Best resources for Anzac Day in primary schools

Enrich your lesson plans with accurate information and excellent historical sources. You can download free books and learning activities from our website.

Education specialists and historians who work at the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) have prepared these materials to present the stories and images of people who have served Australia in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Hard copies of many of our books and resources should be available in your school library. Contact us at education@dva.gov.au to request hard copies for your school.

Anzac Day Kitbag

Host resources for an Anzac Day ceremony. Our Anzac Day Kitbag has a suggested order of service with flag protocols, sample speeches, the Ode of Remembrance, music suggestions and the National Anthem. Includes Anzac biscuits, paper poppies and wreath activities for children. Print them out or adapt them to your needs.

Why We Remember: P-3 Commemoration presentation

We created a presentation slide deck to explain the difference between 'celebration' and 'commemoration' to lower primary students and talk about the symbols related to Anzac Day and Remembrance Day in Australia.

Here They Come: A Day to Remember series

Big picture book

To explain commemoration, we published the 'big book' and learning activities booklet.

  • The narrative explores different characters and their perspectives on Anzac Day through a mix of fictional characters, stylised illustrations and photographs.

The big book and its supporting educational materials align to the Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS).

Key concepts in the text include: commemoration, identity and diversity, citizenship and civic participation, community values, connections to the past, symbols, service and sacrifice.

Animated videos

We created a 7-minute animation of the big book story, as well as 8 short videos about common symbols of commemoration. The short videos are narrated by Australian author and cartoonist, Warren Brown. Each video is available to watch and share on YouTube, or to download as an MP4 file. We've also packaged them up as a digibook.

Digibooks

We created two digibooks that are easy to use on a smartboard or tablet:

Symbols of commemoration

Uncover the hidden meaning of many traditions that we see during Anzac Day services by exploring our Symbols of commemoration.

In Their Own Words virtual lesson

With upper primary students, you can explore the richness of oral histories In the first lesson, Australian veterans talk about Anzac Day and what it means to them. World War II veterans reflect on Anzac Day

Stories of Service videos

We've created a series of 6-minute films that explain life in military service through the eyes of some extraordinary Australians:

  • Damien Parer
  • Ellen Savage
  • Gordon Wallace
  • Nancy Wake
  • Reginald Wallace
  • Weary Dunlop

Check out the Stories of Service series (more coming soon).

Century of Service series

A series of interesting reference books inspired by the qualities that Australian service men and women have displayed in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Other great resources for primary school students


Last updated: 8 April 2021

Cite this page

DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2021), Best resources for Anzac Day in primary schools , DVA Anzac Portal, accessed 15 June 2021, http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/research-education/schools/best-resources-anzac-day-primary-schools
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Indigenous content warning

The Department of Veterans' Affairs recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Nation Peoples of Australia and acknowledges their continuing spiritual, cultural, social and economic connection to Australia's lands and waters.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images, names and voices of deceased persons.