Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Retired AFL star Adam Goodes is known to many for his resilient journey in the face of detrimental treatment by AFL spectators and the media beginning in 2013.
In this lesson, students move from activating their existing understanding of power to gaining a deeper and more nuanced understanding of what power can look, sound and feel like. Students access written and audiovisual resources to build their knowledge and support their analysis. Then students analyse how different individuals project power. Students develop their own criteria to determine who is the more powerful of two prominent Australian figures.
Using only archival footage aired at the time, The Final Quarter holds a mirror to Australia and is an opportunity to reconsider what happened on and off the football field. Learn more about the film here.
We highly recommend that students view the film in its entirety before participating in subsequent lessons. Our Watching the Film lessons are designed to support you in facilitating this process. Given the content, it is also important for teachers to communicate with parents and guardians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students before playing the film and/or engaging with the teaching and learning resources.
Note: This film may not be suitable for viewing by all young people. Teachers are advised to use their discretion when deciding whether to show this film. If teaching in a context with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, it is imperative that guidance is sought from the Principal and Aboriginal Education Officer (or equivalent) prior to screening the film.
Learning intentions:
- Students understand different types of power.
- Students understand sources of and barriers to power for individuals.
- Students understand how speakers construct themselves, or are constructed, as powerful.
- Students understand how powerful individuals are.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 9 English:
- Explore and reflect on personal understanding of the world and significant human experience gained from interpreting various representations of life matters in texts (ACELT1635)
Syllabus outcomes: EN5-7D
General capabilities: Literacy, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding
Cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures (OI.6, OI,9)
Relevant parts of Year 9 achievement standards: They evaluate and integrate ideas and information from texts to form their own interpretations. They select evidence from texts to analyse and explain how language choices and conventions are used to influence an audience. They listen for ways texts position an audience.
Topic: Learning Through Film, Social Issues, Indigenous Education
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: The Final Quarter – Mechanisms Of Power – English – Year 9
Time required: 80 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion.
Resources required:
- Adam Goodes Profile
- Andrew Bolt Profile
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Devices with internet capability
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
Keywords: comparison, research, audiovisual, analysis, power, The Final Quarter, documentary, Adam Goodes, Andrew Bolt, powerful, people, celebrities, influence.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
