An Aussie Easter: Ages 8-11 by Teacher Superstore

RIC-6472 4.3/169

Additional titles available in this series: An Aussie Easter (Ages 5–7)

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Previously published An Aussie Christmas (Ages 5–7) An Aussie Christmas (Ages 8–11+)

This master may only be reproduced by the original purchaser for use with their class(es). The publisher prohibits the loaning or onselling of this master for the purposes of reproduction.

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Internet websites

In some cases, websites or specific URLs may be recommended. While these are checked and rechecked at the time of publication, the publisher has no control over any subsequent changes which may be made to webpages. It is strongly recommended that the class teacher checks all URLs before allowing students to access them.

View all pages online PO Box 332 Greenwood Western Australia 6924

Website: www.ricpublications.com.au Email: mail@ricgroup.com.au

Foreword An Aussie Easter (Ages 8–11+) is one of a series of two books written with a uniquely Australian focus. This series includes fun and creative hands-on activities across many curriculum areas, all of which relate to and consolidate information about ‘Easter Down-Under’. Titles in this series are:

An Aussie Easter — Ages 5–7

An Aussie Easter — Ages 8–11+

Contents Teachers notes........................................................................iv – v Curriculum links............................................................................. v A ‘dictionary’ of Aussie slang and colloquialisms.......... vi – vii An Aussie Easter cover page...................................................... 1

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Easter traditions here ‘n’ there ................................. 2–7

True Blue Bilby .......................................................... 8–11 Focus: Aussie alternative to Easter Bunny Teacher information . ................................................................... 8 The greater bilby ....................................................................... 9–10 Save the bilby ................................................................................ 11

Bonzer Aussie Easter activities . .......................... 12–65

40 41 42 43

Focus: Technology and enterprise Teacher information . ................................................................. SMS to Easter Bilby ...................................................................... Aussie Easter stamp . .................................................................... Made in ‘Oz’ ..................................................................................

44 45 46 47

Focus: Easter parade Teacher information . ................................................................. A bonzer mob of hats, mate! . ....................................................... Have a gander! .............................................................................. Fab hats! . ......................................................................................

48 49 50 51

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Focus: Christian meaning of Easter Teacher information . ................................................................. 2 All about Easter ........................................................................... 3–4 Easter traditions around the world ................................................. 5 Aussie Easter 1 – 2 ..................................................................... 6–7

Focus: Measurement/Chance and data activities Teacher information . ................................................................. Aussie Easter picnic ...................................................................... A very busy bilby! .......................................................................... The mystery egg ............................................................................

Focus: Symbols of Easter Teacher information . ................................................................. Easter symbols .............................................................................. An Aussie Easter cross . ................................................................ Fabergé eggs with an Aussie twist . .............................................

12 13 14 15

Focus: Card, basket, candle holder Teacher information . ................................................................. A cracking Aussie Easter card . ..................................................... Easter Bilby basket ........................................................................ A corker of a candle holder ...........................................................

Focus: Art and craft Teacher information . ................................................................. Aussie Easter eggs – Lithuanian style .......................................... Easter emu chick envelope . .......................................................... Easter Bilby doorknob hanger .......................................................

52 53 54 55

16 17 18 19

Focus: English activities (easier level) Teacher information . ................................................................ Bonzer wordsearch ........................................................................ Aussie alphabet search ................................................................. Happy Easter here ‘n’ there . .........................................................

Focus: Music and movement Teacher information . ................................................................. Here comes Barnaby Easter Bilby ................................................. Hip, hop (what else!), rap . ............................................................ The bilby hop .................................................................................

56 57 58 59

20 21 22 23

Focus: English activities (harder level) Teacher information . ................................................................. Easter emergency .......................................................................... The great Easter egg debate ......................................................... The redundant rabbit .....................................................................

24 25 26 27

Focus: ‘Odds ‘n’ ends’ Teacher information . ................................................................. Bouncing Easter eggs! .................................................................. Aussie Easter jokes ....................................................................... Snazzy eggs ................................................................................... Bonzer Easter board game ............................................................ An Aussie Easter poem .................................................................

60 61 62 63 64 65

Focus: Maths number activities (easier level) Teacher information . ................................................................. Aussie Easter trail game ............................................................... Aussie Easter number stories ....................................................... ‘Eggsciting’ number puzzles ..........................................................

28 29 30 31

Focus: Maths number activities (harder level) Teacher information . ................................................................. Easter Bilby’s mixed maths problems ........................................... Aussie Easter number puzzles . ..................................................... Aussie Easter picnic ......................................................................

32 33 34 35

Focus: Space activities Teacher information . ................................................................. Tricky tangrams ............................................................................. Easter symmetry ............................................................................ Aussie egg hunt . ...........................................................................

36 37 38 39

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Aussie Easter Tucker .............................................. 66–71 Focus: Cooking Teacher information . ................................................................. Ripper pancakes ............................................................................ Beaut hot cross buns ..................................................................... ‘Eggscellent’ eggs! ........................................................................ Easter Bilby bickies ....................................................................... Aussie appetisers ..........................................................................

66 67 68 69 70 71

Ridgy-didge bits ‘n’ pieces .................................... 72–77 Focus: Easter play and story Teacher information . ................................................................. 72 An Easter play ......................................................................... 73–75 Believing is seeing .................................................................. 76–77

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Teachers notes An Aussie Easter is a series with a uniquely Australian focus. The fun and creative activities cover many curriculum areas, all of which relate to and consolidate information about Easter Down-Under. Throughout the book, Australian slang and colloquialisms are used to further enrich the Aussie flavour. (A dictionary to explain these terms can be found on pages v – vii.)

The format of the book:

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A cover page on page 1 is provided for a collection of completed student pages.

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The book is divided into five sections. These five sections provide information about: • Easter traditions here ‘n’ there – activities focusing on the Christian meaning of Easter • True blue bilby – activities focusing on the Aussie alternative to the Easter Bunny • Bonzer Aussie Easter activities – a wide selection of Easter activities across the curriculum. The specific curriculum focus can be found in the contents above each section • Aussie Easter tucker – Easter recipes with an Aussie twist • Ridgy-didge bits ‘n’ pieces – an Easter play and story.

The book is divided into a four- or six-page format with with one teacher information page followed by three or five student activity pages. This format ensures that as many student activities as possible are provided.

Teacher information pages:

The teacher pages relate to three or five corresponding student pages and provide information for completing each student page.

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The section of the book is indicated. The title and page number of the corresponding student page is given.

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Answers are supplied where necessary.

The indicator(s) is/are stated.

Relevant worksheet information is given about the activity.

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Teachers notes Student pages The students pages provide a wide variety of fun and creative activities, including craft to complete; puzzles and codes to solve; reading, writing and drawing activities; and procedures for making recipes. All activites are intended to be ‘child-friendly’ and completed with minimal assistance from adults. The English and maths activities have been graded in level of difficulty to cater for the age range. Refer to the contents for the focus of each section.

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The title of each student page is indicated.

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Appropriate artwork complements each page and can be coloured by students.

Clear, concise instructions for completing the student activity are supplied.

