Left vs. Right Politics

We are approaching the end of our government unit of work and I have found this excellent diagram explaining the (typical) meaning of the 'left and right sides' of politics.

We began discussing these concepts today in class, I was surprised at how interested the students were! Perhaps you could begin your own discussions with your child about the different facets of politics, we only scratched the surface.

This diagram was located on the website 'information is beautiful.' The author has also published a book which is truly amazing, but is more aimed at adults.
Click to enlarge.

Canberra Links

In week 7 we will be having our Canberra trip! All of Year 5 & Year 6 will be attending this camp.

Here are some links should you like to see what your child will be up to!

DAY ONE

The Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive. The Memorial's purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war. Its mission is to assist Australians to remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of war and its enduring impact on Australian society.
You can visit the education page here.


Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is Australia's premier sports training institute, internationally acknowledged as a world's best practice model for high performance athlete development.


National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia explores the land, nation and people of Australia. The Museum celebrates Australian social history in a unique way by revealing the stories of ordinary and extraordinary Australians, promoting the exploration of knowledge and ideas and providing a dynamic forum for discussion and reflection.
You can visit their Kids page here.

DAY TWO

AEC Electoral Education Centre
Conveniently located in the heart of the Canberra parliamentary triangle, the National Electoral Education Centre (NEEC) is a fun and interactive way to learn about Australia's electoral system.
During a visit to the NEEC participants will have an opportunity to:
•Enjoy a spectacular multi-media presentation on the history of democracy and elections in Australia in a purpose-built theatrette
•Enhance their knowledge of the electoral process through hands-on activities in our Discovery Zone
•Vote in an election and experience first-hand the electoral process and allocation of preferences.


Museum of Australian Democracy
The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House helps people to understand Australia’s social and political history by interpreting the past and present and exploring the future. We achieve this by:
- bringing alive the importance of Parliament in the lives of Australians;
- interpreting, conserving and presenting the building and our collections;
- providing entertaining and educational public programs; and
- providing a range of other services that enhance the visitor experience.


Parliament House
The Parliamentary Education Office is located here.

DAY THREE

Questacon
The National Science and Technology Centre located in Canberra, Australia presents free games, quizzes and activities to explain science to children and teenagers.


National Gallery of Australia
The education page is located here.



We will be staying at The Eaglehawk Holiday Park.

Arrival back at School: Approximately 6:30pm Wednesday (Avoca Street bus stop.)

See you then!

Government Homework Project

Our Government Homework Project is due this Friday 3rd of June.

The homework posters have started rolling in, so I thought I'd place a few of them here for parents to see!

'A Day in Barack Obama's World - American Government in a Nutshell'

National Sorry Day

Today we had a class visit where we discussed the Stolen Generation and the importance of 'Sorry Day' to Australians.

You can visit the National Sorry Day website here.


The original 'I have a dream' speech.

Exhibition: From Little Things Big Things Grow

The Museum of Sydney is currently presenting an exhibition called 'From Little Things Big Things Grow.'

This exhibition tells the story of a group of Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who said 'That's not good enough' – and did something about it. The exhibition tells some uncomfortable truths and celebrates some 'ordinary extraordinary' heroes.

I'm sorry to say that the exhibition runs until the 8th of May - just another week! but if there is any way you can visit - the theme ties directly in with our unit of work this term.

You can visit the website here.

You can also view the 'Gadigal Place' exhibition during your visit, which explores the traditional lives and early contact experiences of the Gadigal and other Aboriginal clans of the Sydney basin. It reveals fascinating stories about how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people interacted in the early days of the colony.

The 'Gadigal Place' exhibition runs until the end of December 2011.

Day trip to Kirribilli

The first real day of holidays and my head is still at work! Well, not really, I wanted to get some exercise so decided to walk from my flat in Potts Point to the Sydney home of our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. The name of her residence is 'Kirribilli House.'

I had no idea that the walk from my flat to Kirribilli was almost 9km (Thanks iPhone!) Here are some photos from my walk, I hope it helps to out you into the right frame of mind for our upcoming Government unit.

I started out by walking through The Botanical Gardens. There is lots of school holiday activities happening here, but I recommend taking a self guided walk with your family.
Of course the first thing I saw of interest were the cockies, who were busy making a mess out of some trees.

A new sculpture has recently been installed, eventually lots of trees will be growing out of it to make a 'wave like' structure. Worth a look!

So I continued on my way to Kirribilli, walking across the Harbour Bridge. When I got there I noticed these Hills Hoists right near the Harbour, how very Australian.

When I got to Kirribilli House, the first thing I was greeted by was a 'Keep Out!' sign.

And there it is - Julia Gillard's house!

The nameplate outside of Kirribilli house.

My legs now very tired, I ended up catching the ferry back to Circular Quay from Kirribilli, I even got a little seasick on the trip (very typical of me!)

I do believe that Kirribilli House has an annual open day, it seems to happen around September or October of every year, you just have to keep your eyes on the internet as it is not heavily advertised.

If you'd like to visit the area yourself, it is definitely good for a walk around and there are lots of parks and cafes to stop by in for a rest. I also bought a few cheeky Easter Eggs from Coco Chocolate, definitely recommended!