In Our Own Backyard
Connecting to global issues in our region
Author: Department of Education, Science and Training
Format: 54 pp book
ISBN: 9781863666299 SCIS No: 1291526
Publisher: Curriculum Corporation 2006
Audience: Teacher and student resource
Price: $32.95
Audience year level
In Our Own Backyard is a magazine style resource for middle school students. Presented through the eyes of students Ella and Josh, it seeks to engage young Australians in contemporary regional and global issues and the many ways in which Australia and Australians are connected to the Asia region.
Ella and Josh investigate a number of current issues and report their findings through three themes:
- Getting connected looks at our increasing interconnectedness through the growing mobility of people, ideas and products.
- Shifting Identities explores how people construct, negotiate and broaden their sense of identity in response to increasing cultural choices and intercultural experiences.
- Being Good Neighbours looks at how different countries in the region, and their citizens, are working together to meet the challenges created by events and developments that transcend national borders.
In Our Own Backyard presents a range of stories, texts and images exploring subjects such as the impact of global trade and manufacturing, how we and other nations respond to regional natural disasters, the creation of youth identity, sharing responsibility for the environment and exploring shifts in cultural identity.
Students are encouraged to imagine, think about, research and have their say on the topics presented, which are supported by fact files and narration by Ella and Josh 'from the editors' desk'.