Curriculum links SOSE

English

NSW

CCS3.1, CUS2.3 CUS3.3, CUS3.4

Qld

SOSE0201, SOSE0301

ICP 2, ICP 3, C 2, C 3 TCC 2, TCC 3

2.1, 3.1, 2.2, TCC 3.2, TCC 4.2, TCC 3.5, 3.2, 2.7, 3.7 CI 3.1, CI 4.1

TS2.1, TS3.1 TS2.2, TS3.2 RS2.5, RS3.5 RS2.6, RS3.6, WS2.9, WS3.9 WS2.10,WS3.10 WS2.11,WS3.11 WS2.12, WS3.12

ENSLO301, ENSL0401 ENSL0303, ENSL0403 ENRE0301, ENRE0401 ENRE0304, ENRE0307 ENRE0404, ENWR0301 ENWR0401, ENWR0304 ENWR0404

LS 3.1, LS 3.4 V 3.1, V 3.2 R 3.1, R 4.1 R 3.4, R 4.4 W 3.1, W 4.1 W 3.3, W 4.3 W 3.4, W 4.4

2.1, 3.1, 2.3, Refer to curriculum 3.3, 2.4, 3.4, documents: 2.6, 3.6, 2.8, <http:www.qsa.qld.edu.au> 3.8, 2.10, 3.10, 2.11, 3.11, 2.12, 3.12

WM2.1, WM3.1 WM2.2, WM3.2 WM2.3, WM3.3 WM2.4, WM3.4 WM2.5, WM3.5 WM2.6, WM3.6 S2.3, S3.3, S2.4 S3.4, S2.5, S3.5 M2.2, M3.7 N2.3(B), N2.4 N3.4, N2.5, N3.5

MASPS306, MASPS307 MASPS406, MASPL401 MASPL303, MANUN304 MANUN301, MANUM301 MANUM302, MANUC301 MANUC401, MANUC302 MANUC402, MANUC303 MANUC403, MACDI301 MACDI302 LEVELS 3 & 4 REASONING & STRATEGIES

WM 3.3, WM 4.3 WM 3.4, WM 4.4 WM 5.3, WM 5.4 N 6a. 3, N 6b.4 N 7.3, N 7.4, N 8.3 M 9b.3, S 15a.3 S 15a.4, S 15c.3 S 15c.4

2.2, 3.2, 2.3, 3.3, 2.4, 3.4, 2.5, 3.5, 2.6, 3.6, 2.7, 3.7, 2.8, 3.8, 2.9, 3.9, 2.10, 3.10, 2.13, 3.13, 2.14, 3.14

N 2.1, N 3.1, N 2.2, N 3.2, N 2.3, N3.3 PA 2.1, PA 3.1, PA 2.2, PA 3.2, M 2.2, M 3.2, M 4.2, CD 2.2, CD 3.2, S 2.2, S 3.2,

ARPA0301, ARPA0302 ARVA0301, ARVA0302 ARAR0402 ARDA0401 ARDA0402 ARDR0401 ARDR0402

AI 3, ASP 3, AR 3, AIS 3

2.5, 3.5, 2.6, 3.6, 2.1, 3.1, 2.2, 3.2, 2.3, 3.3, 2.4, 3.4

DA 2.1, DA 3.1, DA 2.2, DA 3.2, DA 2.3, DA 3.3, DA 4.1, DA 4.2, DR 2.1, DR 3.1, DR 2.2, DR 3.2, DR 4.2, MU 2.1, MU 2.2, VA 2.1, VA 3.1, VA 2.2, VA 3.2, VA 2.3, VA 3.3

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VAS2.1, VAS3.1 VAS2.2, VAS3.2 VAS2.3, VAS3.3 VAS2.4, VAS3.4 MUS2.1, MUS3.1 MUS2.2, The arts MUS3.2 MUS2.4, MUS3.4 DRAS2.1, DRAS2.2, DRAS2.3, DRAS2.4 DAS3.1, DAS3.2, DAS3.3

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NOTE: Links can also be found in the learning areas of Science and technology, Design and enterprise.

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An Aussie Easter

Dictionary of Australian slang and colloquialisms A

Ace:

excellent

Aggro:

aggravated, upset about something

Ankle biter:

small child

Arvo:

afternoon

Damper:

flour and water bread mix cooked in the coals of a camp fire

Deccy:

decoration

Didgeridoo:

Aboriginal wind musical instrument

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Aussie (pronounced Ozzie): Australian

Dinkum, fair dinkum: true, real, genuine

Dinky-di:

Bathers:

swimming costume (also togs, cozzie or swimmers)

Beating around the bush: not getting to the point Beaut, beauty: great, fantastic You little beauty, that’s beaut!: excited approval, something has gone really well

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Barbie or BBQ: barbecue

the real thing, something good from Australia OR originating from DownUnder

Dob (somebody) in: inform on somebody. Hence, dobber, a telltale/ tattletale Down-Under: Australia (and New Zealand)

E Esky™:

large insulated food/ drink container for picnics, barbecues etc. (Tradename)

water

Bloke:

Fair dinkum:

true, genuine

man, feller

Bonzer:

Fair go:

great, ripper

a chance (‘give a bloke a fair go’)

a large male kangaroo

Free-for-all:

the hinterland, the Outback, anywhere that isn’t in town

a fight where everyone joins in

Fruit loop:

fool

highwayman, outlaw

an ox-bow river or watering hole

Billy:

Bush:

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Boomer:

Bushranger:

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Chockers:

completely full

Chokkie:

chocolate

Chook:

a chicken

Cobber:

friend

Cooee:

call for greeting someone at a distance in the bush

Corker:

something excellent

Cozzie:

swimming costume (see bathers)

Cracker/Cracking: vi

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Billabong:

G’day:

hello, good day

Galah:

loud, rudely behaved person, an insult (a galah is a loud, raucous parrot)

Gander:

to take a look at

Good sport:

someone who is good about losing

Googy-eggs:

eggs

Grouse (adjective): great, terrific, very good

excellent standard

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Dictionary of Australian slang and colloquialisms Mystery bag:

H Hang out:

spend time out, usually with friends

a sausage

N Nifty:

stylish

Heaps: a lot; e.g. ‘thanks heaps’, ‘She earnt heaps of money’

Nipper:

young surf lifesaver, young child

Hooroo:

Noggin:

head or brains

How ya goin?: How are you going?

No drama:

same as ‘No worries’

No worries!:

expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I’ll do it)

No-hoper:

somebody who’ll never do well

Jillaroo:

a female station hand

Joey:

baby kangaroo

Jumbuck:

sheep

Jumper:

a woollen sweater

Kindie:

kindergarten

Knock:

to criticise

Knocker:

somebody who criticises

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a male station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property)

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Jackaroo:

goodbye (also ‘Ooroo)

Not the full quid: not bright intellectually

O Ocker:

an unsophisticated person

Oldies:

parents

Outback: interior of Australia © R. I . C.Publ i c a t i o n s Oy! or Oi!: an Aussie call Knock back: refusal (noun), to refuse Australia •f orr evi ew pur pOz: oseso nl y• (verb)

sponge cakes coated in chocolate and grated coconut

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Lamingtons:

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Larrikin:

a bloke who is always enjoying himself; a harmless prankster

Lollies:

sweets; candy

Mate:

friend, buddy

Matilda:

swagman’s bedding, sleeping roll

Mob:

a large number

Mozzie:

mosquito

Mug:

friendly insult (‘Have a go, yer mug’); a gullible person

Muster:

round up sheep or cattle

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areas of land where cattle are grazed or animals kept on a farm

Pav:

Pavlova—a rich, creamy Australian dessert

Plate, bring a: Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn’t mean ‘short of crockery’!

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Lucky Country, The: Australia, of course!

Paddock:

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Pozzy:

position; e.g. get a good pozzy at the football stadium

Prezzy:

present, gift

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Dictionary of Australian slang and colloquialisms Q

Sunbake:

sunbathe

Quid, make a: earn a living; e.g. ‘Are you making a quid?’

