Objective

By the end of this lesson, Francis will have a basic understanding of the government of Australia.

Materials and Prep

Materials needed: Paper, colored pencils, computer with internet access.

Prep: None required, just come ready to learn!

Activities

• Draw the Australian Flag: Research the Australian flag and draw it using your colored pencils.
• Research the Three Levels of Government: Look up information on the federal, state, and local governments in Australia. Write down one key fact about each level.
• Role Play Government Positions: Pretend to be the Prime Minister, a state governor, and a mayor. Discuss what each position does.

Talking Points

• Federal Government: "The federal government in Australia makes laws for the whole country. The leader is called the Prime Minister."
• State Government: "Each state in Australia has its own government that makes laws for that state. The leader is called the Premier."
• Local Government: "Local government looks after things like parks, libraries, and rubbish collections in your area. The leader is called the Mayor."
• Democracy: "Australia is a democracy, which means the people get to vote for who they want to make decisions for them."
• Parliament: "The Australian Parliament is where politicians meet to discuss and make laws. It's like a big decision-making club!"