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Unit 3 - The Ideal City

Lesson plan
Activity - Canberra Creation

SETTING THE SCENE

Canberra is a planned city and a conscious creation of an emerging nation. It is also the home of the nation's most important cultural institutions, symbols, celebrations and ceremonies -
a place where shared values are celebrated and particular objects that Australians treasure are stored. They remind us of our shared history and who we are today. Visitors to the Australian National Capital can experience the past and present homes of the Federal Parliament, the National Library, the National Archives, the Australian War Memorial, Anzac Parade and Reconciliation Place, just to name a few.

AIM

Students design their own symbol for a number of national institutions, monuments and key public spaces and place them on a map using an alphanumeric grid system.

STUDENT OUTCOMES

  • understand and successfully complete a set of instructions
  • recognise national institutions, monuments, important public spaces and events located in the National Capital
  • understand the major role of each national institution
  • understand the major symbolism of each monument
  • locate coordinates on a map

NATIONAL CAPITAL EXHIBITION LINK

Exhibit title - Walter Burley Griffin's Winning Plan
Location - The Ideal City, section 5

Exhibit title - Designing the City of Canberra (laser model)
Location - The Ideal City, section 5

Exhibit title - The Parliament of Australia
Location - On Behalf of a Nation, section 8

This activity relates to a number of exhibits within the National Capital Exhibition which reinforce Canberra's positive role as the National Capital.

MATERIALS

  • student activity sheet
  • alphanumeric map
  • colour pencils
  • scissors 
  • n glue or sticky tape

PROCEDURE

  1. Introduce the topic by setting the scene with the class.
  2. Hand out the activity sheet and map. Discuss with the students the function of each national institution, monument and event.
  3. Encourage students to design a symbol that accurately reflects the role of each institution or monument. For example, the National Library could be represented by a drawing of a book.
  4. Ensure students understand how to locate the correct position of each symbol on the map
    by using the alphanumeric grid system.
  5. Students locate the position of each symbol and attach it with glue or sticky tape.
  6. Students can complete the activity by colouring in the remaining alphanumeric map.