Activity: Heroes or Villains?

Your task: To define the concepts of  'heroes' and 'villains' and the qualities they possess. To research the lives of two Australian bushrangers and prepare an argument either for or against their classification as 'heroes' or 'villains'. To deliver these arguments in an informal class debate.

Thinking first:

• What is a 'hero'? What is a villain? Think of some words you would use to describe someone you see as a hero, and someone you see as a villain..
• If a person feels robbed of their rights, are they justified in having contempt for the rights of others?
• What qualities do people admire, why do they need heroes and why do some criminals become heroes while others are hated and feared?

Class Discussion and word bank:

• Make class lists of people students see as heroes and villains.
• Brainstorm words that describe heroes, and words that describe villains, and put them up in the classroom.
• Brainstorm a list of your opinions of two well-known bushrangers like Dan Morgan and Ned Kelly.

Find out more about the Bushrangers.

• Click on these links to 'find out' about some of the famous bushrangers, what they looked like, what they said (and what was said about them), and where they lived. Have a look at Ned Kelly's points of view expressed in his Jerilderi letter or his other letters in the documents at Ned Online.

Prepare your arguments.

• Use the concept map template to brainstorm the main points you wish to argue in your debate.
• Make notes on the key arguments you wish to make and write them onto palm cards.
• Hold an informal class debate where speakers from both sides are given a 2 minute (max) turn to present their arguments.

Curriculum Content:

Social Studies. Australian History
English Expression . Writing and speaking. 
Genre: Argument, Informal debate 

Age Level:

Ages 11-12

Preparation:

The activity assumes some background learning on the early colonial history of Australia has already been covered.

Access to texts such as Rienits, and Boxall (see Reference List) would be essential if it is not possible to provide access to the Bushrangers Site.

In preparing for the debate, it would be useful to listen to some debates. The class would also study the language and structure of an argument.discussion .

The students will also need familiarisation with accessing the blackboard discussion board, and posting to threads in a discussion. 

Skills:

Gathering data

Knowledge and Understanding: Material Resources

Attitudes, Feelings and Sensitivities: Examining different points of view on the same issue; Recognising the variation in attitudes from individual to individual.

Written and oral expression of views and opinions.

Thinking Process: Analysing, Comparing, Arguing.

Use of online discussions.