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Anzac War Memorial Sydney
Learning Intention
We are learning to:
- understand why the ANZAC Memorial is an important historical site
Success criteria
What I'm looking for:
- I can give reasons why the ANZAC Memorial is an important place
Student Activities
Activity 1
Who are these men?
NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum History K - 10
Outcomes
A student:
- HT1-2 identifies and describes significant people, events, places and sites in the local community over time
Historical Skills
Students:
Comprehension: chronology, terms and concepts
- distinguish between the past, present and future (ACHHS032, ACHHS048)
Use of sources
- explore and use a range of sources about the past (ACHHS034, ACHHS050)
Research
- pose questions about the past using sources provided (ACHHS033, ACHHS049)
Explanation and communication
- use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written, role play) and digital technologies (ACHHS038, ACHHS054)
Historical Concepts
- Significance: importance of an event, development or individual/group
- Empathetic understanding: developing an understanding of another’s views, life and decisions made
LAC
Learning across the curriculum
- Critical and creative thinking
Content
The importance today of an historical site of cultural or spiritual significance; for example, a community building, a landmark, a war memorial (ACHHK045)
Students:
- identify an historical site or sites in the local community. Discuss their significance, why these sites have survived and the importance of preserving them
Activity Notes for Teachers
Task 1
Who are these men? What are they doing
Ask students to:
- look carefully at the images of the sculptures and reliefs on ANZAC War Memorial.
- identify what the men are doing.
- support their conclusions with evidence from the images, e.g. wearing helmets, holding guns, wearing soldier’s uniform, assisting wounded.
- use the form to write words or draw pictures that identify the men as soldiers fighting a war and support their conclusions with evidence from the images.
Image Description
Image 1 - Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park. Mourning servicemen laying a wreath.
Image 2 - Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park. One of two 10 metre long bronze reliefs showing the equipment, activities and servicemen of the various armed forces in World War I
Image 3 - Sculpture detail showing ANZAC 'digger' in uniform
Task 2
What is this building? Why is it important?
Ask students to:
- make the connection between the sculptures they have analysed in images 1, 2 and 3 and Dellit's painting of the ANZAC War Memorial in task 2.
- deduce what the building in task 2 (the ANZAC War Memorial) is used for.
- provide evidence from the images to support their answers.
- explain why the ANZAC War Memorial is an important/significant historic site.
- make a value judgement: express their opinion about whether or noth thebuilding should be preserved for future denerations.
- support their opinion with logical reasoning, e.g. '...because it will remind people about the war'.
Background notes for teachers
After World War I in 1929 a competition was held to design a war memorial for Hyde Park, Sydney. The winning entry was by Charles Bruce Dellit (1900-1942) who designed a monument with many symbolic statues and sculptures, both inside and outside the building. Its function was to be a centre of remembrance for those Australians killed in war, and it remains one of the most significant buildings in Sydney today.