Story of Our Rights and Freedoms - Understanding Democracy

In this Finding Out lesson, students will watch a video introduction of the concept of democracy, then use the ‘See-Think-Wonder’ visible thinking routine to review their understanding. They will work in pairs to dig deeper into what they are wondering about through an online research task. Students will then learn about the rule of law and what happens without the rule of law in a jigsaw classroom investigation. Students will connect the concepts explored in the lesson by listing three ways that the rule of law protects the democratic rights and freedoms that we enjoy in Australia, and reflect on their understanding in a pyramid of reflection.

Essential questions:

• What are the features of a democratic society?
• What is the rule of law?
• What happens if there is no rule of law?
• How do democracy and the rule of law ensure that we enjoy rights and freedoms?