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 become more media-literate through critically responding to the diversity of points of view in the media. With a focus on one key scenario, students use visual, verbal and written strategies to understand how different facts can be responded to with a range of perspectives. Students identify key points of view within several texts, and then learn to visualise the connections and relationships between points of view and opinions through the use of dialogue mapping. This provides students with a useful skill that they can apply in other contexts where they are discussing contentious issues. Finally, students apply their learning to their own lives, reflecting on media-literate ways to form opinions about current events.
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 the role of the media in reporting fact, but also in presenting points of view.
- Students understand why different people have different opinions.
- Students reflect on their own opinions and how they differ from/relate to others’ opinions.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 7 English:
- Identify and explore ideas and viewpoints about events, issues and characters represented in texts drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (ACELT1619)
Syllabus outcomes: EN4-8D
General capabilities: Literacy, Intercultural Understanding, Personal and Social Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking
Cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures (OI.6, OI,9)
Relevant parts of Year 7 achievement standards: Students explain issues and ideas from a variety of sources, analysing supporting evidence and implied meaning. They select specific details from texts to develop their own response, recognising that texts reflect different viewpoints. They listen for and explain different perspectives in texts.
Topic: Learning Through Film, Social Issues, Indigenous Education
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: The Final Quarter – Media Constructions – English – Year 7
Time required: 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate discussion and dialogue map.
Resources required:
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Paper for dialogue map (preferably larger than A4)
- Coloured pens or highlighters (four colours)
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
Keywords: perspectives, point of view, media analysis, fact, opinion, language analysis, persuasive writing, media literacy, The Final Quarter, documentary, Adam Goodes.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