Sunnies:

sunglasses

Surfies:

people who go surfing

Swag:

rolled-up bedding etc. carried by a swagman; canvas bag or cover that you keep all your belonging and bedroll in, to protect it from the weather when camping out

Quid, not the full: of low IQ. [Historical note: ‘quid’ is slang for a pound. £1 became $2 when Australia converted to decimal currency in 1966]

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Swaggie:

swagman

Rellies:

relatives

Swagman:

tramp, hobo

Ridgy-didge:

original, genuine

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You bet! Absolutely!

Right, she’ll be: it’ll be all right Righto:

okay or that’s right

Ripper/Ripsnorter:

great, fantastic

Ripper, you little!: Exclamation of delight or as a reaction to good news

thanks

Thongs:

cheap rubber sandals, flipflops

Togs:

swimsuit

Too right!:

definitely!

True blue:

patriotic, Australian

Tucker:

food

Tuckerbag:

food bag

Roo bar:

of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also ‘bull bar’)

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a sandwich

She’ll be right: it’ll turn out okay

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Shoot through: to leave

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big truck with many trailers

Roo:

Sanger:

Ta:

Top End: far north of Australia © R. I . C.Pub l i c a t i o ntracksuit s pants Trackie daks/dacks: kangaroo track suit •f o rr vfront i ew puTrackies: r poses o nl y• stout bar fixed toe the

Road train:

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Reckon!:

Ute:

utility vehicle, pick-up truck

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house veranda converted to a bedroom

Vegies:

vegetables

Vee dub:

Volkswagen (Vee-dubya)

Snag:

a sausage

Veg out:

Snazzy:

smart, good, exciting, interesting

relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)

Speccy:

spectacular

Walkabout:

to travel through the Outback (by Aborigines); lasts for an indefinite time complain

Sleepout:

Spiffy, pretty spiffy:

great, excellent

Sprung:

caught doing something wrong (‘I got sprung’)

Whinge:

Station:

a big farm/grazing property

Stickybeak:

nosy person

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Yobbo:

an uncouth person

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An Aussie Easter

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Easter traditions here ‘n’ there All about Easter – pages 3–4 Indicator • Reads a text about Easter and answers questions to show an understanding of the content. Worksheet information • Read the text with the students and clarify the meaning of any unfamiliar words, such as ‘pagan’, ‘resurrection’ and ‘fast’. Students use the text on page 3 to answer the questions on page 4.

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Answers Page 4 1. A dinner Jesus Christ had with his special followers (the disciples). 2. Jesus Christ was nailed to a large wooden cross and died. 3. Lent is a time, forty days from Ash Wednesday, when many Christians fast, give up something they enjoy, do something that will bring them closer to God, and give to charity. 4. Pancakes are eaten on Shrove Tuesday to use up the food that Christians should not eat during Lent (such as fat, butter and eggs, which pancakes are made with). 5. On the Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, people welcomed him by spreading palm branches on the road as a carpet in front of him, and so it is called Palm Sunday. 6. Teacher check. 7. The Romans altered the pagan festival for the goddess Eastre to fit into the Christian celebrations, using the timing and name the Anglo-Saxons used.

Easter traditions around the world – page 5

Indicators • Reads information about Easter traditions from around the world. • Uses a code to determine the countries those traditions come from.

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Answers (a) Slovakia

(b) Norway

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(d) Africa

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Worksheet information • Easter traditions vary remarkably around the world. Students read this selection of customs then use the code at the bottom of the page to work out which countries the traditions come from. Students may be interested in researching other customs from around the world. (e) Finland and Sweden

Aussie Easter – pages 6–7

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Indicators • Reads information on how Easter is celebrated in Australia. • Writes how they celebrate Easter and identifies other Easter traditions they would like to experience.

Worksheet information • The multicultural nature of Australia’s society means Easter is not celebrated in one particular way, but in any number of ways, depending on a persons cultural heritage and upbringing. For some Australians, a traditional Easter may be going to church and eating a roast, while for others it may involve sharing boiled eggs and eating soup and cakes. • Students read the ways some Australian children celebrate Easter. Ask the students to compare these examples to the way they celebrate Easter. • Students complete the worksheet on page 7 by writing about a typical Easter as they experience it, then selecting two traditions from other cultures that they would like to try, explaining their choice.

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All about Easter – 1 Easter is, to many of us, a time for holidays and chocolate eggs. But what is Easter really all about, and how did it start?

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Easter is a time when Christian people remember the death and ‘resurrection’ of Jesus Christ. He was the son of God, sent to Earth long ago, who preached God’s ways and gained many followers. One Sunday, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, a crowd of people gathered to welcome Him by spreading palm branches on the road as a carpet in front of Him. Christians call this day Palm Sunday. On Thursday the next week, Holy Thursday, Jesus had a dinner with His special followers (the disciples), called the Last Supper. After dinner, one of His disciples, Judas, handed Jesus over to the city guards. Jesus was taken to jail, sentenced to death and nailed to a large wooden cross to die the next day, Good Friday. Three days after He died, on Easter Sunday, Jesus came back to life. Easter is the celebration of Jesus’s return to life after death and of the Chrtistian belief that people, too, can receive new life after death. Easter is celebrated after a time called ‘Lent’, forty days in which many Christians fast, give up something they enjoy, do something that will bring them closer to God, and give to charity. The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Tuesday). Traditionally on this day, people used up the food that could not be eaten during Lent (such as fat, butter and eggs, all ingredients of pancakes!). Many Australians eat pancakes on this day, but it is celebrated in different ways around the world. The next day, Ash Wednesday, is the start of Lent.

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Christians, too. The Romans saw that the people had a pagan festival around the same time as Easter. This festival celebrated the return of spring and commemorated their goddess of new life and springtime, Eastre. The Romans altered the festival of Eastre to make it a Christian celebration, which is now called Easter. At first the date of Easter was not set, and different Christian groups celebrated Easter on different days. In AD325 the Roman Emperor, Constantine, decided to set a specific date to celebrate Easter. He worked it out based on the phases of the moon, so that Easter would be celebrated on a Sunday after the full moon on or after 21 March, as it is today.

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There are many Easter symbols that reflect the meaning of Easter, Jesus and His ‘new life’ when he returned to life after death. Probably the most well known is the Easter egg. Eggs are oval-shaped like raindrops and seeds, both important life-giving elements, and some animals hatch from eggs. Similarly, chicks and lambs symbolise new life. The cross we see on cards and hot cross buns represents the wooden cross that Jesus died on. Candles represent the fires pagans once used to frighten away evil spirits. To some Christians they represent Jesus and his return to life. The rabbit is a symbol that originated with the pagan festival of Eastre, as it was how the goddess, Eastre, was represented to the Anglo-Saxons.

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All about Easter – 2 Use the text on page 3 to answer these questions. 1. What was the Last Supper? 2. What happened on Good Friday?

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3. What does Lent mean to Christians?

4. Why do people eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

5. Explain how Palm Sunday got its name.

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6. Name two symbols of Easter and what they represent. Draw them next to your description.

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7. How did Easter get its name? 4

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Easter traditions around the world Easter celebrations have been part of different cultures for many centuries. The way Easter is celebrated varies throughout the world. Read about some Easter traditions, then use the code to work out which countries the traditions belong to.

(b) Here, it is traditional to solve murders during Easter. Books, newspapers and television stations feature murder mysteries. Even the milk cartons have murder stories on the sides. It is thought that this custom of crime solving evolved from the horrible way Jesus Christ died.

