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Face the Facts (2008) Education Resource
Activity 4: Statistics - Migration in Australia
This activity has been designed to assist students in accessing the statistical information included in Face the Facts – Questions and Answers about Migrants and Multiculturalism. During this activity students will gain skills in gathering, analysing and presenting statistical information.
Step 1 – Identifying the Facts
Working individually, students are asked to explore Face the Facts – Questions and Answers about Migrants and Multiculturalism to gather the facts about migration and multiculturalism. A series of questions have been included in the worksheet to assist students to extract information from the text.
Step 2 – Charts and Tables
During Step 2, students are asked to work in small groups to produce graphs and tables which display the statistical data. Students are asked to present the following:
- a line chart which illustrates the changes in settler arrivals in Australia from 1988 – 2008
- a pie chart which illustrates the percentages of religious identification in Australia in the 2006 census
Step 3 – How diverse is Australia? How diverse is your class?
During Step 3, students explore the issue of diversity via a survey of their classmates’ cultural heritage. A survey form has been included in the worksheet. However, teachers may wish to encourage students to explore additional questions to gain a broader statistical ‘picture’ of diversity in their class group.
Step 4 – Collating the data
After collecting their data, students collate it and create a series of charts or tables to illustrate their findings, including:
- the main countries your classmates were born in
- the main countries your classmates parents were born in
- the main countries your classmates grandparents were born in
- the main languages your classmates speak at home.
Step 5 - Classroom Discussion
To conclude the activity, ask students to report back on their findings. Compare the findings of each group with the statistics in Face the Facts – Questions about Migrants and Multiculturalism.
Additional Resources
For useful teaching strategies and resources visit:
Math Forum: Teacher’s Place at: http://mathforum.com/teachers/ For further statistical data on Migration and Multiculturalism in Australia visit: Australian Bureau of Statistics Website at: http://www.abs.gov.au.
