Humanities and Social Sciences

📑 Article

Books and Activities for Celebrating Aussie Christmas

Celebrate Australian national holidays with creative storytelling activities! Discover engaging ideas to spark imagination, honour traditions, and create meaningful family memories through festive and educational fun.
📔 Book

Noah: The Dog Of The Anzac Spirit

Written & illustrated by Steven Huynh
Published by Steven De GC
Theme/topic: Health and Physical Education and Humanities and Social Sciences

Suggested learning area: ACHASSK012 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) ACHASSK013 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) ACHASSK045 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Year 2) ACPPS001 ( – Foundation) ACPPS015 ( – Year 1,Year 2) ACPPS020 ( – Year 1,Year 2)

The story weaves themes of courage, kindness, and resilience with an appreciation for Australia’s history. Noah, a lovable and compassionate dog, dreams of becoming a hero like his owner’s grandfather, an Anzac veteran. Inspired by stories shared through photos of Grandpa (ACHASSK013 – Foundation Year, Humanities and Social Sciences), Noah finds daily motivation to use his strength—kindness—to help others (ACPPS001, ACPPS015 – Foundation to Year 2, Health and Physical Education).

The story also touches on the importance of commemorating past events, such as Anzac Day, that hold deep meaning for communities (ACHASSK012 – Foundation Year, Humanities and Social Sciences) and highlights a historical site dedicated to honouring Anzac soldiers (ACHASSK045 – Year 2, Humanities and Social Sciences). Through vibrant illustrations and an engaging narrative, Noah: The Dog of the Anzac Spirit inspires young readers to embody the Anzac values of perseverance and resilience (ACPPS020 – Years 1 and 2, Health and Physical Education), while fostering a connection to Australia’s rich cultural heritage.

BUY

ACHASSK012 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) ACHASSK013 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) ACHASSK045 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Year 2) ACPPS001 ( – Foundation) ACPPS015 ( – Year 1,Year 2) ACPPS020 ( – Year 1,Year 2)
📔 Book

Shapes of Australia

Written & illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft
Published by Little Hare Books
Theme/topic: Culture, First Nations Culture, Shapes, and Visual Arts

Suggested learning area: AC9AVAFD01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9MFSP01 (Mathematics – Foundation) ACAVAM106 (Visual Arts – Foundation,Year 1,Year 2) ACMMG009 (Mathematics – Foundation)

The book is an artistic exploration of Australia’s diverse landscapes through the lens of geometric shapes. The book introduces young readers to the natural world by identifying and describing various shapes found in the environment, such as circles in the treetops, triangles in the mountains, and spirals in shells. This aligns with the learning objective AC9MFSP01, ACMMG006 (Mathematics, Foundation Year), which focuses on identifying and describing familiar two-dimensional shapes in the environment. Additionally, the book supports AC9AVAFD01, ACAVAM106 (Visual Arts, Foundation Year) by encouraging young readers to explore how visual arts express ideas about the world. Through Bancroft’s detailed and culturally rich illustrations, children learn to interpret and appreciate the unique beauty of Country through the use of shapes and patterns in visual storytelling. This beautifully illustrated book not only enhances children’s geometric understanding but also deepens their appreciation for the visual arts, making it a valuable resource for integrated learning in mathematics and art.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9AVAFD01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9MFSP01 (Mathematics – Foundation) ACAVAM106 (Visual Arts – Foundation,Year 1,Year 2) ACMMG009 (Mathematics – Foundation)
📔 Book

A Family Is a Family Is a Family

Written by Sara O’Leary
Illustrated by Qin Leng
Published by Groundwood Books
Theme/topic: Diversity, Family history, Identity, and Recount

Suggested learning area: AC9HPFP01 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HSFK01 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)

This heartwarming book celebrates diverse family structures and the love that binds them together. Through a classroom discussion, children share stories about their families, highlighting the uniqueness of each one while reinforcing the idea that all families are special.