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(a) Early on Easter Monday morning, boys and young men (gently) whip girls with a special whip called a korbá, made of fresh green twigs. It is a sign of strength, health and beauty. They also sprinkle girls with water, while the girls reward them with decorated eggs or money.

(d) Celebrating Easter at church is so popular that Christians often arrive four hours early to get a seat at the church. The church is commonly decorated with clothes made up in the shape of butterflies and flowers. After the Mass, people have traditional dances outside the church, then go home to continue celebrating with food and drinks.

(c) The Easter story, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, is acted out in the street with full costumes and carefully selected actors. A tradition in the south is the ‘burning of Judas’ on Easter Saturday. Effigies of Judas (the disciple who betrayed Jesus) with firecrackers inside are burnt in the streets.

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(e) Children dress up as Easter ‘witches’ with long skirts, colourful headscarves and painted red cheeks. They go from house to house and give out paintings and drawings or recite charms. In return, they get lollies or money.

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An Aussie Easter

Aussie Easter - 1 The range of different cultures in Australia means there is not one but many ways Easter is celebrated here. However, there are some activities and traditions that are common around Australia at Easter time. Easter occurs at the beginning of autumn in Australia, unlike in Europe and other places in the Northern Hemisphere (where Easter occurs at the end of winter). Easter is celebrated from Good Friday through to Easter Monday, with Good Friday and Easter Monday being public holidays. This means there is a four-day break, during which time many people go away for a holiday. Most children give to and receive chocolate eggs, bilbies and rabbits from their friends and family. Many Australians also eat hot cross buns at Easter. Easter Sunday is the main day of celebration.

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At Easter we go camping out in the bush. The weather is usually nice but the mornings get pretty cold. We take some chocolates with us to eat on Easter Sunday, and have hot chocolate to warm us up in the mornings. We usually go with some of our friends and their families. It’s good fun.

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Read how some Aussie kids celebrate Easter.

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On Easter Sunday my little sister and I get up really early and go on an Easter egg hunt. My sister still thinks the Easter Bunny put them in our garden. I usually find more than her but we divide them up and share them so it’s fair. Later all our family comes over—Nanna, Pop, my aunties, uncles and cousins—and we have a huge roast lunch. For us, Easter is about being with family.

We start celebrating Easter on Holy Thursday. We eat a special meal like Jesus ate with his disciples, with lamb, flat bread and grapes. Then on Good Friday we go to church, and again early on Easter Sunday. We remember the reason for Easter, Jesus dying for us so we can go to heaven. After church we come home and give chocolates to everyone in our family and have a big lunch together.

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There’s usually a footy game on at Easter. I go with Dad to watch the game. We give each other all different sorts of chocolates. I like getting the gigantic eggs. My Dad comes from Poland so we eat Polish soup and cakes for lunch, and theres usually a lamb made of sugar on our table. We also share boiled eggs with our family like they do in Poland.

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Aussie Easter - 2 Throughout Australia, and around the world, Easter is celebrated in a variety of different ways. How do you celebrate Easter? 1. On the lines below, write how you celebrate Easter. Include details of what foods you eat, activities you do, and the people you spend it with.

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5 and 6. Which of these traditions would you like to try? Choose two and give reasons for your choice.

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True blue bilby The greater bilby – pages 9–10 Indicators • Demonstrates an understanding of the text. • Completes word study activities. Background information • Discuss any knowledge students may have about the bilby. • Read through the text with the students. • Identify and discuss individual student opinion towards the bilby. • Use the text on page 9 to complete the student activities on page 10.

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2. (a) C O M P E T I T I O N R

T H F L G E A U N S O A

E V A D E B R S E T T T

L E T A S U E T D E I I

B B E C T N G R E S C O

A I N E A N U A T P E N

R L R S T Y L L P E C F

E B G N I T A V A C X E

N Y E T O I T I D I E R

L O P H N N E A A E L A

U I S O L A T E D S E L

V A L U A B L E A R B S

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Answers 1. (a) an animal which eats plants and meat (b) an animal which is active at night and sleeps during the day (c) an animal or plant which no longer exists

(b) The bilby often replaces the bunny in Australian Easter celebrations. 3. (a) joey

(b) at night

(d) 65 cm

(e) 2 metres

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4. Answers may vary

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Indicators • Considers appropriate design styles and techniques when producing a brochure. • Uses a plan when designing a brochure.

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Background information • Provide a range of brochures for students to view and critique. Identify the good and bad points of each and create a class list of these. • Ask students to keep these points in mind when designing a brochure to inform people about the plight of the bilby. • Consider what would make the brochure appealing and implement appropriate strategies and techniques to do so.

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The Greater Bilby – 1 The greater bilby is the largest member of the bandicoot family. This marsupial once populated around 70 per cent of the Australian mainland and was a valuable food source for Australia’s Indigenous population. Today, the greater bilby can be found only in isolated pockets of spinifex or grassy tussocks in the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory; the Mitchell Grasslands in south-west Queensland; and the Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia. The bilby doesn’t have to fight for real estate in these hot, dry areas of Australia.

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Distribution

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The greater bilby is a small nocturnal animal, spending hot days in a burrow to keep cool and surfacing at night to feed on insects, preferably termites, fruit, seeds and fungi. This omnivore is able to survive the harsh desert conditions, even through a drought, as it has the ability to obtain its water requirements from its food. Its keen senses of hearing and smell enable this mammal to find its prey with ease and also evade possible predators, such as foxes and feral cats. The first thing you might notice about the greater bilby is the size of its ears. They are particularly long in relation to the rest of the animal and are almost bare. It is believed this helps the bilby to regulate its body temperature. Its body is roughly 40 cm long from nose to bottom with an additional 25 cm of tail which is grey at the base, black in the middle and white on the tip. The bilby’s long silky fur is silver-grey in colour, while its stomach is white. Adult bilbies can weigh anywhere between one and two and a half kilograms, while joeys weigh around 200 grams when they leave the mother’s pouch. The greater bilby has strong forelegs and claws adapted for digging for food and excavating burrows, which may be as deep as two metres.

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The greater bilby has adapted well to its environment and only mates when the conditions are suitable. After good rainfall, there is plenty of water and food, and this is the prime time for the bilbies to mate and reproduce. Gestation is very short and babies are tiny and underdeveloped when born. They make their way into their mother’s rear-facing pouch where they will spend the next few weeks developing and drinking mother’s milk. Once the joey leaves the pouch, it rarely returns but still feeds from its mother.

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The greater bilby is considered vulnerable as a result of habitat loss due to farming and land clearing; competition for food and land with introduced animals, such as rabbits, cattle and sheep; and being preyed upon by introduced species such as foxes and feral cats. There was once a second, smaller species of bilby called the lesser bilby. This species is considered extinct as it has not been seen since 1931. To ensure the greater bilby doesn’t suffer the same fate, conservationists are developing protective and breeding programs to increase the chances of longterm survival of the species.

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The greater bilby – 2 1. Write the meaning of each word. (a) omnivore (b) nocturnal (c) extinct 2. (a) The words in the list are synonyms for words used in the text. Find the appropriate word from the text in the wordsearch.

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escape

O U

well-suited

digging

O N

rivalry

pregnancy

U N N

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moderate

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(b) The unused letters of the wordsearch, when read from left to right and top to bottom, form a sentence. Write the sentence.

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3. Quick quiz.

(a) What is a baby bilby called?

(b) When are bilbies most active?

(d) What is the approximate length of a bilby from nose to tail tip?

