Understanding the Australian Curriculum for Homeschoolers

# Understanding the Australian Curriculum for Homeschoolers

The Australian Curriculum provides a framework that many homeschoolers find useful, but it can seem overwhelming at first. Here's how to use it effectively without losing the flexibility that makes homeschooling special.

What is the Australian Curriculum?

The Australian Curriculum sets out what students should learn from Foundation to Year 10 across eight learning areas:

1. English
2. Mathematics
3. Science
4. Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
5. The Arts
6. Technologies
7. Health and Physical Education
8. Languages (optional)

Do You Have to Follow It?

While most states require your educational program to be based on the Australian Curriculum or equivalent, you have significant flexibility in HOW you teach it. You don't need to:

• Use the exact content descriptions word-for-word
• Follow a term-by-term breakdown
• Use specific textbooks
• Test the same way schools do

Making It Work for Your Family

1. Focus on the Big Picture

Look at the overall learning goals for each subject area rather than individual content descriptions. This gives you room to explore topics that interest your child.

2. Use Interest-Led Learning

A child interested in dinosaurs can cover: - Science (paleontology, biology) - HASS (history, geography) - English (reading, writing about dinosaurs) - Maths (timelines, measurements) - Art (drawing, modelling)

3. Document Creatively

Your portfolio doesn't need to look like school work. Include: - Photos of projects and experiments - Videos of presentations - Audio recordings of readings - Artwork and creative writing - Excursion reflections

Free Resources

• **Scootle**: Thousands of free resources linked to the curriculum
• **ABC Education**: Videos and interactives
• **Australian Curriculum website**: The official source

Remember

The curriculum is a guide, not a prison. Use it as a framework while keeping learning joyful and relevant to your child.