Magna Carta - The story of our freedom

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 5 Humanities and Social Sciences:

• The key values that underpin Australia’s democracy (ACHASSK115)
• Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions (ACHASSI105)

Year 6 Humanities and Social Sciences:

• Key figures, events and ideas that led to Australia’s Federation and Constitution (ACHASSK134)
• Experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants, women and children (ACHASSK135)
• The key institutions of Australia’s democratic system of government and how it is based on the Westminster system (ACHASSK143)
• Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions (ACHASSI133)

General capabilities:  Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding, Personal and social capability

Australian Curriculum cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture OI.9

Syllabus Outcomes: HT3-3, HT3-4, HT3-5.

Time required: 4 x 60 mins, plus 20 mins homework reflection activity.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – facilitate student activities.

• Video: Magna Carta – the story of our freedom by the Australian Human Rights Commission
• Infographic: Magna Carta interactive infographic by the Australian Human Rights Commission

Additional resources: 

• Poster: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights by Zen Pencils
• Website: Racism. It stops with me
• Website: Close the Gap: Indigenous Health Campaign

To mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, the Australian Human Rights Commission has partnered with Cool Australia to help students develop their understanding about the evolution of human rights since 1215 and the impact that Magna Carta has had on our human rights and freedoms in Australia today.