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eing taught until the upper primary grades, so this is not necessarily unusual for this age
group regardless of content area.
Source 7.63. Sample student activities for special days extract from Primary Social
Studies sourcebook year 3 (Department of Education, 1987a, p. 117).
As stated above, within this unit, two designated special days in particular are notable for
their absence of significant and sustained British heritages: Australia Day held on 26 th
January; and Anzac Day commemorated on 25 th April. Queensland Day celebrated on 6 th
June contains some connection to British heritages in the sourcebook. This is surprising as
this event celebrates the ceding of Queensland from then colony, New South Wales. Due to
the minimal recognition of British heritage across these three special days, they are combined
here for analysis. Beginning with the first date on the calendar, Australia Day contains
representations of British heritages mitigated through information about the flag; not stated
overtly. It is through an interpretation of the questions that would indicate that at some stage
the teacher would need to provide information to students about the origins of the flag. See
Source 7.64 for the wording of the activity.
Source 7.64. “Ideas” for special days extract from Primary Social Studies
sourcebook year 3 (Department of Education, 1987a, p. 116).
The Australian flag activity sheet (see Source 7.65), also recommended for use for
Queensland Day activities later in the year, is represented visually through a student
worksheet, with students required to draw in the missing parts of the flag, presumably
assisted by the teacher.
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