25 Resources and Ideas for Teaching Australia Day

Australia Day is nearly upon us for another year, will you be Teaching Australia Day this year? Australia Day sits at a funny spot in the school year doesn’t it? Some states are back at school for the new school year, others are still on holidays. Back to school in Victoria always falls around the time of Australia Day, but I still always take the opportunity to celebrate it with the kids, even after the time. With the back to school craziness I have you covered for great resources, easy preparation and purposeful learning about Australia Day. Below you will find 25 Resources and Ideas for Teaching Australia Day.

Teaching Australia Day Activities

Use the template for students to make their own Australian Flag. 2. Symbols of Australia Day Book Grades F-1 Teaching Australia Day is easy with this 4 template pages included in my Australia Day pack to make an Australia Day book. Symbols of Australian Flag, Australian Map, Aboriginal, Ship (First Fleet) and Captain Phillips are included. Perfect for early learners. 3. A to Z of Australian Words Grades 3-6 This is a simple activity where Students think of an Australian word that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Ideas are included to help get everyone started. 4. Koala Biscuits Grades F-3 Aren’t these Koala Biscuits the cutest? I found them on pinterest and just had to include them in my list. All instructions are included on My Little Love Nest. The perfect, fun activity when Teaching Australia Day. 5. Design your own Australian Flag Grades 3-6 Students use the template provided to reflect on their culture and design their own Australian Flag. Also included are Writing prompts to help students design their own Australian Flag. 6. Cut and Paste Australia Grades 3-6 Australian states are jumbled up on a worksheet ready for students to cut out and stick back together. Easy activity to prep, purposeful create a great display in your classroom. Other map resources also included. 7. Writing Prompts Grades 3-6 Including; The best thing about Australia Day is…, What does it mean to be Australian?, Why, who and how do we celebrate Australia Day? 8. National Anthem Cloze Grades 3-4 Fill in the missing words on this National Anthem Cloze. 9. Australia Comprehension Activity Grades 3-5 Students read through the information and then answer the questions, learning more about Australia as they go. 10. Design your own BBQ Menu Grades 3-6 Australia Day is in summer and is celebrated in many family and friendship groups with a big BBQ. Students design their own BBQ Menu that is quintessentially Australian. 11. Symbols of Australia Flipbook Grades F-2 This is a simple activity where students colour in Australian symbols and paste them in a book. Free, quick and easy! To see this activity in action, read more at Symbols of Australia blogpost. 12. Australian State and Country Flipbooks Grades 3-6 Learn more about each Australian State with these flipbooks. Easy to prepare (copy of one page per student), simple research for the students and easy to put together. 13. Wattle Painting Grades F-3 Students can create this beautiful piece of artwork, easily in your classroom or homeschool space. Developed by Danya Banya. Check out all the instructions here.  14. Australian Colouring Pages Grades K-1 15. Australia Day Word Search Grade 2-3 Using theme words. 16. Roll and Cover Maths Activities Grades F-1 Maths activities focusing on counting, numbers, colours and shapes using dice. Plenty of variety and both color/colour worksheets included. 17. Australian Scrambled Words Grades 2-3 Students unjumble these Australian words. 18. Symmetry Activities Grades 3-6 Students complete these Symmetry activities with an Australian theme. 5 pictures included, with and without grid. 19. Australian Map Activity Grades 2-4 Students cut and paste the names of Australian states and territory into the correct position. 20. Koala in a Creek All! What kid wouldn’t love a Koala in a Creek, this is a fabulous activity thanks to Laughing Kids Learn. 21. Australian Trivia Questions Grades 4-6  Game included in this Australia Day pack. 22. Australian Patterns Grades 3-6 Students complete these patterns using pictures unique to the Australian culture. Students will find following the patterns easy but may find drawing the pictures tricky! 23. Aboriginal Dot Painting Grades F-6 There are many outlines online for doing some Aboriginal dot painting with your class. The kids love it, it takes little prep and they make a great display. I like these templates on Brisbane Kids. Otherwise, search on pinterest, there are some great ideas – these from Be A Fun Mum are simple to do for older children. 24. Making Damper At home activity Another great idea from Laughing Kids Learn. This activity is easier to make with your own children at home unless you have cooking facilities (or a teacher’s aide) at school. If you can make it happen at school, I absolutely recommend it! 25. Australian Fact Files Grades 3-6 State and Country fact files are included.

Learn more about Teaching Australia Day

Teaching Australia Day has become increasingly controversial over the last decade or so. While we love our country of Australia, we do not love the connection to the date that many Australian’s have. For this reason, many of the activities above and in my Australia Day pack can be used on Australia Day as well as anytime of the year you may be learning about and celebrating Australia. Find out more details here.

A Note on the Significance of Australia Day

As we explore ways to celebrate Australia Day with students, it’s important to acknowledge that January 26 holds different meanings for different people. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, this date marks the beginning of dispossession, and is observed as Invasion Day or Survival Day. I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and learn, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I recognise the ongoing connection Aboriginal peoples have to Country, culture, and community, and the importance of having open and respectful conversations with students about Australia’s shared history and the evolving meaning of this day.