(e) How deep can a bilby dig?

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4. Give your opinion of the following statement.

‘It is important to protect the bilby and ensure its survival.’ 10

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Save the Bilby Design a brochure which brings attention to the plight of the bilby. You will need to:

• • • •

provide accurate and interesting information in brief, easy-to-read statements; include clear diagrams and illustrations; make it eye-catching and easy-to-follow; and ensure it inspires the reader to act on behalf of the bilby.

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Use the table below to plan your brochure.

Cover design

A4 single text

A4 double fold

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Format

Diagrams toi include © R. I . C.Pub l i cat ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•

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Information to include

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How I aim to inspire the reader

How I intend to make it eye-catching

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Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Easter symbols – page 13 Indicators • Reads clues to find Easter symbols in a word search. • Solves a cryptogram to find an Australian Easter symbol.

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Answers 1. See wordsearch solution 2. the bilby

An Aussie Easter cross – page 14 Indicator • Follows instructions to create an Easter stained glass window picture.

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Worksheet information • Easter symbols mainly derive from Christian and ancient religious sources. Other less-known symbols include the colours green (new life), white (purity, innocence, holiness) and purple (royalty and wealth), roosters, unleavened, flat bread, wine, pussy willows, Easter bells, bonfires and fireworks. • A number of other Easter symbols and legends can be found at <http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/ eassym.htm>.

Worksheet information • The cross is a religious symbol of Easter. It reminds Christians of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday. The Emperor Constantine decreed the cross the official symbol of Christianity in AD 325. The lily, a popular Easter flower in the Northern Hemisphere, is also another Easter symbol. Its white flowers are a symbol of purity, innocence, hope and life. Some white Australian native flowers include the white waratah, which is rare, the rose banksia and the flannel flower.

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• Use wax crayons or oil pastels to colour the shapes behind the cross. Use felt pens or markers to trace the white flowers and colour the leaves and vines. With a ruler and black wax crayon or oil pastel, trace the lines, then cut the window out. With a brush and vegetable cooking oil, paint the entire back of the picture sparingly. Allow to dry on paper towel and attach to windows to allow the light to shine through.

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Fabergé eggs with an Aussie twist – page 15 Indicator • Creates a design for a Fabergé egg using an Australian theme.

Worksheet information • The first exquisite jewelled and enamelled egg was created for Czar Alexander III to present to his wife as an Easter gift. Fabergé eggs, and similar reproductions, have become popular collectors’ items ever since. A feature of the eggs is that when they are opened they usually contain miniatures. • Because of the cost of buying eggs, this is a design activity only. Encourage creativity and sharing of ideas. Students may devise ways to create their own ‘fake’ eggs for this project if desired; for example, papier mâché, clay etc. • If ‘alternative’ egg bases are used, students should evaluate their plan and the finished product when completed. Pictures cut from wrapping paper or cards could be considered as decorations for the exterior, as well as sequins to replicate jewels. Small toys make ideal miniatures for inside. Emphasis should be given to methods of joining the sections of the egg together.

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Easter symbols 1. Use the clues about Easter symbols around the world to find the answer in the wordsearch. (a) A white flower which flowers in spring, symbolising purity and new life.

(b) An oval-shaped sign of new life, sometimes referred to as a symbol of the empty tomb of Jesus on Easter Sunday.

(d) A religious symbol symbolising the manner in which Jesus Christ died on Good Friday.

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(e) A symbol of abundant new life, spring and new life; favourite small furry animal of the goddess, Eastre.

© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons (f) An animal born in spring; a common sacrifice in ancient times, a symbol representing •f o i e pu r p os esEaster onl y• Jesus — ‘r the r ...e ofv God’; aw common food served during feasts.

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(g) A food traditionally served on Good Friday with an icing cross on top; historically sold by street vendors who sang a song which has become a children’s nursery rhyme.

(h) A type of branch waved to welcome royal visitors to a town during ancient times.

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(i) A religious symbol of Jesus, light of the world.

(j) A food eaten during Lent, twisted into shape to symbolise arms crossed in prayer.

2. The cryptogram gives the name of an Australian Easter symbol.

14 Code

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An Aussie Easter cross

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Follow the instructions from your teacher to complete the stained glass window.

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Fabergé eggs with an Aussie twist Follow the steps to create your own Fabergé egg with an Australian theme. 1. View the three different versions of Australian Fabergé eggs shown below and note the different ways in which they are hinged to open. (a) middle-hinged at bottom, (b) bottom-hinged, sections opens in centre to sides open out to sides

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2. Complete the planning information for your design.

(a) What aspect of Australian culture will you use as a basis for your design? (flowers, animals, buildings such as Sydney Opera House, natural features such as Uluru or Kakadu, Australian sporting pastimes such as surfing or football, well-known Australian personalities etc.)

(b) Which hinge design will you use and why?

• exterior

• interior

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(d) What ‘precious Australian jewels’ will be on the exterior of your egg and why?

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(e) What minature will be inside and how will you create it? (f) What kind of stand will be used to support your egg?

3. On a separate sheet of paper, or the back of the worksheet, draw a coloured draft of your Australian Fabergé egg. 4. Compare your design to that of a classmate and evaluate each other’s creation. www.ricpublications.com.au

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Bonzer Aussie Easter Activities A cracking Aussie Easter card – Page 17 Indicator • Follows a procedure to make a greeting card. Worksheet information • Traditionally, the chicken recently hatched from an egg is an image of Easter, representing ‘new life’. For this Aussie Easter card, the egg-laying platypus and echidna feature beside the native Australian birds, the emu and the kookaburra. • Each student will need an A4 sheet of thin card and four strips of coloured paper varying in length from 4 to 8 cm.

r o e t s Bo r e pbasket ok Easter bilby u S – Page 18

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Indicator • Follows a procedure to make an Easter basket.

Worksheet information • For some time, there have been moves in Australia to replace the traditional Easter Bunny with an Easter Bilby. The bilby is an endangered animal, native to Australia. It is hoped that by raising its profile in this way, resources will be made available to reverse the trend of falling bilby numbers. • Each student will need will need: an empty tissue box, tracing paper, an A4 sheet of thin card, 1 pipe-cleaner, 3 tie wraps, black and white paints, sticky tape/glue, a picture of a bilby, shredded paper, Easter treats. • Ensure the students understand that the head and ear templates are overlapping and must be traced individually.

Indicators • Follows a procedure to make a candle holder, recording the equipment and each step taken. • Names and sketches the parts of each tree used.

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Worksheet information • The Paschal candle is an important Christian symbol, representing the risen Christ. In churches and in many Christian homes, it remains alight between the feasts of Easter and the Ascension. • Emphasise the importance of securing the candle so that it will not fall when alight. The selfadhesive velcro strips will secure it to the plate and the chicken wire will hold it there. The excess chicken wire folded over the side of the plate should not interfere with the plate’s stability on a flat surface.

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A cracking Aussie Easter card What to do: • • • •

• • • • •

Draw a 2-cm margin on both long sides of the thin card sheet (landscape). Use scissors and a ruler to score both margins and a centre fold (portrait). Draw and brightly colour a typical Aussie bush scene, completely covering the card. Fold the card in half. Make a 2-cm cut at each end of the fold line, from the edge to the margin. Fold each margin and the centre fold so the card stands upright. Write an Easter greeting on the visible side of the margin. Secure the margin overlaps. Brightly colour the animal pictures and cut out. Fold the tab. Make zig-zag folds on the strips of coloured paper. Attach the tab on each animal to a strip of paper. Attach other end of strip to upper margin.

