Teachers’ Resource Kit

2015

strengthening our community

Proudly presented by

Strengthening Our Community 14–22 March 2015

Victoria celebrates Cultural Diversity Week annually to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March.

Cultural Diversity Week provides an opportunity for Victorians of all ages to participate in and acknowledge the benefits that social, religious and linguistic diversity bring to our state.

It is a time to;

celebrate multiculturalism,

denounce racism,

and promote social harmony and mutual respect.

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The Victorian Multicultural Commission encourages all schools to participate in Cultural Diversity Week – there are many ways that teachers can get their students involved.

In this resource kit we hope to provide you with some inspiration to help you plan lessons, activities, excursions and events to explore themes around cultural diversity.

The suggested activities in this kit should be seen as a starting point for multicultural education in schools. Multicultural perspectives should be embedded throughout the curriculum, rather than as just a “one-off” event.

There are many authoritative sources for teaching strategies and class activities to develop inclusive curriculum. A visit to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) Languages and Multicultural Education Resource Centre (LMERC) is advisable for expert advice and access to a vast array of quality resources. See multicultural.vic.gov.au to download a detailed resource list for teachers, including curriculum plans.

Multicultural Education has been mapped against the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) and this mapping can be used to ensure that multicultural perspectives are included across all domains of the curriculum. This mapping is available at: www.ausvels.vcaa.vic.edu.au

One of the seven general capabilities highlighted in the new Australian Curriculum is intercultural understanding. This newly developed curriculum emphasises the need for students to “learn about and engage with diverse cultures in ways that recognise commonalities and differences, create connections with others and cultivate mutual respect.” Cultural Diversity Week is a fitting time to highlight the learning around this capability.

At the back of this document you will find a list of contact details to further assist your planning.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK 2015

Teachers’ Resource Kit

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Interactive activities and project ideas

Guest speakers or performers

Invite a guest speaker or performer to your school. You could consider:

> A musician or dancer from Victoria’s multicultural community

> A local business owner with an ethnic background

> A representative from an ethnic community in your area

> A faith leader from a local mosque, church, synagogue or temple

> An indigenous elder from your area

> A representative from your local Migrant Resource Centre, the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, a local Interfaith Network, or the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

> A multicultural ambassador from a sporting body (ie AFL, Cricket Australia, Soccer and many other bodies all have multicultural ambassadors)

Exploring family and local history

> Develop a project about family history. Students could bring in photos of family members, mementos, diaries or family trees / histories for ‘show and tell’, or deliver a presentation about their family background. The photos or mementos could be used to develop an exhibition or museum for the local school community. Consider taking part in Museum Victoria’s Making History project which allows students to research, make and share their own family or community history using a range of digital tools. The project is suitable for primary and secondary students see: museumvictoria.com.au

> Research the indigenous history of the local area. Consult with the indigenous landowners, and invite them to speak to the students.

> As part of a classroom activity, use proverbs and folktales (both in original languages and translated versions) from around the world and explore similarities and differences between them. Units of work on using folktales in the classroom are available from LMERC (see details in Resources and Contacts List at the back of this document).

> Develop students’ understanding of different beliefs and faith by exploring the features they share. A large collection of resources on religions of the world is available for loan from LMERC.

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Class debate

Hold a class debate with middle years to senior students to debate a topic of interest or importance. Taking part in a debate has the potential to improve verbal communication skills and enhance confidence in public speaking, argument building and persuasion. It will be necessary to provide ground rules for your class if they have not participated in debating before. Ensure that the ground rules are maintained and that all opinions are treated respectfully.

Some relevant statements/topics for debate could include:

> The root of all racism is ignorance;

> Cultural diversity is Victoria’s greatest asset

> Mandatory detention of asylum seekers;

> Human rights are everybody’s responsibility; or

> All Victorians have civic duties.

On 21 March an orange ribbon can be worn to mark the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, affirming our belief in the opportunity for all Victorians to live freely without fear of discrimination and vilification.

(Orange ribbons can be ordered from the VMC free promotional material – www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

World Expo

Decorate the school with promotional material, maps, photos, faces or have a fete with stalls representing different countries or continents of the world. Deepen this work by developing units of work on different aspects of multicultural education for each class level in the school. This work can culminate with each class presenting some of their work to the school during Cultural Diversity Week so that the learning is highlighted and shared.

