1)+Bec's+Resource

 media type="youtube" key="3rYxilXaMrk" height="344" width="425" You Tube Video Resource:

This resource is a You Tube video of the Opening Ceremony from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games performance of “Under Southern Skies”. The lyrics and visuals suggest Australia is a nation that embraces a variety of cultures coming from different corners of the world. This video resource links directly to the outcome //CUS2.4 ‘Describes different viewpoints, ways of living, languages//’. It provides a passage for students to discuss other cultures in the Australian community as the song includes references to Australia being multicultural, ‘//we come from different lands’//. Not only does the spoken text support different cultures in Australia but the visual images support this too. Indians, Japanese and Indigenous Australian performers are shown in the video wearing traditional costumes and body paint as well as spectators in the crowd from other countries cheering on the performance.  The resource also symbolizes the importance we place on the culture of sport and how it is possible for different ethnicities to come together in one place in harmony.  The first lesson of the Unit of Work indicates that students view the video clip of the ‘Southern Skies’ poetic song and then analyze its structure. The students focus on the structural element of the poem, as they will be creating a new National Anthem in groups with the same structure as the Olympic song, using similar themes that are found in the original lyrics. The aim is to teach students where the verses and choruses start and end as well as the rhythmic pattern of the poem so that they will be successful in recreating these elements in their own flowing poem.  When considering poetry, it is useful for the students to fous on on the structure of the poem, which includes poet's order of words and how this enhances meaning in the poem. The poem could be explained to the students as a series of steps or moves. These steps are generally signaled  in the stanza or verse structures.  In the song ‘Under Southern Skies’ there is the 1st verse, the chorus, the 2nd verse and then the chorus is repeated twice at the end. In video resources like these ‘//Language alone cannot give us access to the meaning of the multimodality constituted message’// (Kress, G. 2003 pp.35). Meaning of multiculturalism comes from the images supporting the song as well as how the song is structured as well as its rhythm. In all poetry, rhythm is a constant feature, whether they make use  of regular patterns of rhyme or just have free verse form. The ‘Southern Skies’ poem in particular has a regular pattern of rhyme throughout the two verses however in the chorus, the pattern is abstract but has a flowing rhythm that compliments the verses nicely. In poetic language, sound <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">patterns and rhythmic qualities are an important part of the meaning. The harmonious language that is trying to be portrayed through the Opening Ceremony poetic song is represented by the rhythm being smooth.

This resource provides visual, audible, and written opportunities for students to learn about poetry in relation to different cultures in Australian communities.

**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Under Southern Skies’ ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Lyrics:

There's a peace in our hearts and a hope in our hands, We're the family of children; we come from many different lands. Our time is just beginning; our race is yet to run, But if you will take us with you, then we have already won.

CHORUS: Under the southern skies, Together in this land, Every voice in celebration, A family hand in hand! Under the southern skies, As one we rise, And turn our eyes to see All the wonder of the future In a world of harmony.

There's a great spirit rising from the desert to the sea. As it sweeps across this southern land it calls to you and me: We're the dreamers and the dreaming; we're the face of things yet to come. Every child can be a hero if our world can live as one.

Repeat CHORUS X 2

References:

Kress, G., 2003, //The New Media Age: The Futures of Literacy//, Routlage, London, pp.35. Youtube. (2000). Under Southern Skies. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from [] Millward, M. (2000) Under Southern Skies. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from []