What a privilege it was to close out our ANZAC Day mini-unit this week! We were honoured to welcome Whaea Colleen into our classroom, and she brought with her a treasure trove of history that turned our lesson into a living, breathing experience.
She came to share the story of her Uncle Jack, a brave young man who served on a Lancaster Bomber crew during World War II. While we’ve read books and watched videos about the war, nothing quite compares to hearing a personal family kōrero (story).
History in Our Hands
Whaea Colleen didn’t just bring stories; she brought the physical evidence of Uncle Jack’s journey. The children were absolutely spellbound as she laid out:
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Black and White Photographs: Seeing the young faces of the crew standing beside the massive Lancaster planes.
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Service Medals: Shiny but heavy with history, these gave the students a real sense of the “honour” we often talk about.
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Letters and Telegrams: Reading the handwritten words sent across the world helped the children realise that these soldiers were sons, brothers, and uncles just like their own family members.
“The children were fascinated. You could have heard a pin drop as they looked at the delicate paper of the telegrams and the intricate details on the medals.”
Connecting the Past to the Present
This visit was the perfect way to wrap up our learning. It helped the students move beyond just “dates and facts” to understand the human side of ANZAC Day. They learned about the courage it took to fly through the night skies and the resilience of the families waiting for news back home.
A massive tēnā koe to Whaea Colleen for her generosity. Sharing these precious family artifacts allowed our tamariki to connect with history in a way they will never forget.