Story of Our Rights and Freedoms - Understanding Conciliation

Story of Our Rights and Freedoms - Understanding Conciliation

Lesson 1 of 4 in this unit

  • Secondary
  • Year 9 - 10
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Civics and Citizenship
  • Social
  • Equality
  • Homelessness
  • Human Rights
  • Social Action
  • ...

Lesson summary

In this Finding Out lesson students will consider what discrimination is and how it can be addressed. They will read scenarios in which discrimination occurs and share their opinions in a group discussion. Students will read case studies of discrimination claims and consider points of view from both parties. Students will then explore the process of conciliation and when it can be effective.

Essential questions:

  • What options are available for resolving disputes besides the court system?
  • When is it appropriate to engage in conciliation?
  • What is the link between conciliation and rights and freedoms?

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson Plan
Student Worksheet
Teacher Content Info

Lesson details

Curriculum mapping

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 9 Civics and Citizenship:

  • Reflect on their role as a citizen in Australian, regional and global contexts (ACHCS089
  • Present evidence-based civics and citizenship arguments using subject-specific language (ACHCS088

General capabilities: Literacy 

Relevant parts of year 9 achievement standards: Students analyse a range of factors that influence identities and attitudes to diversity. They reflect on how groups participate and contribute to civic life. They compare and account for different interpretations and points of view on civics and citizenship issues. When planning for action, students take into account multiple perspectives, use democratic processes, and negotiate solutions to an issue. Students develop and present evidence-based arguments on civics and citizenship issues using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts.

Unit of work: Story of Our Rights and Freedoms – Year 9

Time required: 120 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High–read scenarios, facilitate student discussions.

Resources required

  • Student Worksheet – one copy per student
  • Device capable of audio/visual presentation to present a website to the class
  • Understanding Discrimination Presentation. Conciliation or not? handout (printed, one per pair)
  • Conciliation Case Studies handout (one per student)
  • Glue, butcher’s paper (optional)

Skills

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Ethical Understanding
  • Empathy

Additional info

Throughout the Story of Our Rights and Freedoms lessons, students will consider Civics and Citizenship concepts through a human rights lens. They will critically assess the Australian system of government and the effect that it has on our rights and freedoms.
There is no universally accepted definition of human rights, and our understanding is continually developing. Some definitions include:

  • The recognition and respect of peoples’ dignity
  • A set of moral and legal guidelines that promote and protect the recognition of our values, our identity and access to an adequate standard of living
  • The basic standards by which we can identify and measure inequality and fairness
  • Those rights associated with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

When we talk about human rights we usually refer to principles that have been agreed upon by countries throughout the world. These rights have been set down in international agreements and form part of international law. They can also be written into the domestic law of individual countries. Human rights cover virtually every area of human life and activity. These include:

  • Civil and political rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom from torture
  • Economic and social rights, such as the rights to health and education
  • Individual rights, including the right to a fair trial
  • Collective rights, or those rights that apply to groups of people, such as the right to a healthy environment or to live on one’s ancestral land.

The UDHR is an international document that recognises the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 and marks a key milestone in the history of human rights. The Magna Carta, though limited in who it protected, was an important precursor to the UDHR.

Click here to watch a video about the Magna Carta.

You can view the entire text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the other core international human rights treaties, on the United Nation’s website or by downloading RightsApp (free from the iTunes App store).

lesson saved in resources

Save

Download

Share

More from this unit

See all
See all

Related content

Loading content...
Loading content...
Loading content...
Loading content...