Sunday, 22 April 2012

ANZAC Day Resources: Lest we forget...

For the first time in a while, that I can remember, ANZAC day is falling within the NZ school term. This is a great chance to explore the concept of ANZAC day with your class no matter their age.

April 25th is an important date on most New Zealander's and Australian's calendar. It's an opportunity to remember the significance of the sacrifice made by many who have come before us. For some of us the day links us to relatives and is a day to remember.

My school holds an important ANZAC day assembly each year. We invite our local 'vets' and families and every class makes a wreath to present in quite a solemn and respectful part of the ceremony. The basic idea for my class' wreath (pictured) came from this website and you can also see wreaths made by other classes in the other photo.



Ideas for teaching about ANZAC day in your classroom:

This video is one I will show to my young Year 2 class, nice and simple and a great overview of what ANZAC day is all about:



For older students, this video is great (embedded below) - from an Australian perspective, but in RAP form. No doubt this will resonate with many of our students. It is very catchy too :)



The Last ANZAC video (embedded below) is a lovely and significant video suitable for all ages. A powerful song accompanies powerful visuals to create a great commemorative video:



This site, by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, has quite a cool interactive panorama of the ANZAC Commemorative site at Gallipoli, well worth checking out and showing your class.

For senior students doing some research, this website, from NZ History Online, gives an excellent run down of what ANZAC day is all about and its significance to Australian and New Zealanders. In fact, it may be a useful teacher reference to read up on before you discuss ANZAC day with your class!

Finally, a winner with junior teachers, this website has lots of ANZAC related colouring in activities and even a fabulously simple ANZAC booklet.

You also can view lots of my other ANZAC day resources on my Diigo bookmarks here: http://www.diigo.com/user/rachelboyd/anzac

Hope these were of use :)


At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them.

9 comments:

  1. Thanks Rach - this page has lots of good links/resources for us. There is nothing like video to hit ideas home.

    On another note I am so please we have a National holiday to remember those who have gone before us. Otherwise I think we would forget all to easily. This is a reminder to make sure we repeat important lessons/ideas/concepts with our students. By giving these things 'air time' again and again it then is seen as important in our students minds.

    Have a great term Rach!

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  2. Thank you for once again being that miracle and providing a great resource.

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  3. Thanks for sharing- what a great resource.

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  4. You area star as always Rach! Thanks for doing all the trawling for us!

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  5. I will use the first video for my year 2 class tomorrow - thanks very much :-) Coral

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  6. Thanks for sharing.

    I showed my Year 5/6 class these videos today. They were great discussion starters!

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  7. I really like the sad videos of ANZAC.Thankyou for putting that on your blog
    From Alexandra
    Room 20 parkvale school.

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  8. Thank you so much for putting these videos on your Blog. Karaka 2 at Weymouth Primary School have just watched these and now understand a bit more about ANZAC day. Thanks Rachel. You are a star!

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  9. Hi this Sam I go to Hasting parkvale primary school and i am in a computer class, I am 9 anyway I think your videos are great my class likes it especially the rap. This is the link to our website- http://parkvalemoriarty.blogspot.co.nz/ , please go on our blog

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