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Meaningful ANZAC Day Lesson Activities for Multilingual Students in Primary Classrooms
Choosing meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities is important when teaching multilingual learners. EALD students may be born in Australia or overseas. Some students may already know about conflict and remembrance. Others may be learning about Anzac Day for the first time.
In many primary classrooms, students bring different experiences. Some EAL/D students may have lived in countries affected by war. Others may hear conversations at home or watch the news. Because of this, Anzac Day activities for multilingual students should be taught with care, sensitivity, and respect.
These meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities should focus on remembrance, gratitude, and understanding. The goal is to help students learn why Australians remember Anzac Day in a safe and supportive way.
Why Meaningful Anzac Day Activities Matter for EAL/D Students
When planning Anzac Day lesson activities, it is important to think about emotional safety. EAL/D students may be learning English while also learning about a sensitive topic. Some students may have personal or family connections to conflict.
Safe Anzac Day activities for multilingual students should:
focus on remembrance
avoid graphic details
use calm language
provide visual support
allow optional participation
Students can learn:
We remember soldiers
We say thank you
We show respect
Learn important vocabulary, e.g. Lest we forget.
These simple messages help EAL/D students understand Anzac Day.
Build Background Knowledge for EAL/D Students
One of the most important Anzac Day lesson activities for multilingual students is building background knowledge. Many younger EAL/D students may not know what Anzac Day is.
Teach:
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
Anzac Day is on 25 April
We remember soldiers
We show respect
We say thank you
Use:
visuals
photos
slides
repetition
simple sentences
Example sentences:
We remember soldiers.
Soldiers helped our country.
We say thank you.
We show respect.
These meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities help students understand the topic.
Use Message Abundancy
Message abundancy supports meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities for EAL/D students. This means repeating the same message in different ways.
You can:
show pictures
read a short text
watch a video
draw a picture
complete a craft
write a sentence
Each activity reinforces:
We remember
We show respect
We say thank you.
This strengthens Anzac Day message for multilingual students.
Scaffold for NAP and Beginner EAL/D Students
Scaffolding is essential when planning Anzac Day lesson activities for multilingual students. NAP and beginner EAL/D students need structured support.
Use:
sentence starters
word banks
tracing sentences
drawing before writing
oral rehearsal
Sentence starters:
We remember ______
Thank you ______
Anzac Day is about ______
We show respect by ______
These meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities help all EAL/D students participate.
Use Visuals to Support EALD Students
Visual supports are very helpful for Anzac Day activities for multilingual students. EAL/D students understand new concepts better when they see pictures.
You can use:
Anzac Day colouring pages
Anzac Day PowerPoint slides
vocabulary posters
poppy visuals
remembrance displays
These visuals help explain:
What Anzac Day is
Why we remember
What poppies represent
Why we have a minute of silence
These meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities build vocabulary and understanding.
Hands-On Activity: Make a Poppy
Hands-on learning is one of the most effective Anzac Day lesson activities for multilingual students. Making a poppy helps EAL/D students understand remembrance.
Students can:
colour a poppy
cut and paste a poppy
create a class display
write “Lest We Forget”
Simple sentences:
This is a poppy.
We remember soldiers.
We wear poppies.
These meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities combine art and language.
Plant Rosemary: A Meaningful Anzac Day Activity
Planting rosemary is a calm and meaningful Anzac Day lesson activity for multilingual students. Rosemary grew in Gallipoli and is a symbol of remembrance. The scent of rosemary is also linked to memory.
Students can:
plant rosemary
water the plant
observe growth
write sentences
Example sentences:
We plant rosemary.
Rosemary helps us remember.
We remember soldiers.
You can also include a procedural text.
How to plant rosemary
Get a pot
Add soil
Put in plant
Water plant
Put in sun
This supports literacy for EAL/D students.
