Australia's Harmony Day
On this page:
Part 1: About Harmony Day
Part 2: Examples of Resources
Part 3.a: ebook: Recipes for Harmony
Part 3.b: Teacher's Guide
Part 4: Activity: Diversity Challenge Chatterbox
Part 1: About Harmony Day
Part 2: Examples of Resources
Part 3.a: ebook: Recipes for Harmony
Part 3.b: Teacher's Guide
Part 4: Activity: Diversity Challenge Chatterbox
Part 1: About Harmony Day
This is an interesting site with many resources. It is developed by the Australian government for their nation's annual Harmony Day. Celebrated every March 21st, it commemorates Australia’s cultural diversity, highlighting its inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging. As Australia and Canada both share a negative past concerning the treatment of its Aboriginal people it offers many different possibilities for the integration of Aboriginal culture and contributions to the formation of the nation.
Part 2: Examples of Resources
The site contains a rich collection of unit ideas, lesson plans and student activities organized by level of schooling and subject area. You can also access an Interactive Whiteboard activities designed to help teach about valuing cultural diversity.
The site is very well-organized and easy to navigate. The information is presented in a very concise and manageable style that makes it easy to peruse. Here is an example:
The site is very well-organized and easy to navigate. The information is presented in a very concise and manageable style that makes it easy to peruse. Here is an example:
Some of the activities that I was particularly interested in the following activities from the primary level section.
Language studies: Language Treasure Hunt. Students research the origin of words that have origins in other languages.
Art: Colour of culture: Find out what meaning or significance colours have in different cultures. Create a design in one colour reflecting what that colour means in a particular culture.
History: Class Museum: Have students bring in photos and/or objects of significance in their family's history. Have students label and organize the objects. Invite parents and students to tour the 'museum'.
Geography: Stats and facts: Use the statistics from the latest Census (the Australian Bureau of Statistics) to find out some key information about Australia’s population. For example, the most commonly spoken languages other than English, countries of birth. Compare these with your own area.
Language studies: Language Treasure Hunt. Students research the origin of words that have origins in other languages.
Art: Colour of culture: Find out what meaning or significance colours have in different cultures. Create a design in one colour reflecting what that colour means in a particular culture.
History: Class Museum: Have students bring in photos and/or objects of significance in their family's history. Have students label and organize the objects. Invite parents and students to tour the 'museum'.
Geography: Stats and facts: Use the statistics from the latest Census (the Australian Bureau of Statistics) to find out some key information about Australia’s population. For example, the most commonly spoken languages other than English, countries of birth. Compare these with your own area.
Part 3.a: Recipes for Harmony
Recipes for Harmony is an interactive e-book available for download. It contains links to different audio and visual files. The book looks at several famous Australians of various backgrounds. It provides an overview of their experience of Australia's multiculturalism. It then highlights information concerning their cultural origin, including a historical overview, some key phrases and cultural practices. In line with its title page it also features recipes originating in the various cultures.
An interesting idea would be to create a Recipe for Harmony type book for your class incorporating famous Canadians of various origins and students' own personal stories.
An interesting idea would be to create a Recipe for Harmony type book for your class incorporating famous Canadians of various origins and students' own personal stories.
Part 3.b: Teacher's Guide
The book comes with a teacher's guide complete with lesson plans. I found the guide to offer a fairly repetitive approach to the book. Students are mostly called to compare and contrast with their own culture. However, primary students are often lacking a lot of information concerning different cultures, or, worse they rely on misinformation. So, the book will be a practical insight into different cultures for students who may not be in contact with Australians of various origins. It also provides some fun active games that teachers can use to develop a sense of belonging and appreciation of diversity. Here is a sample of some sample questions provided in the appendix section of the guide.
Part 4: Diversity Challenge Chatterbox
A fun take on a traditional children's game. Students make the chatterbox. There are many samples for templates online. Then students place different challenges inside. Classmates play the game and must accomplish the given challenge within 24 hours.