Dress up day

Students could come to school in cultural clothes that represent a country of their family’s heritage or in national flag colours. Younger students could be encouraged to make a hat or head-dress from recycled materials. A great way to display the different traditional forms of dress from around the world is to hold a fashion parade for all the school at which students can participate as the models with fellow students providing background information that they have researched on the represented countries.

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Melbourne’s cultural museums and resource centres

Immigration MuseumOffers school excursions and the use of educational materials; online services; outreach kits; and teacher professional development activities.

Tel: 13 11 02Web: www.museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum

Hellenic MuseumRuns programs that promote understanding and appreciation for the rich cultural traditions of ancient and contemporary Greece. Excursions can be arranged.

Tel: 8615 9016Web: www.hellenic.org.au

Islamic Museum of Australia Aims to showcase the rich artistic heritage and historical contributions of Muslims in Australia and abroad. Tours and education kits designed by teachers can be arranged.

Email: info@islamicmuseum.org.auWeb: www.islamicmuseum.org.au

Chinese Museum The museum has a comprehensive education program designed by teachers, across a range of subject areas. Tours can be combined with various cultural workshops and demonstrations. The Travelling Chinese Museum can even visit your school

Tel: 9662 2888Web: www.chinesemuseum.com.au

CO.AS.IT. Co.As.It. Resource Centre re-creates a little piece of Italy for teachers of Italian, students of Italian and for whoever has a passion for Italy, its language, culture and history. The library supports the educational needs of teachers and students of Italian from pre-school to tertiary level, and has a comprehensive selection of resources.

Tel: 9349 9000Web: www.coasit.com.au

Koorie Heritage Trust Aims to protect, preserve and promote the living culture of Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia. The Trust offers educational programs and cultural tours.

Tel: 8622 2600Web: www.koorieheritagetrust.com

Excursions

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Local cultural precincts

Visit a cultural precinct or area of cultural significance in Melbourne or throughout regional Victoria. If you are making the trip into Melbourne, the City Circle Tram service provides a free and convenient way to get around the city. The tram travels a circuit of the CBD, and links with other trams, train and light rail services. The tram will take you within easy walking distance of significant cultural attractions like the Immigration Museum, Lygon Street Italian precinct, Lonsdale Street Greek precinct, Birrarung Marr, Little Bourke Street Chinatown.

Other culturally and linguistically diverse precincts in greater Melbourne include:  Asian precincts in Glen Waverley, Richmond, Box Hill, Footscray and Springvale; the Jewish precinct in Carlisle St, St Kilda; the Greek precinct in Oakleigh; the Turkish precinct in Broadmeadows; and the Arabic precinct in Sydney Road, Coburg.

Places of worship tour

Interfaith Networks have been established in various municipalities who run tours for school groups to visit places of worship of the local faith communities. The tours can include visiting a Hindu Temple, a Sikh Gurdwara, an Islamic Mosque, a Buddhist Temple, a Christian Church, Indigenous sacred sites and spiritual traditions.

Faith Communities Council of Victoriawww.faithvictoria.org.au

City Circle Tram visitwww.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ route/view/1112

For information about what’s on in the City of Melbourne, visit www.thatsmelbourne.com.au.

In regional Victoria, there are many attractions and monuments that have cultural or religious significance – many of these are listed at www.visitvictoria.com

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Dance

Learn about different countries’ dance rituals and styles and hold multicultural dancing classes either with an instructor from a community organisation, a culturally diverse artist, a teacher or a parent if available.

Plan a dance performance promoting a variety of dances and music. Create a program to include information about each dance, including its meaning, purpose, costumes and tradition.

Sport

Assign groups to research particular sports and then hold a multicultural sports day where new and different sports are played throughout the day by students and teachers.

Music

Ask students to write and perform a rap, song, chant, jingle or rhyme of cultural significance to them or celebrating diversity.

Students could perform at school assemblies, multicultural concerts, or family twilight activities.

