40-minute lesson
Year 3 History: Days we commemorate
Lesson objective
- Identify important commemorative days in Australia and when they occur.
- Explain why each day is significant.
- Recognise that some days have different meanings for different groups of people.
Success criteria:
- I can name three commemorative days and their dates.
- I can explain what one of these days remembers.
- I can explain why 26 January means different things to different people.
Materials
- A calendar for this year
- Coloured pencils
- Paper for a 'year of remembrance' chart
Introduction
4 minIntroduce today's words:
- commemorate: To remember and honour a person or event, often with a ceremony.
- Anzac: Short for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, formed in World War I.
- reconciliation: Building respectful relationships between First Nations Australians and other Australians.
- referendum: A vote by all voters to decide whether to change the Constitution.
- perspective: A point of view; how a person or group sees something.
Ask your child what they already know about days we commemorate.
Explanation
8 minTo commemorate means to remember and honour people or events. Communities do this with ceremonies, marches, minutes of silence, flags and gatherings.
- Anzac Day (25 April) remembers the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers at Gallipoli in 1915 during World War I. Today it honours all Australians who have served in wars and peacekeeping. Many people attend a dawn service.
- Remembrance Day (11 November) marks the end of fighting in World War I in 1918. Many people pause for one minute's silence at 11 am.
- National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) begins on the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and ends on the anniversary of the 1992 Mabo decision in the High Court. It is a time to learn about shared histories and build respectful relationships.
- NAIDOC Week, usually held in July, celebrates the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Australia Day (26 January) marks the day in 1788 when the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove and the British flag was raised. For many Australians it is a day to celebrate the nation. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people it is a day of sadness and loss, sometimes called Invasion Day or Survival Day. Learning about different perspectives helps us understand why.
Other days, such as Harmony Week in March, celebrate Australia's cultural diversity.
Worked examples
6 minMaking a commemoration calendar
Place Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and National Reconciliation Week on a calendar in order through the year.
Step 1: Anzac Day is 25 April.
Step 2: National Reconciliation Week is 27 May to 3 June.
Step 3: Remembrance Day is 11 November.
Step 4: Put them in calendar order: April, May–June, November.
Answer: Anzac Day (April) → National Reconciliation Week (May–June) → Remembrance Day (November).
Understanding perspectives
Why might two people feel differently about 26 January?
Step 1: Think about what happened on 26 January 1788: the British began a colony at Sydney Cove.
Step 2: For some people, it marks the beginning of modern Australia, which they celebrate.
Step 3: For many First Nations people, it marks the beginning of colonisation, when land was taken and many people suffered.
Step 4: Both feelings come from the same event seen from different perspectives.
Answer: Because the same event had very different effects on different groups of people.
Guided practice (do together)
8 min1. On which date is Anzac Day?
(a) 26 January (b) 25 April (c) 11 November (d) 3 June
2. What does Remembrance Day mark?
(a) The end of fighting in World War I (b) The start of school (c) The first day of summer (d) The opening of Parliament
3. What does NAIDOC Week celebrate?
(a) Sports results (b) The start of winter (c) The histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (d) The invention of the telephone
4. National Reconciliation Week ends on 3 June, the anniversary of which event?
(a) Federation (b) The landing at Gallipoli (c) The arrival of the First Fleet (d) The Mabo decision
Independent practice
10 min5. Why do some people call 26 January Survival Day?
(a) It is the hottest day (b) To recognise that First Nations peoples and cultures survived colonisation (c) Because of a sports event (d) Because it is the first day of school
6. What does the letter 'A' at the start of ANZAC stand for?
7. In what year did the First Fleet arrive at Sydney Cove?
8. A word that means 'to remember and honour' is ____.
Questions to check understanding
- Can you name three commemorative days and their dates?
- Can you explain what one of these days remembers?
- Can you explain why 26 January means different things to different people?
- What was the trickiest part today?
Answer guide
1. 25 April — Anzac Day is held on 25 April each year.
2. The end of fighting in World War I — Fighting in World War I stopped on 11 November 1918.
3. The histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — NAIDOC Week celebrates First Nations histories, cultures and achievements.
4. The Mabo decision — The High Court's Mabo decision was handed down on 3 June 1992.
5. To recognise that First Nations peoples and cultures survived colonisation — The name honours the survival and strength of First Nations peoples and cultures.
6. Australian — ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
7. 1788 — The First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788.
8. commemorate — To commemorate is to remember and honour.
Review
4 minRecap the success criteria together. Watch for these common misconceptions:
- Children may think Anzac Day celebrates winning a battle. The Gallipoli campaign was not a victory; the day is about remembering people's service and sacrifice.
- Some children think everyone feels the same way about a public holiday. Explain that the same day can hold different meanings.
- Children may think reconciliation is finished. It is an ongoing process.
Extension activities
- Make a 'year of commemoration' calendar with a symbol for each day.
- Find out what the theme is for this year's NAIDOC Week and create an artwork inspired by it.
- Visit a local war memorial and record three names or facts from it.
Suggested follow-up
- Revisit days we commemorate tomorrow with two or three quick questions from memory.
- Try the online practice check for this topic and look at any questions that need another go.
Tips for parents
- Discussions about 26 January can be emotional. Present different perspectives fairly and calmly, and focus on listening and respect.
- Look for NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week events run by local First Nations organisations, councils or libraries; these are good places to hear community perspectives first-hand.
- If you attend an Anzac Day service, prepare the child for the quiet parts, such as the Last Post and the minute's silence.