Unit #5

Overview

Topic: The ANZAC Story
Curriculum Level: Level 3, New Zealand Curriculum
Learning Areas:

• Social Sciences: Understand how early events have shaped Aotearoa New Zealand’s society.
• English: Reading, Writing, Spelling (Level 3)
• Mathematics and Statistics: Gathering and presenting information (Level 3)

Class Profile: Year 6 students, 24 learners
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

Key Competencies:

• Thinking
• Using language, symbols, and texts
• Managing self
• Relating to others
• Participating and contributing

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Learning Intentions

• Understand the significance of ANZAC Day in New Zealand history.
• Read and comprehend texts about the ANZAC experience.
• Respond through creative writing and reflection.
• Reinforce understanding through spelling and data collection linked to the ANZAC context.
• Collaborate respectfully with classmates.

Success Criteria

Students will:

• Participate in discussions about ANZAC Day.
• Read a historical text and extract key information.
• Write a reflective diary entry from a soldier's perspective.
• Complete spelling activities based on ANZAC words.
• Collect and graph data related to ANZAC facts.

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Resources Needed

• Printed images of ANZAC soldiers, poppies, and Gallipoli maps
• Projector for short video clips (pre-loaded)
• Printable worksheets for activities
• Word cards for spelling activity
• Maths graph templates
• Lined paper/journals
• Coloured pencils/highlighters

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60-Minute Lesson Plan

⏰ 0–10 minutes – Warm-up Discussion and Visual Introduction

• Activity: Display 3 images: an ANZAC soldier, a field of poppies, and a trench scene.
• Teacher Prompt:

  "What do you notice? What do you wonder?"

• Use a questioning strategy to prompt:
  • Who do you think these people are?
  • Why are poppies important?
  • How do you think these people felt?

Purpose: Activate prior knowledge using visual literacy.

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⏰ 10–25 minutes – Shared Reading & Video

• Reading: Short story extract: "Billy's Big Trip to Gallipoli". Teacher reads aloud (Printable story - ensure age-appropriate language and Level 3 sentence structure).
• Video: Play a brief (2 minutes) animated video of ANZAC soldiers landing at Gallipoli (preloaded, no external link).
• Discussion:

  "What challenges did Billy and the soldiers face?"
  "How might they have been feeling?"

Purpose: Deepen understanding of the human side of the ANZAC soldiers' experience.

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⏰ 25–40 minutes – Group Literacy & Spelling Tasks

Station 1 (Writing):

• Task: Students write a diary entry from the perspective of a young soldier arriving at Gallipoli.

  Start: "Dear Diary, today we landed at..."

• Focus on feelings and sensory details.

Station 2 (Spelling/Word work):

• Task: Match ANZAC-related words with their definitions. Words: bravery, trench, battalion, comrade, dawn, sacrifice.
• Students work in pairs to create 'word art' for one word using crayons.

Rotation: Students spend 7 minutes at each station and swap.

Purpose: Develop descriptive writing and strengthen ANZAC-related vocabulary.

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⏰ 40–55 minutes – Mathematics Integration

Maths Activity: Graphing ANZAC Facts

• Each table group receives a set of ANZAC data cards:

  • Number of ANZAC soldiers
  • Number of ships used
  • Distance from New Zealand to Gallipoli

• Task:

  • Represent data using a bar graph or pictograph.
  • Discuss “What does this show us about the scale of ANZAC involvement?”

Purpose: Link historical learning to mathematical skills.

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⏰ 55–60 minutes – Reflection and Closing

• Quick Chat: "What surprised you most today?"
• Exit Ticket:
  • One thing I learnt…
  • One question I still have…

Collect responses as a check-in for tomorrow's lesson.

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Differentiation

• Extra scaffolding for writing (sentence starters) as needed
• Extension: Students create a second graph comparing Australian and New Zealand soldier numbers
• Visual aids and support for ESOL learners

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation during group work and discussions
• Diary entry marked for content (not spelling)
• Completed graphs collected for formative assessment
• Exit tickets reviewed for understanding

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Notes for Teachers

• Encourage empathy and respect throughout discussions.
• Highlight the importance of New Zealand’s unique identity through the ANZAC lens.

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Māori Integration

Incorporate te reo Māori terms where appropriate:

• Soldier – hōia
• Peace – rongo
• Family – whānau
• Brave – toa

Encourage students to use these in their writing or spelling tasks.

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Looking Ahead

Tomorrow's focus: The role of women during the ANZAC campaign and creating a remembrance poppy craft project.

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Would you also like a complete printable pack (story extract, spelling cards, graph templates) prepared for this lesson? 🌟