Make ANZAC Biscuits
Cooking is another meaningful Anzac Day lesson activity for multilingual students. Students learn why Anzac biscuits were baked and sent to soldiers.
Students can:
read recipe
sequence steps
mix ingredients
bake biscuits
Vocabulary:
mix
bake
roll
tray
oven
Procedural text example
How to make ANZAC biscuits
First mix
Next roll
Then bake
Finally eat
These meaningful Anzac Day lesson activities connect literacy and history.
3. Harmony Week Bunting: Collaborative Harmony Day Arts and Crafts
Harmony Week bunting is one of the most visually striking Harmony Day art ideas.
Each student decorates a triangular bunting flag representing something about themselves.
Students might include:
their name
• cultural patterns
• favourite foods
• their country flag
• something special about their culture
When all the pieces are joined together, the classroom creates a large collaborative display.
Teachers often hang bunting:
across classroom windows
• above the whiteboard
• in hallways
• in the assembly area
Because every student contributes one piece, this activity builds a strong sense of classroom belonging.
4. My Culture Craftivity – Reflective Harmony Day Art Idea
One of the most thoughtful Harmony Day art ideas is a My Culture craftivity.
Students reflect on their identity and create a visual representation of their culture.
They might include:
traditional clothing
• favourite cultural foods
• national animals
• languages spoken at home
• important celebrations
Teachers can extend this activity with simple speaking prompts:
My culture is…
• In my culture we eat…
• In my culture we celebrate…
For many students — particularly new arrivals — this may be the first time their culture is explored and celebrated in a school setting.
And that moment matters.
5. Harmony Week Bookmarks – A Simple Harmony Day Art Idea
Bookmarks are another practical and simple Harmony Day art idea.
Students decorate bookmarks with Harmony Week messages such as:
Everyone belongs
• We respect each other
• Different cultures, one community
Bookmarks are especially useful because students:
take them home,
• use them in reading books and
• remember the Harmony Week message throughout the year.
6. Harmony Week Headbands – Fun Harmony Day Art Idea for Younger Students
Younger students especially love Harmony Week headbands.
Students decorate headbands with:
orange colours
• hearts
• cultural symbols
• the words Harmony Week
These are perfect for:
Harmony Day assemblies
• classroom photos
• school celebrations
When students wear their creations, the excitement helps the celebration feel even more special.
How to Organise Harmony Day Art Ideas Across the Week
Harmony Week can feel busy, so planning one activity per day can help.
Day | Harmony Day Arts and Crafts |
Monday | Cultural Heart Craft |
Tuesday | Harmony Posters |
Wednesday | Harmony Bunting |
Thursday | My Culture Craftivity |
Friday | Harmony Bookmarks |
This approach spreads the celebration across the week and gives students time to reflect on the theme of belonging.
Supporting EAL/D Students During Harmony Week Activities
When planning Harmony Day art ideas for classrooms with English language learners, it helps to include language scaffolding.
Teachers can support students with:
picture vocabulary cards
• sentence starters
• partner talk
• drawing before writing
For example:
Sentence frames
I am from…
• My language is…
• My culture has…
These small supports make the activities more accessible for beginner English learners.
A Free Harmony Day Craft Activity for Your Students
If you are looking for ready-to-use Harmony Day craft ideas, I have created a Harmony Day Craftivity that works beautifully for younger learners.
👉 Harmony Day Headbands Craftivity
It is designed to be print-and-go, making it easy for busy teachers to use during Harmony Week.
Make Harmony Week Meaningful, Not Just Decorative
The best Harmony Day art ideas are not just decorative crafts.
They help students:
learn about each other
• celebrate different cultures
• feel proud of their identity
• understand the meaning of belonging
When students see their cultures represented in the classroom, it sends a powerful message:
You belong here.
And that message lasts far beyond Harmony Week.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Ilvira Groom, an experienced EAL/D teacher based in Australia. I create practical, engaging resources that help teachers support multilingual learners with confidence and clarity.
