Activity Introduction
Quick summary: So what is poverty and why should I care? The collective responsibility is an important one, not only when it comes to ending poverty but also when addressing the misconceptions associated with what poverty and inequality are and what it looks like in Australia. This lesson aims to destigmatise the experience of living in poverty and highlight the idea that action at any level, but particularly at the government and community policy level, is critical to meeting the sustainable development commitment to end poverty in all its forms. To achieve this, students work with a number of stimulus materials to develop their understanding of poverty and inequality before finally developing an action plan to engage with a local organisation in order to reduce poverty within their community.
Learning intentions:
- Students will understand the broader dimensions of poverty in Australian society and how it impacts individuals
- Students will develop empathy and evaluate the impacts of poverty on individuals within specific groups or characteristics in society
- Students will identify ways to take action within their community to address the issue of poverty and inequality.
21st-century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Years 7 & 8 HPE:
- Practise and apply strategies to seek help for themselves or others (ACPPS072)
- Evaluate health information and communicate their own and others’ health concerns (ACPPS076)
- Plan and use health practices, behaviours and resources to enhance health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (ACPPS077)
Syllabus outcomes: PD4-1, PD4-2, PD4-7.
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability.
Relevant parts of Year 7 & 8 HPE achievement standards:
Students investigate strategies and practices that enhance their own, others’ and community health, safety and wellbeing. Students demonstrate skills to make informed decisions, and propose and implement actions that promote their own and others’ health, safety and wellbeing.
Topic: Poverty and Inequality in Australia
Time required: 90+ mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion, lead students in activities.
Resources required:
- A device that allows students to conduct research in a safe manner
- A bucket that can hold 7L
- Inequality in Australia 2020 Factsheet
- Poverty in Australia – Fast Facts
- Scrap paper (for a class of 25 you will need 75 pieces of scrap paper, consider using the schools’ paper recycling bins)
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
Keywords: community, health, inequality, poverty, social action, volunteer.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.