Cultural Remembrance

Unit: ANZAC Stories and Sacrifices

Lesson 8 of 12

Duration: 45 minutes

Year Level: Years 3-4

Class Size: 25 students

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Learning Objectives

Aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh (Years 3-4), students will:

• Understand and describe cultural practices associated with ANZAC Day remembrance, recognising the significance of these practices in Aotearoa New Zealand history and identity (Social Sciences, Heritage and Identity strand).
• Develop oral language skills by discussing texts reflecting ANZAC Day remembrance and sharing personal or family connections to cultural practices (English, Speaking and Listening).
• Make connections between texts and students' own experiences and cultural knowledge to deepen understanding of ANZAC remembrance (English, Making Connections).
• Express respectful attitudes towards the diversity of perspectives and cultural practices within Aotearoa New Zealand (Key Competencies: Relating to Others; Managing Self).
• Engage with picture books as a way to explore historical and cultural content, developing critical and reflective thinking about cultural narratives and perspectives (English, Critical Analysis).

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Curriculum Links

Social Sciences (New Zealand Curriculum Refresh):

• Understand how people remember and commemorate important events and why these are significant to the community.
• Explore cultural practices that connect present-day Aotearoa New Zealanders to past events and people.

English (Years 3-4):

• Participate in discussions about texts and experiences with support, using evidence to share opinions and ideas.
• Make and explain connections between texts and their own experiences, cultural backgrounds, and community knowledge.
• Describe explicit and implicit perspectives in texts and reflect on how these shape understandings.

Key Competencies:

• Relating to others: Listen to others’ perspectives and share thoughts in group discussions.
• Managing self: Show respect and empathy when discussing sensitive historical topics.

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Materials Needed

• Picture books on ANZAC Day and cultural remembrance (appropriate to Years 3-4 reading level, featuring diverse perspectives, including Māori and Pākehā viewpoints).
• Visual supports of ANZAC Day symbols (poppies, dawn service imagery, the RSA emblem).
• Art materials (paper, pencils, crayons) for reflective drawing activity.
• Chart paper or whiteboard for group brainstorming.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Begin with a brief teacher-led discussion: Ask students what they know about ANZAC Day and how people remember this day in New Zealand.
• Show visual prompts (poppies, images of dawn services) and introduce some common cultural practices around ANZAC Day such as attending dawn services, laying wreaths, and observing moments of silence.
• Set the purpose: "Today, we will learn about different ways people remember ANZAC Day and why these moments are important to New Zealanders.”

Curriculum Link: Social Sciences – Understanding the significance of cultural practices to a community.

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2. Shared Reading & Discussion (15 minutes)

• Read aloud a carefully selected picture book about ANZAC Day remembrance (e.g., a book that includes Māori and Pākehā cultural perspectives).
• Pause at key points to ask open-ended questions:
  • "What is happening in this picture?"
  • "Why do you think people are doing this?"
  • "Have you seen or done something similar with your family or community?"
• Encourage students to connect the story to their own experiences and cultural knowledge.
• Highlight words and phrases related to remembrance and respect, modelling oral language linked to the text.

Curriculum Link: English – Using oral language to share ideas, make connections, and develop comprehension skills.

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3. Reflection and Sharing (10 minutes)

• Invite students (in pairs or small groups) to share any personal or family traditions for remembering important events, including ANZAC Day or other occasions.
• Facilitate sharing with the whole class, encouraging respect and interest in differences and similarities.

Curriculum Link: Key Competencies – Relating to others; Social Sciences – Recognising diversity of cultural practices.

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4. Creative Reflection Activity (8 minutes)

• Students will draw or write (depending on ability) about their own or their family’s way of remembering special days or ANZAC Day if relevant.
• Teachers prompt with questions:
  • "What is something special you or your family do to remember an important day?"
  • "Why is it important to remember these things?"
• Encourage expression of feelings and personal ideas to deepen understanding of remembrance as a cultural practice.

Curriculum Link: English – Expressing ideas and emotions in visual and written form; Social Sciences – Personal connections to cultural traditions.

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5. Conclusion and Reflection (2 minutes)

• Gather students to reflect briefly on what they learned. Use a circle time format with prompts such as:
  • "What is one new thing you learned about ANZAC Day today?"
  • "Why do you think it’s important to remember and respect these traditions?"
• Highlight the importance of understanding and respecting different cultural practices as part of being a responsible citizen in New Zealand.

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Assessment Strategies

• Formative assessment through observation of student participation in discussions and sharing sessions, noting students’ ability to articulate connections between texts and personal experience.
• Collect students’ drawings/writings for evidence of understanding cultural practices of remembrance and personal connections, with teacher annotations on their expression and ideas.
• Use questioning throughout to assess comprehension and perspective-taking during shared reading and reflections.

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Differentiation and Inclusive Teaching

• Support English language learners and students with additional needs by providing visuals, sentence starters, and oral scaffolding during discussions.
• Use flexible grouping to encourage peer support during sharing activities.
• Include reading materials and cultural perspectives that reflect the diversity of the classroom and community.
• Allow alternative ways for students to express ideas (e.g., oral retelling, drawing).

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Additional Teacher Notes

• Link the lesson explicitly to the broader ANZAC Stories and Sacrifices unit, situating it as a deeper engagement with cultural perspectives surrounding remembrance.
• Encourage ongoing connections at home or in the community, possibly inviting students to bring or share family stories in a future lesson.
• Foster a classroom environment of respect and curiosity, emphasising that remembering history is a shared and valued cultural practice in New Zealand.

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This lesson plan is carefully designed to align with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, supporting historical understanding, oral language, and cultural awareness for Years 3-4 students within a 45-minute timeframe. It balances explicit teaching, rich texts, student voice, and reflection to foster a meaningful learning experience respecting New Zealand’s diverse cultural heritage .