Remembering Anzac

BPS Library Resources

Charles Bean -The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918

"What these men did nothing can alter now.

The good and the bad, the greatness and the smallness of their story will stand.

It rises, as it will always rise, above the mists of time,

a monument to great-hearted men, and, for their nation, a possession for ever."

Stage 2 ANZAC lessons

Light Horse Boy by Dianne Wolfer and Brian Simmonds

Themes: Relationships, war, animals, grief and loss

Years: Australian Curriculum: English Year 6 Year 7 Year 8. NSW Stages 3 and 4

From the publishers synopsis: In 1914 Jim and Charlie abandon the Australian outback for the excitement and adventure of the war to end all wars. But in the Light Horse they quickly discover the brutal realities of life on the frontline.

Codes: AC – Australian Curriculum: English, History | EN – NSW syllabus for AC:E | Note AC: History links relate to NSW Content for Stage 3

PETAA website for a fantastic series of lesson plans/teacher notes. http://www.petaa.edu.au/imis_prod/w/Teaching_Resources/CBCA_Guides/2014_CBCA_Guide/w/Teaching_Resources/CBCA2014/Light_Horse.aspx

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ANZAC Biscuits by Phil Cummings and Owen Swan

This is a very touching story. ANZAC Biscuits is one of those picture books that should be read by the young and old - it has much to offer.

Phil Cummings adopts a dual narrative - each double page switches from Rachel and her mother in their kitchen, to Rachel's Dad who is fighting in the war - referred to as 'the soldier'.

Rachel and her mother busy themselves making ANZAC biscuits, in the kitchen. The language is light and fun filled describing their antics as they prepare their home cooked gift.

Each double page focusing on the soldier picks up on an element from the cosy kitchen - the crash and bang of pots and pans becomes the 'bang bang' of gunfire shots for the soldier. The warm smoke touched kitchen with its delicious aromas from the fireplace, becomes the 'choking smell' of 'angry guns'.

Cummings uses structure brilliantly here, this would be a great book to utilise in story crafting activities.

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Simpson and his Donkey by Mark Greenwood

Teacher Notes

Colouring Sheet - This is a great site that includes teacher notes, video clips and other resources

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Midnight: The story of a light horse by Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac

A foal is born at midnight, on the homestead side of the river. Coal black. Star ablaze. Moonlight in her eyes. On October 31, 1917, the 4th and 12th Regiments of the Australian Light Horse took part in one of the last great cavalry charges in history. Among the first to leap the enemy trenches was Lieutenant Guy Haydon riding his beloved mare, Midnight. This is their story.
Teacher Notes - Mark Greenwood

Teacher Notes - Petaa Site (teacher log in required - see Julie)

THE SILVER DONKEY by Sonya Hartnett

English Unit available: http://readingaustralia.com.au/Primary/TheSilverDonkey/TeacherResource.aspx

Unit suitable for AC: Years 5 and 6 (NSW Stage 3).

Duration
This unit represents approximately six to eight hours of classroom teaching. The book could be read during shared and modelled reading sessions or during guided reading sessions.

Curriculum summary
Find a summary table for Australian Curriculum: English content descriptions and NSW Syllabus outcomes for this unit.

Themes
War, bravery/heroism, suffering, mateship/friendship, humanity/the human spirit, fables/traditional stories.

Publisher’s synopsis
One bright spring morning in the woods of France, a soldier, blinded by the war, is found by a little girl named Coco, and her older sister Marcelle. In return for their kindness, the soldier tells the sisters marvellous tales, each story connected to the keepsake he carries in his pocket: a perfect, tiny silver donkey..

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My Grandad Marches on ANZAC Day by Catriona Hoy & Benjamin Johnson

Overview - Years 2-4

Teacher notes and useful websites http://www1.curriculum.edu.au/rel/values/book.php?catrelid=1835

Every year at bedtime on 24 April thousands of families set their alarm clocks for a very early start the next morning. For some, it is the only day of the year that they see the dawn, as they rug up in hats, coats, gloves and scarves and head for the local war memorial to participate in the Dawn Service commemorating the events of 25 April 1915.

My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day tells the story of one family's involvement in this day, but at the same time it is a story that is true for many families.

This book can be used to help younger students begin to understand the significance of Anzac Day, as well as expanding the knowledge of those who know a little about it already.

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ANZAC Day Parade by Glenda Kane & Lisa Allen

In this poignant story, a young boy's innocent question prompts an elderly war veteran to relive the past on ANZAC Day.

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The Bantam and the soldier by Jennifer Beck and Robyn Belton

Overview - Years 4-6

It is wartime.

In the midst of the fighting and devastation an unusual friendship is formed. This is a story of friendship and survival.

Overview - Ages 7-11

Teachers Notes: http://www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads/BookPdf/TeachersNotes/9781743310625.pdf

That morning, something important happened. It began with a great rumble that came in through our classroom window and rumbled on and on. We all ran out into the school yard and hung on the fence and gazed in wonder. An endless line of trucks and jeeps and tanks and weapons carriers came around the corner and along our street, all of them with big white stars on their sides. There were big cannons, too. Soldiers in the trucks waved to us. We wouldn't have guessed there were so many trucks in the whole wide world. They rumbled right through the morning break and when we came out for lunch they still rolled by. Then they were gone, heading north to where the war was being fought.

Lofty's Mission by Krista Bell & David Miller

Overview - Stage 2-3

Teacher Notes: http://kristabell.com/books/loftys-mission/

This picture book, for the whole of primary, is based on the fact that Australia did have messenger pigeons that flew for the Army up in New Guinea during World War II. Most were donated by civilian pigeon fanciers who had bred them to be champion racers.

The superb paper sculpture illustrations are by David Miller and resonate with the text.

As well as celebrating the brave pigeons that flew for the Army in wartime, this book also addresses the impact of polio on young Australian lives in that era.

It’s the 1940s in Australia. Young Harley McNamara has bred Lofty to be a champion racing pigeon, but the Army needs strong messenger pigeons to help win the war. Harley’s dreams are shattered when Lofty is taken from him. Will Lofty ever come home?

LOFTY’S MISSION was researched at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra where it was launched, a real honour, and it was short-listed in the Young People’s History Prize for the 2008 NSW Premier’s History Awards.

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Vietnam Diary by Mark Wilson

A powerful and moving story about the bonds of brotherhood and the tragedy of war, from the creator of My Mother's Eyes and Angel Of Kokoda.

Leigh and Jason are inseparable. But when Jason is conscripted and sent to fight in Vietnam, they are divided not just by distance, but by their beliefs about the war.

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My Mother's eyes by Mark Wilson

A fifteen-year-old Australian farm boy lies about his age to enlist to war and is caught up in the horrors of World War I in Egypt and on the Western Front, where 5,500 Australian troops were lost in two days at Fromelles alone. This boy s story in this unique, stirring picture book is based on true stories of the twenty-three teenage soldiers one only fourteen who fought with the Australian army in World War I, as recorded at the Australian War Memorial (their names among a list of 60,000 Australian soldiers killed in that war). The author s grandfather was a boy soldier who, unlike the hero of the book, did survive to return home.

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Angel of Kokoda by Mark Wilson

Overview - Students 8+
Teacher Notes: http://www.angelofkokoda.com.au/pdf/AngelofKokodaTeachersNotes.pdf

In Mark Wilson’s book – Angel of Kokoda – children will feel the emotional impact of a remarkable and surreal story told in striking illustration and evocative word.