This book provides opportunities for young students to explore concepts of family by recognising and describing family members (AC9HSFK01 – Foundation Year, Humanities and Social Sciences). It also encourages children to develop a sense of self within their family (AC9HPFP01 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education) while practising personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others, particularly in understanding inclusion and acceptance (AC9HPFP02 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education).

With its gentle storytelling and wonderful illustrations, A Family is a Family is a Family fosters empathy, respect, and an appreciation for the many forms that family can take.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9HPFP01 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HSFK01 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
✎ Activity

My Family Tree
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• I am learning to identify and represent the members of my family.

FREE

AC9HSFK01 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
✎ Activity

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L1 Background Knowledge
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• We are learning to build our background knowledge to help us comprehend a text.

BUY ~~$2.99~~ $1.29 FREE

AC9EFLY05 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HSFK01 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) AC9HSFS04 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
✎ Activity

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L3 Making Personal Connections
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• We are learning to make personal connections with the text.

BUY ~~$2.99~~ $1.29 FREE

AC9AVAFC01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9EFLE02 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HSFS03 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) AC9HSFS05 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
✎ Activity

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L4 Connecting to a Similar Text
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• We are learning to extend our connections to a similar text.

BUY ~~$2.99~~ $1.29 FREE

AC9AVAFC01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9EFLY01 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HSFS03 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) AC9HSFS05 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L5 Summarising

BUY ~~$2.99~~ $1.29 FREE

AC9EFLY05 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9EFLY07 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HSFS04 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
📖 Unit

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family Reading Unit for Foundation Year
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary

BUY ~~$16.95~~ $4.99

AC9AVAFC01 (Visual Arts)AC9EFLA07 (English Language and Literacy)AC9EFLE02 (English Language and Literacy)AC9EFLY01 (English Language and Literacy)AC9EFLY02 (English Language and Literacy)AC9EFLY05 (English Language and Literacy)AC9EFLY07 (English Language and Literacy)AC9HPFP01 (Health and Physical Education)AC9HSFS03 (Humanities and Social Sciences)AC9HSFS04 (Humanities and Social Sciences)AC9HSFS05 (Humanities and Social Sciences)
📑 Article

Family Diversity with A Family is a Family is a Family: A Curriculum-Aligned Review

Explore family diversity and inclusion in A Family is a Family is a Family, aligned with key Australian Curriculum areas for Health, HaSS, English, and Visual Arts.
📔 Book

Afloat

Written by Kirli Saunders
Illustrated by Freya Blackwood
Published by Little Hare Books
Theme/topic: Culture, First Nations Culture, Identity, Producing, Sustainability, and Weaving

Suggested learning area: AC9HP2P01 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1,Year 2) AC9TDE2K01 (Design and Technologies – Year 1,Year 2) AC9TDE2K03 (Design and Technologies – Year 1,Year 2)

The book is a poetic and reflective story that gently explores connection to Country, identity, and community through the metaphor of water and weaving. Rooted in Aboriginal perspectives, the text provides a meaningful opportunity to learn about weaving as a cultural practice that strengthens identity and builds unity within community (AC9HP2P01 – Years 1 and 2, Health and Physical Education).

The story also opens conversations around sustainability and traditional knowledge, showing how weaving products are crafted from native plants found in local environments (AC9TDE2K01, AC9TDE2K03 – Years 1 and 2, Design and Technologies). By recognising the environmental sources and cultural significance of materials, Afloat supports an appreciation for First Nations practices and their role in caring for Country.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9HP2P01 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1,Year 2) AC9TDE2K01 (Design and Technologies – Year 1,Year 2) AC9TDE2K03 (Design and Technologies – Year 1,Year 2)
✎ Activity

Paper Weaving for Year 2
📔 Afloat by Kirli Saunders
• We are learning to use paper weaving as a way to design with care and practise our producing skills using sustainable materials.

AC9TDE2P01 (Design and Technologies – Year 1,Year 2) AC9TDE2P02 (Design and Technologies – Year 1,Year 2)

Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) Books, Activities and Teaching Support (Foundation to Year 2)