Activity Introduction

paul moulds at a squat

Quick summary: This lesson introduces some of the issues raised in THE OASIS and uses the inquiry method to encourage students to pose their own questions about the issues. Students watch the opening sequence of THE OASIS and begin to think about young people who are experiencing homelessness. They frame questions around the factors surrounding youth homelessness. Then, using on online search, students research an organisation that they think aims to address the issue of youth homelessness, and invite a guest to address their questions either in person in the classroom or via a web link. 

Key ideas to explore:

  • Youth homelessness is often invisible.
  • There are a number of different ways to view an issue.
  • Students can seek information autonomously. 

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)

Year 10 English

  • Evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in texts (ACELT1812)
  • Evaluate the impact on audiences of different choices in the representation of still and moving images (ACELA1572)

Year 11 English

Unit 1

  • Using appropriate form, content, style and tone for different purposes and audiences in real and imagined contexts (ACEEN011)

Unit 2

  • Analysing the values and attitudes expressed in texts (ACEEN038)

Year 12 English

Unit 3

  • Analysing the techniques and conventions used in different genres, mediums and modes (ACEEN044) 
  • The ways language patterns can create shades of meaning (ACEEN047)

Unit 4

  • Analysing content, purpose and choice of language (ACEEN063)

Syllabus Outcomes: EN5-1A, EN5-7D.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, Literacy.

Topic: THE OASIS, Social Issues

Unit of work: THE OASIS – English

Time required: 100 minutes

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate discussion.

Resources required: Student Worksheet – one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet. Device capable of presenting websites/videos to the class and access to THE OASIS documentary on Vimeo, Different types of homelessness factsheet.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities, investigating with ICT.

Homework and extension opportunities: Includes opportunities for extension.

Keywords: House, home, homelessness, youth, THE OASIS, community development.

Acknowledgement: This resource has been adapted from ‘Teaching Social Issues Through English’ developed with the English Teachers Association NSW and the ‘Youth Homelessness Matters Resource’ developed by Janice Atkin. You can find these resources here.

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

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

paul moulds at oasisTeacher preparation

Overarching learning goal: This tuning in lesson is designed to engage students in the topic of youth homelessness. Students begin to consider the issues that surround youth homelessness and recognise a number of ways to view the issues. They also understand that information can be accessed in a number of different ways, including local experts.

Teacher content information: This lesson is based on THE OASIS documentary, which raises awareness of youth homelessness, celebrates the resilience of young people who are experiencing homelessness in Australia and empowers the next generation of young people to take action to prevent youth homelessness in the future.

Young people often become homeless because of family breakdown, often stemming from parental conflicts or a collapse of their relationship with a husband/wife or partner. Some young people who are living independently become homeless because they can’t afford living expenses such as rent. Being homeless is u

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: On any given night in Australia, 1 in 200 people are homeless - Homelessness Australia

 

1. Note down the open-ended question about youth homelessness that you would like to know more about:

2. List some organisations (and people within them, if you can) that you could speak to in order to seek some ideas about your question:

Name of organisation

Contact person within that organisation

Phone number

Email address

Contacted?

Y/N

 

Reflection

The opening clip of THE OASIS is really confronting, especially for people who have not been exposed to the issue of youth homelessness previously.

In a written reflection, describe the aspect of the opening sequence that you found most confronting, as well as what your initial reaction to it was.
Then, reflect on how your view did or didn't change after speaking about the sequence with your classmates throughout this activity.

 

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