Parliament in Pictures is a set of 10 A2 posters and a classroom guide created by the Parliamentary Education Office (PEO) to introduce teachers and students to the federal Parliament. Designed to communicate in pictures, each poster illustrates key parliamentary concepts using clear photographs, colourful graphics and simple text. The Parliament in Pictures Classroom Guide supports teachers by steering discussion around the posters.
Parliament in Pictures can be used with a wide audience including primary and secondary students, students of English as a second language and anyone new to the study of parliament.
Parliament in Pictures posters
Parliament in Pictures posters cover a range of topics that provide an overview of Australian democracy including concepts of federal representation, governance, accountability and law-making. The posters can be used separately to introduce specific content or as a set. It is not necessary to use the posters in a particular order; however, the following sequence is recommended:
- Three Levels of Law-making—introduces the three levels of law-making in Australia and outlines the roles of federal, state/territory parliaments and local councils.
- The Federal Parliament—introduces the Parliament of Australia; explains the composition of the federal Parliament and outlines the main role of members and senators.
- The House of Representatives—introduces the House of Representatives chamber and shows who sits in the House of Representatives chamber and where.
- The Senate—introduces the Senate chamber and shows who sits in the Senate chamber and where.
- Choosing Members—introduces the concept of parliamentary representation and explains how voters choose members.
- Choosing Senators—introduces the concept of parliamentary representation and explains how voters choose senators.
- Forming Federal Government—explains how the federal government is formed, its composition and main role.
- Making Federal Law—explains what a bill is and how a bill becomes a law.
- Separation of Powers—explains how the power to make and manage federal law is divided between the Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary and outlines the composition and role of each power.
- The Australian Constitution—introduces the Australian Constitution and provides a chapter by chapter outline.
View the posters here
Parliament in Pictures Classroom Guide
The Parliament in Pictures Classroom Guide clarifies and extends the content introduced in each poster. The guide provides a poster by poster outline of related content and equips teachers with a range of questions and answers, additional information and resources. Used in conjunction with the posters, the Parliament in Pictures Classroom Guide will help stimulate classroom discussion, emphasise key learning points, confirm understanding and extend learning. The PEO suggests that teachers read this material before working with the posters.
Parliament in Pictures Classroom Guide includes the following sections:
- Purpose—a list of the key content presented in each poster.
- Focus question—a question that checks students’ understanding of the key parliamentary concepts raised in each poster.
- Discussion starters—questions that encourage students to think more widely and deeply about topics raised in each poster.
- Extension questions—questions that give students the opportunity to extend their knowledge and understanding of each content area by inquiring into related topics.
- Additional information—information on related topics that can be used to refresh or enhance personal knowledge or to enrich classroom discussions.
- Resources—a list of websites and other sources covering related topics.
Integration
Parliament in Pictures is a flexible learning resource. It can be used to facilitate discussion about the basics of Australian governance and also provides the foundation for further exploration of more complex aspects of parliamentary processes.
Parliament in Pictures order form [127KB]
If this information does not answer all of your questions about how to order Parliament in Pictures, please contact the PEO by phone, fax or email.
Ph: 02 6277 3147 or 02 6277 3508
Fax: 02 6277 5775
Email info@peo.gov.au