Introducing Parliament
This digital program provides an introduction to the Australian Parliament. Find out what the program covers, what your class needs to take part and book on this page.
What are laws, who makes them and how can you be involved? During the Introducing Parliament digital program, students work with our highly experienced Parliamentary Educators to understand the fundamentals of active citizenship and the work of the Australian Parliament. It explores:
- the similarities, differences and importance of rules and laws
- the role and responsibilities of representatives
- what it means to be an active citizen.
Aim
To introduce students to the work of the Australian Parliament in line with the Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum and your class program.
Group size
We recommend between 10 and 35 students to allow for best interaction with our educators. Bigger group sizes make it hard for your students to interact with our educators.
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Build background knowledge
Before the program, you might like to:
- Write short definitions of 'rules' and 'laws' using the 'Introducing...rules and laws' page.
- Think of some examples of rules and laws. Take a look at the rules brainstorm worksheet [doxc] for some ideas.
- Check with your students – How do we tell the difference between a rule and a law?
- Brainstorm – What is a representative? Then ask – Are there any representatives at our school or in this class?
- Watch a short video so your students can identify the 3 parts of the Australian Parliament and explain that representatives are chosen at an election: What is Parliament? [2 min 7 sec]
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Setup requirements
- Use one device to dial in. Use a laptop/tablet with a camera, microphone and web browser.
- Position your camera so the class is visible to the PEO educator.
- Most teachers use a smartboard or TV – make sure you check the speakers/microphone settings in Teams.
- Seat students near the microphone or have space for them to approach it.
- Do not record the session.
- A teacher or adult must remain with the group throughout the digital programs as part of our risk management policy and commitment to child safety.
- We appreciate your help in managing behaviour and facilitating activities and discussions.
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Go further
Continue the learning in your classroom with these activities:
- Students work in pairs or small groups to sort examples of rules and laws using the Rules and laws sort worksheet [docx].
- Planet Lawless is a busy place with lots of activity but it doesn’t have any laws or rules! Students work in pairs or small groups to identify rules and laws that could improve how things are run with the Planet Lawless activity.
- Develop a new law that applies to everyone and has legal consequences using the Proposal for a new law worksheet [docx].
- Revise the qualities that make a good representative by using a Y chart to collect and share ideas.
- Research the people (members and senators) who represent you in Parliament on the Australian Parliament House website.
- Students work in groups to decide: what is the issue? who could they talk to about it? and how could the issue be solved?, completing this community scenarios activity.
- Explore the different ways people can get involved with the Australian Parliament on the getting involved in Parliament factsheet.
- Have the class or individual students write a definition for an ‘active citizen’ and list some appropriate ways for primary school students to be one! (This could be as a poster for display in your classroom or school.)
Contact information
Email: peolearning@peo.gov.au or call 02 6277 3148.