Who Do You Think You Are? - Series 2 (ATOM Study Guide)

Many Australians know very little about their family's history. In the second series of Who Do You Think You Are?, six prominent Australians – AFL legend Ron Barassi, actors Sigrid Thornton and Ben Mendelsohn, cook Maggie Beer, singer Christine Anu and musician John Butler – play detective as they go in search of their family history. Each episode offers an honest and revealing account of their decision to discover their own family's past and its role in who they are today. Along the way, they realise that their stories are inextricably linked to the story of the nation – that their identity, just like all of ours, is part of Australia's identity.

Who Do You Think You Are? is a documentary series chronicling the social, ethnic and cultural evolution of our national identity through the personal family histories of prominent people. Developed and first produced by a British production company, Wall To Wall Television, the format premiered on the BBC in 2004, inspiring millions of Britons to research their family trees. Margie Bryant of Serendipity Productions saw the first episode when it screened in the UK and some months later she and Perth-based executive producer Brian Beaton of Artemis International optioned the rights as a co-production.

This study guide has been written for secondary students. It provides information and suggestions for learning activities in Australian Studies, English, Geography, Australian History, Media, SOSE and curriculum projects exploring the concepts of identity, belonging and family.