Art and craft

Flag-makingThe activity of flag-making during class provides students the chance to undertake research about the significance and symbolism of national flags and then reproduce flags from the nations of the world. Students could be encouraged to use a range of artistic techniques to complete their artwork. These flags can then be displayed around the school during Cultural Diversity Week and beyond, with some accompanying information which reflects the students’ research.

Food

> Ask students to prepare a dish from their family’s country of origin and bring it into school for a shared multicultural lunch. To alleviate the possibility of stereotyping, allow students to make dishes which are family favourites and not necessarily representative of their ethnicity.

> Invite a guest from a local community organisation, a teacher or a parent to show children how to make a dish from their culture. If facilities permit, you can have the students participate in this demonstration and make some simple dishes during school hours.

Physical activity, performance and music

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Educational

Classroom learning There are a number of simple ways the messages of Cultural Diversity Week can be incorporated into your school curriculum.

For middle and later years students

History

Explore multiculturalism and migration to Victoria in a historical context – you could also look at the history of genocide and racial conflict, significant civil rights movements and avenues for protection of human rights in Victoria.

Humanities Discuss what it means to live in a multicultural society – look at the cultural richness of our society and the benefits this diversity brings.

Political StudiesExplore the political systems of some of the countries that Victorians have originated from, human rights in the Australian political context and the relevance of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

Geography Assign students to teams to research the geography of different nations around the world and present their findings to the class. Nations could be chosen according to the cultural background of students, or to prevent stereotyping nations could be assigned to students randomly. This prevents students from feeling that they are representatives for their ethnic group.

Economics/CommerceDiscuss the economic contribution of migrants to Victoria or about international economies.

Media StudiesLook at how multiculturalism is reported on in the media. How are migrants and refugees portrayed? Discuss the meaning of bias and stereotyping and ask students to analyse some examples of biased newspaper or television reporting. You could also explore the prevalence and reach of ethnic media channels.

Legal StudiesDiscuss current laws surrounding cultural diversity and human rights, such as the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001, the Multicultural Victoria Act 2011, the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006. Students could also research human and civil rights movements around the world and international human rights law.

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English/LiteratureStudy a range of texts, including some written by Australians of migrant, refugee or religious background – or texts that discuss cultural/religious issues. Some relevant titles include:

> Do, Anh (2010) The Happiest Refugee. Allen & Unwin.

> French, Jackie (2011) Nanberry: black brother white. Angus & Robertson.

> Grant, Neil (2012) The Ink Bridge. Allen & Unwin.

> Mazari, Najaf & Hillman, Robert (2008) The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif. Insight Publications.

> Pajalic, Amra (2009) The Good Daughter. Text

> Pung, Alice (ed.) (2008) Growing up Asian in Australia. Black Ink.

> Starke, Ruth (2008) Noodle Pie. Omnibus.

> Vincent, David Nyuol (2012) The Boy Who Wouldn’t Die. Allen & Unwin.

MathematicsDevelop an understanding about how intercultural understanding can be enhanced in Mathematics. Resources for incorporating global perspectives in the mathematics classroom go to www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/projects-and-initiatives/cultural-diversity-week.

Analyse a filmSelect a film with relevant themes and discuss with the class. LMERC holds an excellent collection of films with a human rights focus and many have teacher’s notes and student activities included. These films are available for loan. Some suggested titles include:

> Movies about racism (To Kill a Mockingbird, Australian Rules)

> Genocide (Schindler’s List, Diary of Anne Frank, Hotel Rwanda, Welcome to Sarajevo)

> Civil and human rights movements (Mississippi Burning, A Time to Kill); and

> Foreign films (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Motorcycle Diaries, The Weeping Camel, Whale Rider).

Go Back To Where You Came From Interactive School Resources contain curriculum-relevant tutorials based on video clips from the series. The tutorials include student activities, supported by teacher notes with background information, facts and statistics. www.sbs.com.au/goback/schools/resources/series

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For early years students

English / ReadingSelect books which demonstrate diversity , with themes such as ‘belonging’ or ‘feeling different’, refugee / migration experiences, or folktales / stories from other cultures. Discuss the themes that arise from these stories. During discussion be careful not to confirm stereotypes.

