This term in Nga Wawata we have been doing ANZAC rotations. The classes rotated around, seeing each teacher and participating in the lesson they had planned.

Matua Dylan’s lesson was about the Gallipoli Campaign. We watched a video and then Matua Dylan told us some more information about it. Lastly we did an art activity where you draw something to do with ANZAC, and then you cut out some scrabble tiles and glue them on the page so that they are spelling a word or phrase that is also to do with ANZAC. I learnt what the Gallipoli Campaign is and it’s role in the war.

Whaea Michaela was teaching us about Conscientious Objectors, Pacifists, and Archibald Baxter. She led us in a discussion about war, then showed us a video and told us what conscientious objectors and pacifists are. We also watched a video about Archibald Baxter. I learnt about who Archibald Baxter is and what he stood for.

Mrs Potgieter put together a slideshow about what a memorial is and why they are important. We then had to research a memorial of our choosing in New Zealand, answer four questions about it, and make it into a poster. I learnt from that session what the different types of memorials are and why we have them in NZ.

Mr Turner’s lesson was about the 28th Māori Battalion and how they were significant in the Allies’ victory in World War 2. We did an activity where we got a world map with no country names or borders and highlighted the countries that the Battalion fought in. I learnt more about the Battalion and what they did to support the Allies.

Overall, I learned a lot from the ANZAC rotations we did, and I really enjoyed them. I think that most of the syndicate did as well.