This edition of Primary Matters unpacks a range of Australian Curriculum resources and new work samples published throughout 2019. Stories from curriculum specialists Caty Morris and Danielle Cavanagh showcase recently published resources that support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority and the general capabilities, and how these can be used in the primary classroom.
New Australian Curriculum resources to be published in 2020 are highlighted at the end of the edition.
In response to feedback from community and educators, ACARA published 95 new elaborations in October 2018 to help teachers to incorporate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum: Science. These elaborations acknowledge that Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have worked scientifically for millennia and continue to contribute to contemporary science.
Supporting teacher background information for Years F–6 and 7–10 are now available to assist teachers in planning and teaching culturally appropriate and scientifically rigorous learning experiences.
- Provide provocations on how to embed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cross-curriculum priority within learning areas.
- Explore possibilities of on-Country learning linked with the Australian Curriculum: Science.
- Assist in opening a dialogue with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Provide a tool for self-reflection in relation to the priority, organising ideas and key concepts.
New work samples have been published throughout 2019 for HASS F–6/7, History 7–10 and Languages: German, Korean, Modern Greek, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Work samples illustrate portfolios to demonstrate student learning in relation to achievement standards. Each portfolio comprises a collection of student work samples in response to outlined learning/assessment tasks.
Example of Year 4 HASS work samples
Example of Years 3 and 4 German work samples
How can work samples help me in my school/classroom?
- Compare work samples at different levels of achievement to assist making judgements.
- Assist in opening a dialogue about assessment principles such as validity, reliability, moderation, questioning and making on balance judgements.
- Provide a tool for self-reflection in relation to aligning learning/assessment tasks to the achievement standards.
- Provide opportunities to consider a range of learning/assessment tasks in alignment to the achievement standards.
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