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Make an Easter bilby basket What to do: • • • • • •

Cut out the top of the tissue box, leaving a 1 1/2 cm border. Trace and copy the templates on to thin card. Paint the box and templates. Allow to dry. Cut out and attach the ears and head as directed. Attach the pipe-cleaner to the top end of the tail, leaving 2 cm free. Make a small hole in the back of the box and insert the free end of the pipe-cleaner. Bend to secure in place. • Use the picture of a bilby as a reference to draw hind and front legs on the sides of the box. • Insert the tie wrap ‘whiskers’ as indicated. • Line the basket with shredded paper and add Easter treats.

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Tail

paint grey

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fold flaps back and attach to end of box

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Head

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Ear fold inwards and secure

An Aussie Easter

fold inwards and secure ck ba lap ch to f d fol d atta box an p of to

Ear fold inwards and secure

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A corker of a candle holder The Paschal candle is an important Christian symbol, representing the risen Christ. In churches and in many Christian homes, it remains alight between the feasts of Easter and the Ascension. 1. Tick each box: (a) to check you have all you require to the make the holder, and (b) as you complete each step. You will need:

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• a large candle, about 5 cm diameter • a large plastic plate

• two self-adhesive velcro™ patches • two handfuls of pebbles

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• chicken wire, about 25 cm square

• a collection of foliage (with flowers) from different native trees • a collection of nuts and seeds from different native trees

What to do: • Feed the foliage through the chicken wire, leaving the centre clear to insert the candle.

© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons • Position candle securely into centre of chicken wire •f orpatches r evi witp po esonl y• toe attach to u ther plate. s using velcro • Lay chicken wire over plate and fold excess underneath. ™

• Place pebbles around base of candle.

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• Scatter loose nuts and seeds over the plate.

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2. (a) Name the tree(s) from which you took parts for your candle holder. (b) Sketch the tree parts you used.

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Sketches

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Bonzer Aussie Easter activites Bonzer wordsearch – page 21 Indicators • Uses spelling strategies to find Easter theme words in a wordsearch. • Organises the left-over letters to form a question and answer. Worksheet information • Students could work in pairs to help each other locate the words in the wordsearch or teachers could write the words on the board or give individual students a list of the words, depending on students’ ability level.

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2. Riddle: How does the Easter Bilby stay in shape? Answer: Lots of eggs-ercise.

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Answers 1. One syllable: cross, chick, yolk, cards, eggs, died Two syllables: basket, candles, bilby, bunny, Jesus, arose, Friday, Sunday, chocolate (pronounced choc/lit), heaven, pancake Three or more syllables: deliver, disciples, crucifix, remember, celebration, tradition

Indicator • Completes an alphabet search of words and phrases related to the Easter theme.

Happy Easter here ’n’ there – page 23

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Worksheet information • Students could work individually or in pairs for this activity. They should use a dictionary to check the spelling of unfamiliar words.

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Indicators • Uses a code to write Happy Easter in a variety of languages. • Locates specific countries an a map of the world.

Worksheet information • In English, German and some Slavic languages, the word ‘Easter’ is derived from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the Dawn, ‘Eastre’, ‘Ostara’. (Dawn meaning ‘spring’, dawn of the year, as March/April is spring in the Northern Hemisphere.) In other languages it is derived from the Greek ‘Pascha’, the Hebrew festival of Passover, held at a similar time. Students may notice the similarities with these words in other languages. Answers 1. (a) Frohe Ostern (d) Vrolijk Pasen (g) God paske

An Aussie Easter

(b) Joyeuses Paques (e) Selamat Paskah (h) Fu huo jie kuai le

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Bonzer wordsearch 1. Find words hidden in the wordsearch and sort them into those with one, two, or three or more syllables. The words deal with the Christian meaning of Easter, Easter symbols or Easter traditions. Letters go up, down, backwards and forwards. One syllable

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Three or more syllables

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Two syllables

T S U L P Y R © R. I . CE.P ubl i ca t i on s O A R N E A N O •f orr evi ew p ur p os esonl y• S

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2. Write the left-over letters, in order, to find an Easter riddle and the answer. Riddle:

Answer:

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Aussie Easter alphabet search Think of one or more Easter words for each letter of the alphabet. For some of the more difficult letters, you can think of an Easter phrase (sensible or silly!) where one word begins with that letter; e.g. ‘x’-ray Easter egg! Use a dictionary to check the spelling of each word before you write it.

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An Aussie Easter

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Happy Easter here ’n’ there Here in ‘Oz’, people who celebrate Easter wish others a ‘Happy Easter’. Of course, that is how it is said in English. But how is it said in other languages? 1. Use the code to fill in the missing vowels. Write the full word underneath.

2. Try saying ‘Happy Easter’ in other languages.

❖

3. Locate and colour each country on the map. Use a key by colouring the circle next to each country.

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(a) Germany

Colour code

J o y eu s e s

Colour code

V ro l i j k

K❖ l o P❖ s k h❖

(e) Indonesia

(d) Netherlands

Colour code

(f) Italy

Colour code

P❖que s

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(b) France

Colour code

P❖s en

Colour code

B uo n ❖ P ❖ s q u❖ P❖s k❖h ©R . I . C.Publ i ca t i ons •f orr evi ew pur p o sesonl y• (g) Norway (h) China Se l ❖m❖ t

Colour code

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Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Easter emergency – Page 25 Indicators • Records information to support three native Australian animals to replace the rabbit as an Easter image. • Designs a greeting card, including the image of the winning candidate. Worksheet information • Exactly how the rabbit, or more correctly the hare, came to be associated with Easter is unclear. It is thought to be linked to pagan mythology, celebrating the goddess Eostre (from which the name Easter is believed to be derived), whose earthly symbol was the hare. • The hare is also associated with the moon. As the date of Easter is determined by the phases of the moon, the two may have become linked.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u The great S Easter egg debate

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– Page 26

Indicators • Gives reasons to support of his/her choice of native Australian egg-laying (oviparous) animal as an image of Easter. • Draws an image of his/her choice of candidate.

Worksheet information • Traditionally, the animal associated with Easter eggs is the cute chicken. Students consider the potential of the emu, platypus and echidna as Aussie replacements for the chicken. • In Question 3, students could choose any Aussie egg-laying animal, including crocodiles, snakes or native birds such as the kookaburra.

Indicators • Reads and answers questions about the introduction and problems of rabbits in Australia. • Writes a reply to the original letter.

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Answers 1. no longer needed 2. (c) 220 years 3. To provide prey for his hunting parties. 4. (a) erosion of the soil and wiping out many plant and animal species (b) building a rabbit-proof fence and introducing the myxomatosis virus 5. Teacher check

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Worksheet information • The letter provides information about how rabbits were introduced into Australia and how they are considered today. • Discuss how Bill the Bilby would feel when reading Bucky’s letter and how carefully he would have to compose his reply.

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Easter emergency! The Australian rabbits are revolting, refusing to allow their image to be used for this year’s Easter cards and chocolates. With only weeks to go before these items are needed in the shops, the card and confectionery manufacturers are desperate to find a bonzer Aussie replacement. Can you help?

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1. Draw and name three possible candidates.

2. (a) Write some simple facts about each candidate in support of its application. (b) Take a vote to determine the winning candidate. (c) Highlight the winner.

