The History of ANZAC

TASK 1:

Familiarise yourself with the history of ANZAC day. The purpose of task one is for you to become familiar with some factual ANZAC history. Create a PowerPoint and answer the following questions. Make sure you only have one question and answer per slide. Include pictures or videos that relate to the topic.

Questions:

What does the term ANZAC stand for?

When is ANZAC day held?

What happens on ANZAC day?

Why is ANZAC day so important to Australians?

Here are some links that will help you to find the answers to the questions:

https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac-day/

http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/Traditions/Anzac-Day

TASK 2:

The Last Post is a well-known symbol that relates to the history of ANZAC. Watch the Australian Army video clip of the Last Post on YouTube, then add to your PowerPoint slide the answer to the following question:

Question:

What is the Last Post and what is its significance?

Here is the link to the Last Post YouTube clip:

https://youtu.be/G-Pz5KsyfN0

Here are some other links that will help you to find the answer to the question:

https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/last-post/

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34768398

http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/Traditions/The-Last-Post

For this task it would be appropriate to add the link to the YouTube in your PowerPoint. This can be done as one slide and the answer to the question can go on another slide.

TASK 3:

Private James Charles (Jim) Martin was only 14 years and 3 months old when he enlisted into the Army. He lied about his age and told the recruitment officers that he was 18. This task involves you doing some research on him and producing a typed Word document report.

In the report make sure you include the following information and also add anything else that you find relevant:

Include:

• Name
• Date of Birth and place of birth
• Date of Death and place of death
• Where did he live in Australia?
• What role did he have in World War 1?
• How did he die?
• What unit was he in?
• What was his service number?
• What was his final rank?
• Why did he enlist in the war?
• Did he receive any medals?
• Add any other information that interests you and explain why it is interesting.

Here are some links to help you answer the question:

https://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/martin/

https://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676585/#biography

http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/History-in-Focus/The-Youngest-ANZAC

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/anzac-day/he-was-only-14-youngest-life-lost/story-e6frgdaf-1226629024762

http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/print/?ID=25318

http://www.gallipoli.gov.au/explore-northern-war-cemeteries/lone-pine-cemetery.php

TASK 4:

Find diary entries and letters written in relation to Private James Charles Martin. For this task you will need to use information that you find and pretend that you are Private James Charles Martin. For this task you only need to complete one of the following. It is up to you to choose the one you would like to complete.

Option 1:

Your task is to write a letter back home. Explain how you were feeling and what you can hear, smell etc. What food did you eat? What was happening? Ask your mum and dad questions.

Option 2:

Write a diary entry pretending to be Private James Charles Martin on the day that he died. Explain how you feel, what is happening around you, what has already happened.

Option 3:

You are Private James Charles Martin’s mother. Write a letter to your son and explain what is happening back at home. For this task you may need to do a little bit more research by finding out who his mum is and find out what was happening in Australia at the time.

These are some useful links for you to complete this task. Remember you can extend on these and do some additional research on your own:

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG0000970/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PR85/382/

https://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10676585/#collection-items

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG0001457/

 

Extension Activities:

1. Watch the Last Post ceremony that commemorates Private James Charles Martin.

You can find the video here: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PAFU2015/435.01/

2. Read the book Soldier Boy by Anthony Hill. This book is a true story based on Private James Charles Martin.

You can find out more information about the book here:

http://www.anthonyhillbooks.com/soldierboymain.html

The above link has extra questions and activites that you might like to complete in your own time, or if you finish all the other tasks. These other activities can be found in the Teaching notes section.

3. Explore the ABC 3D documentary site. It has some great information about the Gallipoli campaign and is a fantastic interactive resource.

Here is the link:

http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/gallipoli/gallipoli2.htm

4. There is a fantastic lesson available through the Centenary education website that encourages students to do some research on a local person who served in the First World War. It involves students practising their letter-writing skills by writing to another student in their class and telling them things they learned about the serviceman or servicewoman that they researched.

For more information about this click on this link:

http://www.centenaryeducation.com.au/letterwriting.php