts

Word Knowledge
  • Understand learning area vocabulary

Text knowledge
  • Use knowledge of text structures

  • using appropriate terms and concepts such as ‘freedoms’, ‘responsibilities’, ‘statutory law’ and ‘customary law’
    Literacy

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing
    • Interpret and analyse learning area texts
    • Navigate, read and view learning area texts

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas
    • Organise and process information

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

  • creating material for public distribution with a specific purpose and context (for example, an advertisement promoting participation in Australia’s democracy)
    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Compose spoken, written, visual and multimodal learning area texts

    Grammar knowledge
    • Express opinion and point of view

    Word Knowledge
    • Understand learning area vocabulary

    Text knowledge
    • Use knowledge of text structures

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives
    • Contribute to civil society

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Generating ideas, possibilities and actions
    • Imagine possibilities and connect ideas
    • Seek solutions and put ideas into action

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Transfer knowledge into new contexts

Reflect on their role as a citizen in Australia’s democracy (ACHCS074 - Scootle )
Ethical Understanding

Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
  • Explore rights and responsibilities
  • Consider points of view
  • Examine values

Understanding ethical concepts and issues
  • Explore ethical concepts in context

Critical and Creative Thinking

Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
  • Identify and clarify information and ideas
  • Organise and process information

Reflecting on thinking and processes
  • Reflect on processes

Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures
  • Draw conclusions and design a course of action

Personal and Social Capability

Social awareness
  • Appreciate diverse perspectives
  • Contribute to civil society

Intercultural Understanding

Recognising culture and developing respect
  • Investigate culture and cultural identity

  • considering how personal experiences and circumstances influence their identity as a citizen and how they relate to others
    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Understand relationships
    • Appreciate diverse perspectives

    Self-awareness
    • Recognise personal qualities and achievements
    • Develop reflective practice

    Ethical Understanding

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values
    • Consider points of view
    • Explore rights and responsibilities

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others

  • considering the factors that shape the way they meet their responsibilities as a citizen (for example, where they live)
    Ethical Understanding

    Reasoning in decision making and actions
    • Reason and make ethical decisions
    • Consider consequences
    • Reflect on ethical action

    Exploring values, rights and responsibilities
    • Explore rights and responsibilities
    • Examine values

    Understanding ethical concepts and issues
    • Recognise ethical concepts
    • Explore ethical concepts in context

    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas
    • Organise and process information
    • Identify and clarify information and ideas

    Reflecting on thinking and processes
    • Reflect on processes

    Personal and Social Capability

    Social awareness
    • Contribute to civil society

    Literacy

    Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating
    • Use language to interact with others


Year 8 Achievement Standards

By the end of Year 8, students analyse features of Australian democracy, and explain features of Australia’s democracy that enable active participation. They recognise different types of law in Australia and explain how laws are made. They identify the diverse belief systems in Australia and analyse issues about national identity and the factors that contribute to people’s sense of belonging.

When researching, students develop a range of questions to investigate Australia’s political and legal systems and critically analyse information gathered from different sources for relevance. They explain different points of view on civics and citizenship issues. When planning for action, students take into account multiple perspectives, use democratic processes, and develop solutions to an issue. Students develop and present reasoned arguments on civics and citizenship issues using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts. They identify ways they can be active and informed citizens in different contexts.


Year 8 Work Sample Portfolios