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Candidate

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3. On a separate sheet of paper, design an Easter greeeting card, using an image of the winning candidate. www.ricpublications.com.au

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The great Easter egg debate

The Currajong Chronicle January 2008

Both sides will be presenting their cases later this month. To fan the flames of this heated debate, we have just received a report that the platypus and the echidna have also put in tenders for the contract. Watch this space! As well as promoting chocolate Easter eggs, the image of the contract winner will be one that can be used on cards and for craft activities.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Mr Edward Emu QC will represent the Emu Union in their bid to be chosen as the national Aussie Easter egg symbol.

1. (a) Who do you think deserves to win the contract?

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he battle still rages between the hens and the emus to determine which bird should be honoured with the 2008 Aussie Easter egg contract. The main argument being pursued by the hens is that their eggs and chicks have been traditional symbols of Easter for many years. In retaliation, the emus state that it is time for a change and, being a national Aussie symbol, they should be awarded the contract.

(b) Explain the reasons for your choice. Appeal of young

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2. (a) Take a vote in your class for the most popular animal to represent Easter. Votes for hen

Votges for platypus

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3. Draw your image of the perfect Easter egg candidate.

Votes for emu

Votes for echidna

(b) Which animal is the most popular in your class? 26

An Aussie Easter

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The redundant rabbit Read this letter from a rabbit to his bilby friend then answer the questions below. How ya goin’ Bill, me ole mate, As I write this letter, I’m sitting at the mouth of my burrow, watching the sun go down on a balmy summer evening and gazing at the dry, rugged landscape that has been the home of my species since our ancestors first arrived from England with the First Fleet way back in 1788. We have been blessed with a fruitful land but, sadly, I realise we are not welcome here.

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They say the problem really started when Thomas Austin brought 24 wild rabbits over from England in 1859. He released them so they would breed and provide prey for him and his friends on his shooting expeditions ... it seems my rabbit ancestors performed the task too well!

They did try fencing us out of one state by building a rabbit-proof fence, back in the early 1900s ... it wasn’t very effective. Then fifty years later, they introduced the myxomatosis virus to kill us off, a long, lingering death so I’ve been told. And now they want to remove us from the Easter images! They’ve got some native Aussie creature in mind to replace us. I don’t know which one. Maybe you could find out for me, Bill. I’ll give it a piece of my mind! Well, time for me to go, mate. Keep in touch, Bucky

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We have been accused of having had a devastating effect on the country’s ecology, from erosion of the soil to wiping out many animal and plant species. They call us pests, but we’re only doing what we need to stay alive. I mean, we didn’t ask to be brought over here.

(b) 210 years

(d) 230 years

(e) 240 years

(f) 250 years

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2. For how long have there been rabbits in Australia? Circle the correct answer.

3. For what purpose did Thomas Austin introduce wild rabbits into Australia?

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4. (a) Name two environmental problems that rabbits are blamed for.

•

(b) Name two actions that have been taken against rabbits in Australia.

•

5. (a) On a separate sheet of paper, write Bill’s reply to Bucky, explaining that it is his own species, the bilby, that is tipped to replace the rabbit. (b) How do you think Bucky might respond to the news? www.ricpublications.com.au

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An Aussie Easter

Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Aussie Easter trail game – Page 29 Indicator • Reinforces 3x tables by playing a multiplication trail game. Worksheet information • Photocopy the sheet onto coloured card. Cut the card in half and carefully glue the answers onto the back of the questions. • Laminate the card whole and cut out the cards individually or, alternatively, cut out the cards and laminate them individually. Game is for 12, 6, 4 or 3 players. Divide the cards evenly.

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Aussie Easter number stories – Page 30

Indicators • Solves number sentences arising from number stories involving subtraction. • Creates own subtraction number story.

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To play the game: 1. Hand out the cards. 2. The player holding the ‘Start’ card begins. 3. The player holding the answer (9) reads it out. He/She then reads out the question on the back of that card. 4. The player holding the answer reads it out and then reads the question on the back, and so on. 5. The game ends when the player with the ‘Start’ card reads his/her answer.

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Worksheet information • Teachers could model an example of a number sentence grid such as the one on page 30 prior to the students beginning the worksheet.

‘Eggciting’ number puzzles – Page 31

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Answers 1. (a) 5 (b) 8 (c) 7 (d) 8 2. Teacher check

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Indicators • Completes number puzzles to reinforce addition and subtraction operations and calculator skills.

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Worksheet information • The teacher could model examples of the number puzzle activities from Question 1 on the board prior to the students beginning the activity. • Calculators can be used for these activities. Students will use a combination of addition and subtraction sums to complete the puzzles. • Give students blank grids to complete their own Easter egg trails (Question 3). Answers 1. (a) 11

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(b) 36

(c)

14 5

2. Teacher check 3. (a) 46 49

(d)

13 9

(b)

14 4

(e)

31 7

(c)

28 22

An Aussie Easter

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Aussie Easter trail game Start

1x3

8x3

9x3

10 x 3

11 x 3

12 x 3

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5s xt 3r 6x3 o e B r e oo p u k S

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7x3

3x3

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4x3

2x3

. 30 te 3

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An Aussie Easter

Aussie Easter number stories 1. Read the number stories. Set out the number sentence and answer it. Use the pictures to help you. Draw your own pictures for (c) and (d). Number story

Picture

Number sentence

(a) At the Easter picnic there were 11 hot cross buns, until 6 were eaten. How many hot cross buns were left?

–

Answer

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hot cross buns

–

Answer

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(b) The Easter Bilby had 15 chocolate eggs and delivered 7. How many eggs did he have left?

eggs

(c) It was so warm on Easter Sunday that 16 little chicks went for a swim in the dam. Only 9 got out. How many chicks were left in the dam?

–

Answer

(d) Zac counted 20 flies at the Easter barbecue. He swatted 12. How many flies were left?

Answer

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flies

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2. Write an Aussie Easter number story of your own. Draw the pictures. Ask a friend to write the number sentence and solve it. Number story

An Aussie Easter

Picture

Number sentence

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‘Eggciting’ number puzzles 1. Each egg is the sum of the two eggs below it. For example:

Try these! You can use a calculator if you need to.

(a)

(b) 37

28 11

49 26

(c)

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(e)

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2. (a) Make up your own egg puzzles. Write in pencil then erase three numbers as above.

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(b) Ask a friend to solve your puzzles. Tick the box if he/she solves it correctly.

3. Help the Easter Bilby find his eggs! Find the sequence of numbers that add up to the ‘finish’ number. Draw a straight line that shows the path. (a)

Start 46 20 53

49 61 17 185 Finish

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37 80 33

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(c)

19 8 39 48

38 16 44 33 199 Finish

Start

34 22 25 9

9 39 26 42

28 25 53 61 207 Finish

An Aussie Easter

50 10 13 18

Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Easter Bilby’s mixed maths problems – Page 33 Indicator • Selects and uses appropriate operations and calculations to solve word problems. Worksheet information • Students can work in pairs to choose the operation to be used to solve each word problem. • Students could write their own Aussie Easter word problems for a friend to solve. Answers 1. (a) 387 – 192 = 195 adults (b) 365 – 106 = 259 days (c) 75 ÷ 3 = 25 children (d) 14 x 9 = 126 parents (e) 145 + 207 = 352 km (f) 83 216 – 52 909 = 30 307 Crows supporters (g) 90 ÷ 3 = 30 30 x 2 = 60 90 – 60 = 30 bilbys OR If 2/3 found, 1/3 left to find 90 ÷ 3 = 30

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2. Teacher check

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– Page 34

Indicator • Completes number puzzles to improve and reinforce a variety of number skills, including solving algorithms involving brackets, long multiplication and logic problems.

