6 Activities to Celebrate Anzac Day

In the USA, people observe Memorial Day, and in Europe, there’s Remembrance Day – holidays that honor the citizens who have made sacrifices while serving the country, especially in war. For Australia, that’s Anzac day – observed on 25th of April each year. In this article, we’ll share six meaningful Anzac Day activities through which kids can learn about and celebrate the holiday. 

Multiple times now we’ve discussed how history is an important part of children’s education as it helps kids to develop their identity, learn about the world they live in, and keep the memory of the most significant events that brought us where we are. And, while some might argue that sad or scary topics revolving around war and death might be inappropriate for children, there are ways to pass on knowledge without leaving a psychological scar. 

After all, children are more resilient than you think. They pick up the emotional tone from grown-ups and would actually benefit by channeling those emotions into national pride and collective identity. In the following paragraphs, we’ll show you some great ways to commemorate Anzac Day with kids in a positive way, so keep reading!  

What Is Anzac Day?

Let’s start this article by discussing how you can explain the meaning of Anzac Day to kids. 

First and foremost, keep to the facts, avoid getting into unnecessary details, and most importantly, use simple language.

As we’ve mentioned in the beginning, Anzac Day is Australia’s and New Zealand’s day of remembrance, honoring all citizens who served and died in wars, conflicts, or other national operations in the name of the country. If children have already been through history topics such as World War I (WW1) and World War II (WW2), then it’s easier and feels more natural to approach and associate Anzac Day to these topics, building on the knowledge they have so far.

You can say something along the lines of “We have talked about the two World Wars and the consequences of such historical events. Who can tell me the outcome of the first one?” After engaging in a brief discussion with students, the main purpose being to refresh their memory, focus the attention on the main purpose of Anzac Day – remembering and honoring the people that served and died in that war. “The most devastating consequence of war is that no matter who wins or loses, a lot of people will die. Have you ever wondered who those people were in the first or second world war? While, for us, these events might be just a distant past, some of those people were brave fellow citizens who we honor each year through Anzac Day. This way their sacrifices won’t be forgotten.”

On the other hand, if you’re teaching young kids who still haven’t learned about WWI and WWII, then you can explain to them that Anzac Day is that time of the year when we remember and honor brave people from the past that protected Australia and New Zealand.  

History of Anzac Day

So, how did this remembrance day get its name? What does the name mean and when did we start observing it? 

The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, an army corps from the First World War who served in the Gallipoli Campaign. The reason why the holiday is named after the army corps is that Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign (25th of April 1915) which was the first operation in WWI that led to major casualties for Australians and New Zealand’s army. 

One year after the campaign, ANZAC day was observed for the first time, although it became a public holiday in 1921. 

There are many historical details about Anzac Day that we’re sure kids would enjoy, which is why we encourage you to check out Anzac Day Facts & Worksheets bundle! Thanks to our bundle, you can build a memorable lesson plan and engage kids with interactive worksheets that explore Anzac Day in greater depth.

Anzac Day Traditions and Rituals

Before we dive into the engaging Anzac Day activities for kids, let’s explore the traditional Anzac Day activities and rituals that are observed in Australia and New Zealand every 25th of April.

Commemorative customs on Anzac Day share many similarities with Remembrance Day. Some of these shared traditions include flags at half-mast, laying of wreaths, wearing red poppies, a period of silence, etc. 

In Australia and New Zealand, the commemorations typically begin with a Dawn Service, a  standing ceremony where a prayer, hymns, and a dedication from the fourth verse of Laurence Binyon’s “For the fallen” are being performed. The Dawn Service is typically broadcasted online, which means that you can follow it from home. Check out the official Australian War Memorial website where you can find more information. 

Other traditions for Anzac Day include the Anzac Parade, National Ceremony, and other commemorative services and customs. 

Anzac Day Activities for Kids

In the last paragraph we’ve discussed the national ceremonies, customs, and rituals observed during Anzac Day, but commemorating the day with kids would look a lot differently. Following the links above, you can find information on when and how to watch the official ceremonies this year, if you decide to share it with your students. But, before you do that, make sure to introduce the holiday to kids in a more fun and meaningful way with our Anzac Day activities. 

Learning About Anzac Day – Books for Kids

Knowing what Anzac Day is about is the foundation on which all the other activities should be built upon. Of course, feel free to use the information presented in this article, as well as our Anzac Day worksheet bundle linked above to build a solid lesson plan! However, if you want to dive deeper into the topic and help your students or kid develop a strong sense of national pride, here are some resources worth considering!

