Teacher notes
Learning intentions
This resource requires students to understand the historical context, key events, and impacts of the attacks on Australia during the Second World War.
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- explain and summarise the historical context and the key events of the attacks on Australia
- describe the impacts of the Second World War on Australian society
- synthesise the information into a creative or critical response.
Lesson resources
- Australia under attack lesson
Teaching ideas
This Australia under attack lesson can be used for learning in many ways in class, at home or as a relief-teacher lesson.
Group activity
Organise students into groups. Allocate each group a different source to report on. Using the information in the worksheet, as well as additional research, the group can create a presentation (e.g. news report, video) on their sources' perspective of the attacks on Australia. The groups then present their findings back to the class.
Independent activity
Students read through each section and complete activities embedded throughout the resource.
Supporting resources
- Australia Under Attack: In Their Own Words – oral histories and activities about the impact of war on the Australian home front.
- Darwin and the Northern Territory 1942–1945: Australia Under Attack – a digital book about the Japanese air raids on mainland Australia.
- Sydney and the Midget Submarines 1942: Australia Under Attack – a digital book about the Japanese attacks on shipping in Sydney Harbour.
Australian Curriculum
Knowledge and understanding
- The significant events and turning points of the Second World War, including the Holocaust and use of the atomic bomb (AC9HH10K03).
- The effects of the Second World War, with a particular emphasis on the continuities and changes on the Australian home front, such as the changing roles of women and First Nations Australians, and the use of wartime government controls (AC9HH10K04).
Skills
- Locate, identify and compare primary and secondary sources to use in historical inquiry (AC9HH9S02).
- Identify the origin and content of sources, and explain the purpose and context of primary and secondary sources (AC9HH9S03).
- Explain the usefulness of primary and secondary sources, and the reliability of the information as evidence (AC9HH9S04).
- Compare perspectives in sources and explain how these are influenced by significant events, ideas, locations, beliefs and values (AC9HH9S06).
- Analyse different and contested historical interpretations (AC9HH9S07).
- Create descriptions, explanations and historical arguments, using historical knowledge, concepts and terms that incorporate and acknowledge evidence from sources (AC9HH9S08).
Teaching sensitivities
Teachers are advised to be sensitive to students' perspectives and emotions while using this resource. When working through the activities, teachers will need to consider their students' religious and cultural beliefs, any experiences of war or conflict, or parents serving in the defence forces. It is the responsibility of teachers to consider whether it is appropriate to use this resource with their students.
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.