ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia’s most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
Source: ANZAC Day – Australian War Memorial Website
Next week we have a public holiday for ANZAC day in Australia. Our Prep children have been learning about the significance of this day. They have read and discussed picture story books about ANZAC day. One famous story read to the children was Simpson and his donkey. The children drew a directed picture of Simpson. Basically the children copy each line I do on my paper which will form their picture. I use directional language for this task. Their pictures are very individual and stunning.
Prep (5 Year Olds) pastel pictures:
One of my students went home to teach her family how to draw Simpson. They were amazed! I love the way the student chose different colors for the background. Picture below:
Cheers Nina
Nina Davis: Teaching & Learning in Australia 
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Hi, Do you have the directions you used for this as this looks great and would like to give it a go in my class? I wouldnt know where to start. Thanks
Hi Lauren,
I used this as a location activity. Have a large sheet on the board. Students have their sheets and start giving directions e.g. put you pencil half way up the left side of the paper and move straight to the centre of your page. Now draw a straight line down but stop …. and so on. You are doing it with them. I also limited colors. It’s amazing how well it works. Directed drawing using simple location. The illustrations in the books I choose support this activity.
Cheers Nina
Hi, do you have the directions you gave as a step by step? Thanks
Hi Hayley! This post gets so many views. I used this as a location activity and verbally took them through. I limited colors as well. Its directed drawing. Cheers Nina
Hello Nina your ideas have inspired me and I have tried the portrait idea with great success! The children loved drawing their soldiers.
Hi Tessa…that’s great. Children learn so much from looking at pictures and drawing a soldiers face.
Cheers Nina
Do you have step by step instructions for the drawing for those of us not artistically inclined?! They are stunning!
Hi Alexis,
When I did this with the children I used directional language. On the whiteboard I drew a simple outline giving instructions e.g. draw a straight line down from… and because each student’s line is different their pictures are very individual. The pictures were a series of lines. So, you don’t have to be super artistic! 🙂
Good Luck!
Hi there!
I’d love to try this with my little 5 year olds this year. Do you remember some of the instructions that you gave? Where did you start? And how long approx did it take you?
Reblogged this on Nina's Arena-Teaching & Learning in the Australian primary classroom and commented:
This wonderful picture story book and these beautiful drawings still inspire me.
Cheers Nina