Remembering Through Nature

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Lesson Overview

Subject: Science
Year Level: Year 1
Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 18 students
Curriculum: NSW Syllabus – Science and Technology K-6
Strand: Living World (STe-3LW-ST)
Content Descriptor:
Students explore the external features of living things and how their environments meet their needs.
Cross-Curricular Link: HSIE - ANZAC Day Commemorations

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WALT (We Are Learning To):

• Identify the features of native Australian plants used by ANZAC soldiers
• Observe and describe how plants grow and respond to their environment
• Understand the symbolic connection between rosemary and remembrance

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Success Criteria:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

✅ Name at least two Australian native plants and describe their features
✅ Explain why rosemary is associated with ANZAC Day
✅ Complete a nature observation of a rosemary plant
✅ Create a "living tribute" artwork to represent remembrance

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Lesson Breakdown

Introduction (10 min)

Warm-up Discussion

• Begin with an Acknowledgement of Country to honour the custodians of the land.
• Ask students if they have ever seen sprigs of rosemary worn on ANZAC Day.
• Discuss how plants can play a role in remembering people and events.

Teacher Script (Simplified for Younger Learners)
“Plants like rosemary are special to us on ANZAC Day. Just like medals and flags, they help us remember people who were very brave a long time ago.”

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Activity 1: Exploring the "Living World" (15 min)

Materials:

• Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Magnifying glasses
• Printable plant features cards (dyslexia-friendly font e.g. OpenDyslexic)
• Photo cards of native plants (e.g. wattle, eucalypt, waratah)

Instructions:

1. In pairs, students examine rosemary using magnifying glasses.
2. Use feature cards to describe the smell, shape, texture, and colour.
3. Teacher-led questioning:
   • What part of the plant do you think this is?
   • Why do you think rosemary was chosen for remembrance?

Curriculum Link: Living things have a variety of external features. (STe-3LW-ST)

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Activity 2: ANZAC Nature Walk & Remembrance Circle (15 min)

Set-Up:

• Use a sensory garden, schoolyard, or create a classroom green corner.
• Provide photo ID charts of local flora.

Instructions:

1. Students walk through the garden to find plants discussed.
2. Encourage sensory observations (sight, smell, touch).
3. Gather in a circle—each student gently holds or describes one plant or natural object.
4. Take a moment of silence to honour the ANZACs, using a rosemary sprig as a focal symbol.

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Activity 3: Creative Plant Tribute (15 min)

Task: Create a "Living Tribute" collage using natural materials

Materials:

• Pressed leaves, rosemary sprigs, small twigs, flowers
• A5 cardboard sheets
• Glue, pencils, crayons, dyslexia-friendly sentence frame sheets

Instructions:

• Students arrange natural materials to make a plant tribute or nature symbol.
• Use sentence starters to write or trace (depending on student ability):
  “I remember the ANZACs with this” or “This plant makes me think of bravery.”

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Reflection & Circle Chat (5 min)

Whole Class Share

• Invite 2–3 students to show their nature collages.
• Discuss:
  • How can nature help us remember people?
  • Why do we use special symbols on ANZAC Day?

Exit Ticket Question (on whiteboards):
“What does rosemary remind us of?”

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Differentiation Strategies

Students with Additional Needs or EAL/D:

• Visual supports with images and icons
• Partnered tasks for peer mentorship
• Sequenced sentence starters

Students with Dyslexia:

• Use dyslexia-friendly fonts (e.g. OpenDyslexic)
• Visuals and colour-coded cards to supplement reading
• Verbal options for expression (record thoughts via tablet or speaking partner)

Advanced Learners:

• Extension: Research another Australian plant used during war (e.g. wattles)
• Drawing challenge: Design a medal with a native plant symbol
• Create an information label for their plant tribute (name, use, remembrance)

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Resources / Equipment

• Rosemary sprigs (1 per student)
• Magnifying glasses
• Nature items (leaves, twigs, flowers) collected prior or provided
• Plant ID cards and feature description cards (with dyslexia-friendly fonts)
• A5 cardboard, glue, coloured pencils/crayons
• Sentence starter printouts
• Access to school nature area or green space

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Teacher Notes

• Time your class remembrance moment carefully—keep respectful but age-appropriate.
• If possible, invite a local community member or gardener to talk about the rosemary plant.
• Capture photos of students’ “Living Tribute” artworks for a digital class display during ANZAC week.

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Assessment

Formative:

• Observations during plant exploration
• Participation in ANZAC remembrance circle
• Oral and visual expression in nature tribute

Summative:

• Completion of reflection sentence with plant collage
• Ability to verbally explain rosemary’s symbolism

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Extension Ideas

🌿 Home Connection: Send home a rosemary sprig with a note explaining its meaning
🌿 Digital Activity: Students create a narrated slideshow of their tribute
🌿 Cross-Curricular: Link with History by creating a simple ANZAC Day timeline using visual symbols

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By blending hands-on science with cultural reflection, this lesson supports NSW curriculum goals while connecting young learners to the rich natural and historical heritage of Australia.