Lesson summary
Students will explore different types of communities and the benefits of being part of a community. They will discuss why communities have rules and review the principles of the Commonwealth Charter to identify some of the benefits. Students will then work collaboratively to develop a classroom charter to highlight ways they can help create a harmonious classroom environment.
Learning intentions
Students will:
- learn about the Commonwealth community and its principles
- develop their own class charter.
Success criteria
Students can:
- explain that the Commonwealth is a community of countries
- understand the concept of a charter
- create a class charter.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- creative thinking
- critical thinking
- collaboration
- communication
- cultural understanding
- ethical understanding
- intercultural understanding
Curriculum Mapping
Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:
Year 3 HASS
- Students learn about why people participate within communities and how students can actively participate and contribute to communities (AC9HS3K07).
Relevant parts of Year 3 HASS achievement standards: Students describe the importance of rules and people’s contributions to communities.
General capabilities: Ethical Understanding, Intercultural Understanding, Personal and Social Capability
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – the teacher will need to be familiar with the historical context of the content to confidently facilitate class discussions, encourage students to work effectively in small groups and undertake online research.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
Resources Required
- device for displaying a presentation
- The Commonwealth Charter Factsheet
- What are the Commonwealth Games? Visual Explainer
- whiteboard and whiteboard markers
Additional Info
These resources have been created with the support of the Australian Commonwealth Games Team, via Commonwealth Games Australia.
The Australian Commonwealth Games Team are set to take on the athletes of he world at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games from next year, and together the more than 250 athletes in green and gold aim to be the top nation at the Games in terms of gold and overall medals won, the number of medallists, and the number of sports winning medals.
You can cheer on Australia’s best across the screens of 7 and 7Plus from 23 July 2026.
Related Professional Learning
Building a Positive Classroom Culture With Our Students
Quick summary: This course will explore strategies for building a positive classroom culture with your students, regardless of their age, year level, or frequency of teaching.
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