Coward Punch - The Thin Line Between Crimes

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 8 Civics and Citizenship:

• The types of law in Australia, including criminal law and civil law, and the place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customary law (ACHCK064)
• Critically analyse information and ideas from a range of sources in relation to civics and citizenship topics and issues (ACHCS070)

Syllabus outcomes: N/A

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking

Relevant parts of Year 8 achievement standards: 
Students recognise different types of law in Australia and explain how laws are made. When researching, students develop a range of questions to investigate Australia’s political and legal systems and critically analyse information gathered from different sources for relevance. They develop and present reasoned arguments on civics and citizenship issues using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work STOP the Coward Punch: Civics and Citizenship – Years 7 to 10

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – teacher will support students to learn legal terminology and differentiate between laws and facilitate class activities and discussion on complex issues

• Criminal Offences Factsheet
• Device capable of presenting a video to the class
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student

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

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving

These resources have been designed in partnership with Danny Green's STOP the Coward's Punch campaign.

Danny Green’s STOP the Coward Punch campaign was started in 2012 with the aim of raising awareness of the devastating effects of the coward punch on the community, including the physical and mental scars survivors, families and friends are left with for life.

STOP the Coward Punch believes in the right of all people to enjoy themselves, safely and free from violence. With support from entertainers, athletes, community leaders, politicians and everyday Australians, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the simple precautions we – as a community and as individuals – can take to ensure safe and enjoyable outings and, ultimately, reduce the number of coward punch occurrences in our communities.