Children’s Books for Anzac Day:

• My Grandad Marches on ANZAC Day by Catriona Hoy
• Why are they marching, Daddy? by Di Burke
• A Day to Remember by Jackie French and Mark Wilson
• An Anzac Tale by Ruth Starke and Greg Holfield
• Meet the ANZACs by Clare Saxby
• Lest We Forget by Kerry Brown
• Anzac Ted by Belinda Landsberry
• The Poppy by Andrew Plant
• A Soldier, A Dog and A Boy by Libby Hathorn
• Anzac Biscuits by Phil Cummings

Create a DIY Poppy for Anzac Day

Similar to Remembrance Day, a poppy is an enduring symbol of remembrance during Anzac Day. This is why it would be a great Anzac Day activity for kids to make DIY poppy pins that they can wear on their chests. Best of all, it’s an incredibly simple and straightforward DIY project that, with a little help, even the youngest kids can follow along. 

All you’ll need is two-colored (one red and one black) construction papers, markers, scissors, a glue stick, transparent tape, a safety pin, and two coins in different sizes. 

Tell your students to take the smaller coin, place it over the black construction paper, and outline the shape of the coin, creating a circle. With the larger coin repeated the same procedure on the red construction paper. For every black circle, you’ll need four to five larger red circles (representing the poppy leaves). Help the students to safely cut out the circles they’ve outlined. Then, take the black circle (representing the poppy’s pistil), and on the backside glue the red circles, slightly overlapping one another. 

Tape the back of the red circles to secure them and with another piece of tape attach the safety pin. 

Now, each student will have their own poppy pin to wear on Anzac Day.

Learn and Sing Anzac Day Songs for Kids

We’ve mentioned that during the Dawn Service and later in some ceremonies, it’s a custom to sing the hymn and other poems. Here’s our selection of Anzac Day-themed songs and poems that students can learn, then recite during Anzac Day. 

• Waltzing Matilda by Christina Macpherson
• “I Am Australian” (or “We Are Australian”)  by The Seekers
• The Last Anzac, Anzac Day 2011
• Spirit of the Anzacs Lee Kernaghan
• “To My Fellow Man” by Lugh Damen

Bake Anzac Cookies

The Anzac biscuit is a popular cookie in Australia and New Zealand that’s traditionally associated with the ANZAC corps army. According to popular belief, the wives or the men who went to war during WWI sent biscuits that didn’t spoil easily and could survive naval transportation. 

On the other side, some historians claim that the Anzac biscuits were never sent to the soldiers, but instead were a popular dessert that was made by organizations aiming to raise money for resources during the war. 

Either way, making the popular Anzac biscuits with kids to honor Anzac Day is a good idea. After all, you’ll get a delicious treat you can all enjoy while reading a book or watching an Anzac Day documentary. 

The traditional Anzac Day biscuit recipe requires rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, golden syrup, baking soda, boiling water, and for those who love the coconut aroma – desiccated coconut. You can look up the complete instructions and ingredients on Taste. 

Plant a Rosemary Bush

The rosemary plant is very significant for Anzac Day since it was found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula (the place where the Gallipoli Campaign occurs) and it’s frequently used during ceremonies and similar observances all around the world. 

But, aside from being a remembrance symbol, rosemary is an ancient remedy with a specific smell, which is why today it’s a common herb in many recipes. 

Considering the fact that spring and flowers have just begun blooming, it’s nice to spend some time outside, engaging kids in a gardening activity with which they’ll also honor Anzac Day in a way. Plus, spring is the optimal time for planting rosemary and you’ll end up with a nice herb in your backyard. 

Following the link to BonniePlants website, we’ve found a comprehensive guide on how to plant, grow, care for, and water a rosemary plant. All the tips you need to grow an impressive rosemary bush are right there! 

Write a Gratitude Card to the Troops

Finally, the last Anzac Day activity we would recommend is writing a gratitude card to the Anzacs and all the other people who served their country and sacrificed their lives so we can have a peaceful life today. 

This is a great activity for the end of the day or after learning about the true significance of Anzac Day, since they need to be able to understand the purpose of the day before they can emotionally express their feelings. 

Tell kids that these cards can be in any format they feel comfortable with, from a short thank you message to a long essay. 

Once everyone has written something, you can gather the messages and lay them over a symbolic place representing The Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, or pin them in the classroom and keep them as a nice memory!

Before You Leave

We hope that you liked the Anzac Day activities for kids of all ages. While we couldn’t cover everything, we encourage you to follow the links in this article, where you’ll find insightful resources that will help you create a complete lesson plan, from start to finish! 

You can receive further help for us by visiting our main website and exploring our growing library of worksheets, lesson plans, and curriculums. Aside from seasonal and historical topics, we have more than 11 other sections covering every aspect of children’s education. Whether you’re a teacher or a homeschooling parent, you can quickly download and edit the resources to fit your teaching style and level. 

And lastly, let us also remind you to check out our blog and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and trends that we’re going to cover in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!