Aspire Generation: Aspire to Make a Difference - Work Studies - Years 9 & 10

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: This lesson explores the concepts of volunteering and community service as well as the benefits of participating in these activities. Through viewing a short online clip and internet research, students will be introduced to La Trobe University’s Aspire Generation, and will explore how they themselves can become positive contributors to their community.

This lesson supports La Trobe University’s Aspire Generation initiative, which empowers students to drive change through community engagement, volunteerism and leadership opportunities.

Essential questions:

What is volunteering?
What is community service?
What can I contribute to my local community?
What skills do volunteering/community service help to develop?

21st century skills:

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 9 Work Studies

Explain the importance of active and lifelong learning for personal and community development (ACWSCL004)

Year 10 Work Studies

Focus their learning strategies on personal and work-related aspirations (ACWSCL024)

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability

Relevant parts of Year 9 achievement standards: Students understand the importance and components of self-directed and lifelong learning.

Relevant parts of Year 10 achievement standards: Students understand the importance of growing self-awareness in improving learning, accessing work opportunities and developing appropriate skills and making more-informed subject and career choices. They synthesise increased self-knowledge and career information to school and career-based decisions and create potential career scenarios.

Topic: Enterprise Learning

Unit of work: Aspire Generation – Work Studies

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion.

Resources required: Student Worksheets – one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet. Printed Hexagonal Thinking templates, scissors, glue and blank A4 sheets of paper (enough for students to work together in pairs). Device capable of presenting a video to the class.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities, internet research.

Keywords: Volunteerism, community service, service learning, Aspire Generation.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Overarching learning goal: Students will understand volunteering and community service and will see themselves as being able to contribute to their local community. They will find out about La Trobe University’s Aspire Generation, and understand that through their volunteerism and community service, they can join a community of young people who are doing good in their world.

Teacher content information: This Work Studies unit has been developed in partnership with La Trobe University Aspire Generation. The Aspire Generation connects a community of young people who aspire to make a difference through community service and leadership. They are the givers, the dreamers, the doers and the leaders who passionately pursue opportunities to address the big issues of their time. They think boldly and act responsibly and strive to leave a lasting impact on the world.

Through classroom-based experiences students will learn about the world of work, as well as to trust themse

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Successful people are always looking for an opportunity to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking: “What’s in it for me?”

1. Watch the video about the Aspire Generation program lead by La Trobe University and answer the questions below.

Aspire Generation (https://youtu.be/inK1lgRMZBQ)

In your own words summarise what the Aspire Generation program is about:

How does the Aspire Generation program connect people to university entry opportunities?

What skills and attributes do you think you could build being part of the Aspire Generation?

Here are some links that you mind find useful if you want to find out more about what you explored in this lesson:

Find out more about Latrobe University Aspire Generation here:
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/study/aspire/aspire-generation

Find out more about La Trobe University Aspire Program here:
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/study/aspire

Find out more about Orange Sky Laundry here:
http://www.orangeskylaundry.com.au/

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Activity: Aspire Generation: Aspire to Make a Difference – Work Studies – Years 9 & 10