Anzac Day is celebrated on 25 April every year in New Zealand and Australia to remember all the members of the armed forces who served in the two World Wars and other major conflicts, such as the Vietnam and Korean Wars. Children can learn some interesting facts about Anzac Day and some of the wars that our troops fought in by:
- Checking out the Anzac Day and Gallipoli fact page on our Kids website.
- Borrowing some nonfiction books about war from your library. There are some really good books that have true stories about soldiers in the wars and children who lived through war, like True Stories of the Second World War and Under Fire: Children of the Second World War tell their stories.
- Reading some stories set in war-time. Goodnight Mister Tom is one of the best, but you could also try The Silver Sword, Rose for the ANZAC Boys, and War Horse.
There are also a number of dawn parades and memorials around Christchurch and Canterbury that you could go along to to remember those that died fighting for their country.
I have just heard today of a new ANZAC book for kids: Susan Brocker’s “Brave Bess”, about the only horse to from the NZ Mounted Rifle Regiment to return from WW1. There’s an interview with Susan on Plains FM’s Women on Air podcasts: http://plainsfm.org.nz/on-demand/woa-bravebess-24april/
very awesome cool