This lesson introduces students to the concept of advocacy by exploring awareness days and months. They will discuss the benefits of social advocacy and how these days impact society.

Year level

9-10

Duration

60 minutes

Type

In class activity

SEL Competencies

Self-management

Social awareness

Relationship skills

Learning intention

Students will grasp the concept of advocacy and its impact by exploring awareness days and months. As they investigate and communicate about specific advocacy initiatives, they will develop their research, presentation and critical thinking skills.

Key outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • define advocacy and explain its importance

  • identify various advocacy days/months and their purposes

  • analyse the impact of advocacy on communities

  • create and present information about a specific advocacy day/month.

Materials needed

  • 12 blank monthly calendar templates (one per group)

  • Textas, pens, pencils 

  • Students’ devices

  • Large sheets of paper or poster boards (one per group for mind maps)

Mapped to

Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Evaluate factors that shape identities and critically analyse how individuals impact the identities of others (ACPPS089)

  • Investigate how empathy and ethical decision making contribute to respectful relationships (ACPPS093)

  • Critique behaviours and contextual factors that influence health and wellbeing of diverse communities (ACPPS097)

Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities

  • Critical and Creative Thinking:

    • Generating ideas, possibilities and actions

    • Analysing, synthesizing, and evaluating information

  • Personal and Social Capability: 

    • Self-awareness

    • Social awareness

    • Social management

  • Ethical Understanding:

    • Exploring values, rights and responsibilities

NSW PDHPE Syllabus

  • Analyses factors and strategies that enhance inclusivity, equality and respectful relationships (PD5-3)

  • Assesses and applies self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD5-9)

  • Critiques their ability to enact interpersonal skills to build and maintain respectful and inclusive relationships in a variety of groups or contexts (PD5-10)

Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Evaluate factors that shape identities, and analyse how individuals impact the identities of others (VCHPEP144)

  • Investigate how empathy and ethical decision-making contribute to respectful relationships (VCHPEP146)

  • Plan, implement and critique strategies to enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (VCHPEP151)

Show details

Activity 1

Introduction to advocacy

10 minutes

  1. Discuss the concept of advocacy and its significance.

  2. Explain that advocacy days or months are dedicated to raising awareness about specific issues, promoting change and amplifying voices.

  3. Ask students: 

    • How do advocacy days benefit the community?

    • Have you encountered any advocacy days or movements?

  4. In pairs, students briefly discuss a cause they feel passionate about.

Activity 2

Advocacy calendar

10 minutes

  1. Divide students into 12 small groups.

  2. Allocate one month of the year to each group and provide them with a blank monthly calendar (digital or paper).

  3. Guide students to use reliable sources (provide a list of trusted websites) to research and create a calendar of awareness dates and months.

Examples: Reconciliation Week, World Refugee Day, R U OK? Day, Mental Health Month, Earth Day.

Activity 3

Deep dive mind map

10 minutes

  1. Students select a specific day/month to investigate further.

  2. Students prepare a mind map poster covering:

    • the origin and background of the advocacy day/month

    • key issues or causes associated with it

    • success stories or milestones achieved through advocacy efforts

    • ways individuals can participate or support the cause

    • the impact on community wellbeing and sense of belonging.

Activity 4

Gallery walk

10 minutes

  1. Set up a ‘gallery’ with each group's mind map displayed.

  2. Students rotate viewing and discussing different advocacy days/months.

  3. Provide a structured feedback form for students to complete as they view the mind maps.

  4. Encourage questions and discussions.

Activity 5

Reflection and discussion

10 minutes

  1. Facilitate a class discussion: 

    • What new information did students learn about various advocacy days/months?

    • How do these initiatives impact society?

    • Why is it essential to raise awareness and advocate for specific causes?

    • How can students contribute to advocacy efforts?

  2. Individual written reflection (5 minutes): Students choose one advocacy day/month they found particularly impactful and describe why.

Print

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              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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