GeographyAsk students to speak with their families about where their relatives originated from. Display a world map in the classroom, and have children place a marker on their / their family’s country of origin.

ArtProduce flags, hats or head-dresses to represent the nationalities of the students in the class.

Languages Discuss history connected to the language being learnt – e.g. in Italian class, talk about the history of Italian migration to Australia.

Free promotional support material to help you celebrate Cultural Diversity Week

An assortment of Promotional Support materials is available for your school to order for activities relating to Cultural Diversity Week – these include posters, bookmarks, pencils etc. For more information and order form go to the VMC website; www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

Cultural Diversity Week 2015 primary school art competition

The Cultural Diversity Week Primary School Art Competition is conducted by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC). The Competition starts on Monday 2 February 2015 and ends at 5pm on Monday 2 March 2015.

Entry is open to children residing and attending a primary school in Victoria. A maximum of one entry per student can be submitted for consideration.

The competition, with the theme ‘Strengthening Our Community’ which is also the common theme being used to celebrate Cultural Diversity Week, has three categories: Prep to Grade 1, Grade 2 to Grade 4, and Grade 5 to Grade 6. Students are invited to draw, paint, create a collage or otherwise create an artwork that reflects the theme.

All finalists received a certificate, and their artwork will be displayed in the Atrium at Federation Square during the Viva Victoria multicultural festival to be held on Sunday 22 March 2015.

For more information relating to the Primary School Art Competition terms and conditions go to the VMC website;

www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

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CONTACT DETAILS

Guest speakers or performers

Search the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Community Directory to find community contacts and details of Migrant Resource Centres in your local area:

www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/resources/ community-directory

Multicultural Arts Victoria (provide a brokerage service for multicultural artists and performers)

Tel: +61 3 9188 3681Web: www.multiculturalarts.com.au

Ethnic Communities Council of VictoriaTel: +61 3 9349 4122Web: www.eccv.org.au

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre(can provide speakers from a refugee background)

Tel: +61 3 9326 6066Web: www.asrc.org.au

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights CommissionTel: 1300 891 848Email: education@veohrc.vic.gov.auWeb: www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au

Koorie Heritage TrustTel: +61 3 8622 2600Web: www.koorieheritagetrust.com

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

The Immigration MuseumThe Immigration Museum has a great website full of education activities which you might like to link to;

www.museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/ talking-difference

Together For HumanityTogether For Humanity has developed a set of modules for teachers and students to explore diversity called Difference Differently which could be of benefit – www.differencedifferently.edu.au

LMERC (Languages and Multicultural Education Resource Centre)150 Palmerston Street, Carlton

Tel: +61 3 9349 1418Email: lmerc.library@edumail.vic.gov.auWeb: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/cultures/Pages/lmerc.aspx

This is the Department of Education and Early Childhood’s specialist resource centre for teachers. Experienced staff provide advice on resources and curriculum to support multicultural education in line with the AusVELS and the forthcoming Australian curriculum. The service is provided free of charge to all Victorian school teachers. LMERC holds a collection of more than 30,000 resources in the following areas:

> Global, multicultural and inclusive education

> Civics and citizenship education

> Languages other than English

> English as an additional language

Please Note – Information provided in this kit

is accurate at the time of production.

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Primary School Art Competition

The art competition incorporating the theme, ‘Strengthening Our Community’ will be held in three categories:

Prep – Grade 1Grade 2 – Grade 4Grade 5 – Grade 6

Students are invited to draw, paint, create a collage or otherwise create an artwork that reflects the theme.

All artwork needs to be submitted to the VMC by 5.00pm

Monday 2 March 2015. Finalists will be notified in early

March 2015.

All finalists will receive a certificate, and their artwork will

be displayed in the Atrium at Federation Square during the

Viva Victoria multicultural festival on Sunday 22 March 2015.

There are also great prizes on offer for winners and their

schools in each category!

Competition guidelines and a cover sheet can be

downloaded from the VMC website:

multicultural.vic.gov.au

victoria multicultural festival

Proudly presented by

victoria multicultural festival

Proudly presented by

strengthening our community

Sunday 22 March 2015Federation Square