The Final Quarter - The Power Of Words

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 5 English:

• Identify aspects of literary texts that convey details or information about particular social, cultural and historical contexts (ACELT1608)
• Understand how to move beyond making bare assertions and take account of differing perspectives and points of view (ACELA1502)
• Recognise that ideas in literary texts can be conveyed from different viewpoints, which can lead to different kinds of interpretations and responses (ACELT1610)

Years 5 & 6 Health and Physical Education:

• Recognise how media and important people in the community influence personal attitudes, beliefs, decisions and behaviours (ACPPS057)

Syllabus outcomes: EN3-8D, DMS3.2

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding, Intercultural Understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures (OI.5, OI.6, OI.9)

Relevant parts of Year 5 English achievement standards: 

Students explain how text structures assist in understanding the text. They understand how language features, images and vocabulary influence interpretations of characters, settings and events.

They develop and explain a point of view about a text, selecting information, ideas and images from a range of resources.

They contribute actively to class and group discussions, taking into account other perspectives. 

Relevant parts of Year 5 & 6 HPE achievement standards: 

Students explain the influence of people and places on identities. They recognise the influence of emotions on behaviours and discuss factors that influence how people interact.

They examine how physical activity, celebrating diversity and connecting to the environment support community wellbeing and cultural understanding.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: The Final Quarter – Exposing Truth. Embracing Diversity – Years 5 & 6

Time required: 95 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – facilitate class discussion with sensitivity to students’ feelings and experience (in relation to racial discrimination).

• Adam Goodes Profile – digital copy
• Device capable of presenting a video to the class
• Handling Sensitive Topics and Issues (optional)
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student

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

• Community engagement
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Cultural understanding
• Empathy
• Ethical understanding
• Social skills

Using only archival footage aired at the time, The Final Quarter holds a mirror to Australia and is an opportunity to reconsider what happened on and off the football field. Learn more about the film here.

We highly recommend that students view the film in its entirety before participating in subsequent lessons.

Our Watching the Film lessons are designed to support you in facilitating this process. Given the content, it is also important for teachers to communicate with parents and guardians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students before playing the film and/or engaging with the teaching and learning resources. 

Note: This film may not be suitable for viewing by all young people. Teachers are advised to use their discretion when deciding whether to show this film. If teaching in a context with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, it is imperative that guidance is sought from the Principal and Aboriginal Education Officer (or equivalent) prior to screening the film.