Lesson 1: Australian Humour Introduction

LESSON OBJECTIVES:

LESSON STRUCTURE:

Time Introduction: Teaching Approaches

10
minutes






5
minutes









Roll call
Australian Quiz: As students enter the room they will
take one of the quizzes to complete quietly while they
wait for everyone to arrive.


Introduction to Australian Humour unit
Big Idea for the Unit: How does Australian
humour explore and reinforce ideas related to
our culture? What makes Australians laugh?
Students are presented with the Key
Knowledge and Skills they should have
achieved by the end of the lesson
Brief explanation of Summative Assessment
task

The quiz will enable
students to settle into
the lesson quickly and
acts as a hook to
engage them in the new
Australian Humour unit.
.

The introduction enables
students to gain an
understanding of what
they are expected to
know, understand and
do by the end of the
unit.


Time Main Content Teaching Approaches

10
minutes








Australian humour mind map activity
Students will spend 5 minutes individually
constructing a mind map which addresses the
following questions:
1. Who are some famous Australian comedians?
2. What are some examples of humorous
Australian TV shows, movies or
advertisements?
3. What are some words or phrases that are

The mind map activity
encourages students to
brainstorm their pre-
existing knowledge
about Australian humour
The pop stick method
will be used to select
students to contribute in
the class discussion to
Key Knowledge and Skills students should achieve in the lesson
You will develop an understanding about the different types of Australian humour.
You will be able to identify how a variety of sources integrate components of Australian humour.

Unit/Topic: Australian Humour (Distinctly Australian)

Lesson: 1 and 2 (double lesson)

Lesson Objective: Students will begin to develop an understanding about the different elements of
Australian Humour.

Level: 9 English Pathways







10
minutes












10
minutes









5
minutes







40
minutes
considered to be examples of Aussie humour?
(Only appropriate examples please)
Students will be selected at random (pop stick
method) to share an idea.


Introduction to Australias distinctive humour
Students will watch a news report about
Australias distinctive style of humour
Discussion Questions: students will be selected
at random to share a response.
1. What elements of Australian culture were
shown in the clip?
2. How was Australian humour described in
the news report?
3. Which Australian TV, radio or comedy icons
were present in the clip?


Australian lingo and slang
Students need to spend 2 minutes individually
writing down some examples of Australian
lingo and slang.
Working with a partner, students will share
their ideas with one another and compose a list
of their 5 best examples
Each pair will share an example with the class.


Introduction to Australian humour and different types
of humour
Students will be provided with a brief
background about Australian humour
A list of different types of Australian humour
will be presented to the students.

Examples of Australian humour
Dry Humour: Explanation, Dont be Un-
Australian television advertisements and
response questions.
Self-Mocking: Explanation, Hamish and Andy
clip and response questions
Absurd humour: Explanation and questioning
Black Humour: Explanation, We Can be Heroes
Clip and response questions.
Irony and Slapstick: Explanation.
Satire and Parody: Explanation, The Chasers
War on Everything Clip and response questions.
*If time permits
Australian Humour in The Castle
ensure that everyone
has a chance to
participate.



The news report about
Australian humour has
been used to reinforce
some of the ideas
students suggested
during the mind map
activity and to assist
those students who
were struggling to think
of some examples.




The Harvard Thinking
Routine; Think, Pair,
Share has been
incorporated here to
ensure that all students
will have some ideas to
contribute in a class
discussion.











The students will be
presented with the
information about
different types of
humour in both a
written and visual form.
This strategy will appeal
to the varying learning
profiles that exist in the
classroom.
The YouTube clips will
appeal to the interest
levels of students as
contemporary sources
have been used.
Students will watch a brief scene from The
Castle through twice.
As they watch the clip they will need to take
notes on the handout they are given in
response to the following three categories:
1. Terminology and language: slang and lingo
2. Self-mockery
3. References to Australian culture

Time Conclusion Teaching Approaches
5
minutes

Lesson wrap up (reminder of lesson objectives and
what we covered in the lesson.
Explanation of where we will be heading next lesson
Quiz Answers and announcement of quiz winner



RESOURCES
(Include equipment required for class and/or for teacher preparation)








ASSESSMENT



Computer and overhead
White board and white board markers
Australian Humour PowerPoint
Australian Quiz
The Castle response sheet
Dont be Un-Australian lamb commercials
Hamish and Andy: The Chocolate Factory clip
We Can be Heroes clip
The Chasers War on Everything Clip
The Castle clip
Australians Distinctive Humour News Report
There will be no assessment in this lesson but students are introduced to their summative
assessment task for the unit.