This element involves students identifying, observing, describing and analysing increasingly sophisticated characteristics of their own cultural identities and those of others.
Students move from their known worlds to explore new ideas and experiences related to specific cultural groups through opportunities provided in the learning areas. They compare their own knowledge and experiences with those of others, learning to recognise commonalities, acknowledging differences between their lives and recognising the need to engage in critical reflection about such differences, seeking to understand them. Students recognise and appreciate differences between people and respect another person’s point of view and their human rights. In developing and acting with intercultural understanding, students:
- investigate culture and cultural identity
- explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices
- develop respect for cultural diversity.
Level 1
Typically by the end of Foundation Year, students:
Investigate culture and cultural identity
share ideas about self and belonging with peers
Explore and compare cultural knowledge beliefs and practices
identify, explore and compare culturally diverse activities and objects
Develop respect for cultural diversity
discuss ideas about cultural diversity in local contexts
Level 2
Typically by the end of Year 2, students:
Investigate culture and cultural identity
identify and describe the various groups to which they belong and the ways people act and communicate within them
Explore and compare cultural knowledge beliefs and practices
describe and compare the way they live with people in other places or times
Develop respect for cultural diversity
describe ways that diversity presents opportunities for new experiences and understandings
Level 3
Typically by the end of Year 4, students:
Investigate culture and cultural identity
identify and describe variability within and across cultural groups
Explore and compare cultural knowledge beliefs and practices
describe and compare a range of cultural stories, events and artefacts
Develop respect for cultural diversity
identify and discuss the significance of a range of cultural events, artefacts or stories recognised in the school, community or nation
This element involves students developing the skills to relate to and move between cultures through engaging with different cultural groups, giving an experiential dimension to intercultural learning in contexts that may be face-to-face, virtual or vicarious.
Students think about familiar concepts in new ways. This encourages flexibility, adaptability and a willingness to try new cultural experiences. Empathy assists students to develop a sense of solidarity with others through imagining the perspectives and experiences of others as if they were their own. Empathy involves imagining what it might be like to ‘walk in another’s shoes’ and identifying with others’ feelings, situations and motivations. In developing and acting with intercultural understanding, students:
- communicate across cultures
- consider and develop multiple perspectives
- empathise with others.
Level 1
Typically by the end of Foundation Year, students:
Communicate across cultures
recognise that people use different languages to communicate
Consider and develop multiple perspectives
express their opinions and listen to the opinions of others in given situations
Empathise with others
imagine and describe their own feelings if they were put in someone else’s place
Level 2
Typically by the end of Year 2, students:
Communicate across cultures
describe how the use of words and body language in interactions may have different meanings for various cultural groups
Consider and develop multiple perspectives
express their own perspectives on familiar topics and texts, and identify the perspectives of others
Empathise with others
imagine and describe the feelings of others in familiar situations
Level 3
Typically by the end of Year 4, students:
Communicate across cultures
recognise there are similarities and differences in the ways people communicate, both within and across cultural groups
Consider and develop multiple perspectives
identify and describe shared perspectives within and across various cultural groups
Empathise with others
imagine and describe the feelings of others in a range of contexts