Teaching Resource

Australian Citizenship Day 17th September

How your school can celebrate Australian Citizenship Day

Following are some ideas on how your school could celebrate Australian Citizenship Day 2007:

Hold an Australian citizenship affirmation ceremony at a special assembly. For more information, go to the website.
See: Resources
Invite well-known local celebrities, or representatives or members of your community, from different backgrounds to talk to your students about their decision to become an Australian citizen and what it means to them.
Invite members of your local community, including former staff or students, to talk about aspects of Australia and Australian life, including Australia’s history, values and institutions.
Organise an art, speaking or writing competition entitled, ‘What it means to be an Australian citizen.’
Produce a painting, or write a speech or a piece of poetry or prose, on your favourite Australian and how he or she has contributed to Australia and its development. Display the works in a prominent position for parents, students and school visitors to view.
Set up a special Australian citizenship display representing the institutions, values, symbols, responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.
Plant a special Australian Citizenship Day tree or garden bed at your school or, with permission, in a nearby park.
Hold a special lunch, with an Australian citizenship theme, for students, families, friends and perhaps other members of the local community.
Invite each class to prepare readings, poems, artwork or slide shows to share with other classes at a school assembly on the theme of ‘What it means to be an Australian citizen.’
Collect pieces of music that have been written about Australia, and have different classes perform each of them at an assembly.
Hold an affirmation ceremony at an assembly. Some students might like to speak about why Australian citizenship is important to them. Perhaps invite your local mayor to watch the ceremony.
Ask staff members and students to each create a clay square with a symbol of Australia and use them to make a tiled walkway or mural.

For lesson and activity ideas on how individual classes can celebrate Australian Citizenship Day and downloadable and printable student activity sheets, visit the website.
See: Resources