Commemoration and Remembrance: ANZAC & NAIDOCActivities & Teaching Strategies
Active learning makes abstract ideas like respect and gratitude concrete for young learners. By making poppies, joining story circles, and sorting celebrations, students connect emotions to actions, which deepens their understanding of commemoration and culture.
Learning Objectives
- 1Identify key symbols and figures associated with ANZAC Day and NAIDOC Week.
- 2Explain the purpose of remembering historical events and people for ANZAC Day.
- 3Analyze the significance of NAIDOC Week for First Nations peoples in Australia.
- 4Compare and contrast the characteristics of a commemoration with a celebration.
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Ready-to-Use Activities
Small Groups: Poppy Art for ANZAC
Provide red tissue paper, green stems, and black centers for students to assemble poppies. Discuss how poppies symbolize fallen soldiers and place finished poppies on a class remembrance wall. Groups share one fact learned about ANZAC Day.
Prepare & details
Explain the purpose of commemorating historical events like ANZAC Day.
Facilitation Tip: During Poppy Art for ANZAC, circulate and gently ask each child to whisper why they chose their colors or shapes, reinforcing the link between creation and meaning.
Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor
Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs
Whole Class: NAIDOC Story Circle
Read a picture book about First Nations culture, then form a circle for students to share what they celebrate in their families. Introduce NAIDOC symbols like the boomerang and connect to weekly events. End with a group clap for First Nations achievements.
Prepare & details
Analyze the significance of NAIDOC Week for First Nations peoples.
Facilitation Tip: In the NAIDOC Story Circle, model active listening by holding a talking stick or similar object to ensure turn-taking and focus.
Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor
Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs
Pairs: Celebration Sort Cards
Give pairs cards with images of birthdays, ANZAC marches, NAIDOC dances, and weddings. Students sort into 'celebration' or 'commemoration' piles and explain choices to the class. Reinforce with a shared anchor chart.
Prepare & details
Differentiate between a celebration and a commemoration.
Facilitation Tip: For Celebration Sort Cards, invite pairs to explain their choices to you before gluing, so you can address any misconceptions in the moment.
Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor
Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs
Individual: My Special Day Drawing
Students draw a special day from home or school, labeling if it is a celebration or commemoration. Share drawings in a gallery walk, noting similarities to ANZAC or NAIDOC. Collect for a class display.
Prepare & details
Explain the purpose of commemorating historical events like ANZAC Day.
Facilitation Tip: During My Special Day Drawing, give sentence stems like 'I remember because...' to support reluctant speakers to verbalize their thoughts.
Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor
Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs
Teaching This Topic
Teach commemoration by pairing quiet reflection with purposeful action. Avoid overwhelming students with sad stories; instead, focus on symbols like poppies and flags that carry meaning. Research shows that sensory activities, such as art and movement, help young learners process emotions and retain understanding of cultural traditions.
What to Expect
Students will show they understand the difference between remembering with respect and celebrating with joy. They will articulate why ANZAC Day and NAIDOC Week matter to the community and use simple language to describe symbols and traditions.
These activities are a starting point. A full mission is the experience.
- Complete facilitation script with teacher dialogue
- Printable student materials, ready for class
- Differentiation strategies for every learner
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionDuring Celebration Sort Cards, watch for students who place all images in the 'happy' category without distinguishing between remembering and celebrating.
What to Teach Instead
Guide students to discuss why some images, like a soldier or a minute of silence, belong in 'remembering' by asking, 'How does this make you feel? Is it like a birthday?' Let them re-sort with peer support.
Common MisconceptionDuring NAIDOC Story Circle, listen for comments that suggest only First Nations students should participate or lead.
What to Teach Instead
Prompt all students by saying, 'Everyone has a story to share about respect or culture.' If a student hesitates, offer a sentence starter like, 'I learned that...' to include them.
Common MisconceptionDuring My Special Day Drawing, notice if students draw only happy scenes for both ANZAC and NAIDOC, ignoring the solemn parts of commemoration.
What to Teach Instead
Ask students to add one symbol that shows remembrance, such as a poppy or a flag, and explain its meaning in a sentence below their drawing.
Assessment Ideas
After Poppy Art for ANZAC and NAIDOC Story Circle, hold up images of a poppy, a soldier, Indigenous art, and a flag. Ask students to point to the image and say one word about what it makes them think of.
After Celebration Sort Cards, ask students, 'What is one way we show we remember people who were brave?' Then ask, 'What is one way we celebrate the culture of First Nations peoples?' Record their answers on chart paper to compare the actions.
During My Special Day Drawing, give each student a card with two columns: 'Remembering' and 'Celebrating.' Ask them to draw one picture in each column that shows something they learned about ANZAC Day or NAIDOC Week. Collect to check for accurate distinctions.
Extensions & Scaffolding
- Challenge students to create a second poppy and write one sentence about who they are remembering.
- Scaffolding: Provide pre-cut poppy shapes or printed NAIDOC symbols for students who struggle with fine motor skills.
- Deeper exploration: Invite students to plan a simple class commemoration, such as a moment of silence or a song, and explain why these actions matter.
Key Vocabulary
| Commemoration | Remembering and honoring people or events from the past with respect and thoughtfulness. |
| Remembrance | The act of recalling and honoring past events or people, often with a sense of solemnity. |
| ANZAC Day | A national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates those who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. |
| NAIDOC Week | A week in July that celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |
| First Nations peoples | The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia, the original inhabitants of the continent. |
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