Worksheet information • Question 2: Depending on ability of the class, prior to the ‘number detective’ activity (Question 2), discuss the difference between the final digits of odd and even numbers. Remind students which two digits the 5x tables always end in (5 or 0). • Students may like to create their own ‘number detective’ puzzle for a friend to solve.

Answers 1. An eggsplanation 2. 215 (b) Must end in digits: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (c) Last digit must be 5 (e) Last digit is 5, so first two digits must be either 3 and 0 or 2 and 1 (f) Must be 305 or 215 (g) Must be 215

275

225

450

9 17

25 25

725

375

625

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425

Aussie Easter picnic – Page 35

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Indicator • Selects and uses appropriate calculations to solve money and word problems.

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Worksheet information • This activity can be done as a calculator activity or working out could be completed on the back of the sheet and checked using a calculator. Answers 1. (a) No.

Item

Cost

Baguettes

$13.80

(c)

No.

Item

Cost

No.

Item

Cost

Pack of paper plates

$9.90

Kite

$19.80

Salad mix

$14.70

Pack of paper cups

$2.98

Frisbee

$9.00

Ham

$19.00

Pack of napkins

$5.90

Total cost

$28.80

Potato salad

$9.10

Total cost

$18.78

Tendered

$30.00

Carrot cake

$7.98

Tendered

$20.00

Change

$1.20

Orange juice

$13.50

Change

$1.22

Lemonade

$10.05

Total cost

$88.13

Tendered

$100.00

Change

$11.87

2. 11.87 + 1.25 + 1.20 = 14.32 32

(b)

An Aussie Easter

14.32 ÷ .6 = 23.86666 Ans: 23 eggs R.I.C. Publications®

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Easter Bilby’s mixed maths problems 1. Read each word problem and decide which operation to use (+, -, x, ÷). Write the number sentence and show your workings and answer. Some problems may require more than one operation. Problems

Number sentence

Workings

Answer

(a) 387 people went to the beach over Easter. If 192 were children, how many were adults?

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(c) There are 75 people at the Easter barbecue. If 1/3 are adults, how many are children? (d) At the end-of-term Easter assembly, there are 14 rows of chairs with 9 chairs in each row. How many parents can sit down at the assembly? (e) Darcy and his dad travelled 145 km to visit Gran on Easter Sunday, then 207 km to see Uncle Jack. How far did they travel altogether?

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(b) Chocolate Easter Bilbies were sold for 106 days of the year. How many days were they not for sale? (Assume not a leap year.)

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(f) 83 216 people went to the Easter AFL footy match last year at the MCG. If 52 909 supported the Bombers, how many supported the Crows? (g) There were 90 chocolate bilbies hidden for the Easter egg hunt. By 10 am, two-thirds had been found. How many were left to find?

2. Check your answers using a calculator. Tick the box if they are correct and redo those that are incorrect, using a different colour pen. www.ricpublications.com.au

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An Aussie Easter

Aussie Easter number puzzles Crack the code 1. Complete the algorithms and match the answer to the letter in the answer key. Write that letter in the box next to the correct sum to solve the riddle. (a)

7 + (6 x 3) =

(b) (5 x 8) + 13 =

Answer key a

(g) 15 – (24 ÷ 6) =

(g) (72 ÷ 8) – 6 =

(h) 20 – (21 ÷ 7) =

(c)

8 + (9 x 2) =

(d) (6 x 8) + 12 =

(f)

(40 ÷ 5) – 3 =

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(e) 11 + (9 x 6)=

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(54 ÷ 9) – 5 =

10 10

Number detective

Easter egg multiplication wheel

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2. Be a ‘number detective’ and find out how many Easter eggs the Easter Bilby will be delivering to your street.

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(i)

3. Complete the Easter egg without using a calculator. Show your working out on the back of this sheet.

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Complete your working out on the back of this sheet. (a) I am a three-digit number. (b) I am an odd number. (c) I am divisible by 5.

(d) Each of my digits is different. (e) My digits add up to 8. (f) My tens digit is smaller than my hundreds digit. (g) I am less than 300. Solution: 34

An Aussie Easter

x 25

9 17

25 25

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Aussie Easter picnic Jed and Kiara are going shopping for their family’s annual Easter picnic. They have $100 to spend on food and drinks, $20 to spend on disposables (such as paper plates) and $30 to spend on fun activities for the day.

$4.50

$1.49

Frisbee

$4.55

Potato salad

Ham

$4.90

$3.35

Lemonade

Salad mix

$4.95

$3.99

Carrot cake

$4.50

Paper plates

Orange juice

$2.95

$9.90

Napkins

Kite

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$1.15

Baguettes

$4.75

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Paper cups

1. Check how many items are needed of each and enter the total cost. Add up the totals at the end and calculate the change from the amount allocated to the children. (a) Food and drinks No.

Item

Baguettes

Ham

Potato salad

(b) Disposables Cost

No. 2

Item

Cost

Pack of paper plates Pack of paper cups Pack of napkins

3 3

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Total cost Change (c) Fun activities

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Orange juice

No.

Item

Kite

Frisbee

Lemonade Total cost

Total cost

Tendered

Change

Cost

2. With the change, Jed and Kiara can buy chocolate eggs for an Easter egg hunt. If these eggs cost 60 cents each, how many eggs can they buy? Complete your working out on the back of this sheet. www.ricpublications.com.au

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eggs An Aussie Easter

Bonza Aussie Easter activities Tricky tangrams – page 37 Indicator • Uses tangram shapes to create Easter symbols. Worksheet information • After cutting the tangram shapes, students arrange them to make the Easter symbols on the page. They then choose two of the symbols they made and draw the way they constructed them in the boxes provided. • As an extension activity, students could try to make their own Easter picture from the tangram shapes.

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Easter symmetry – page 38 Indicators • Completes 2-D shapes to make them symmetrical. • Draws the line of symmetry in letters of the alphabet.

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Answers

Worksheet information • Discuss symmetry with the students. Ensure they understand the ‘mirror image’ aspect of symmetry. The dividing line can be in any direction as long as it bisects the image. • Students draw the line of symmetry in the appropriate letters of the alphabet. They complete the worksheet by drawing a mirror image of the pictures to make them symmetrical. Answers

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Aussie egg hunt – page 39

Indicators • Locates items using coordinate points. • Uses compass points to follow and give directions.

Worksheet information • Read the information at the top of the page with the students. Demonstrate ways to locate objects using coordinates, and review the directions of the compass. Answers

An Aussie Easter

2. (a) a tree (b) a blue heeler (c) a clothes line (d) a basket of eggs 3. Teacher check

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Tricky tangrams 1. (a) Cut out the tangram shapes below and arrange them to make the four Easter symbols shown.

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(b) Draw lines on the symbols to show how you placed the shapes to make them.

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An Aussie Easter

Easter symmetry Symmetrical shapes are identical on either side of a line dividing them into two equal parts. 1. Find the letters in the word ‘Easter’ that are symmetrical. Draw the line of symmetry (the dividing line which can run in any direction).

S T

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2. Complete these pictures to make them symmetrical.

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Aussie egg hunt You have hidden some chocolates for an Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday. Follow the directions to make a map to remember where you hid them. 7 6 5

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3 2 1

(c) Move 4 squares north. Draw a chocolate bunny. (d) Move 2 squares north-east. Draw a basket of eggs. (e) Move 4 squares east. Draw a yellow egg.

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2. What will you find at … (a) B6?

(b) D3? (c) H5?

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(d) E7?

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C. DP El Fi G H ©R I . C. ub i cat ons 1. (a) Start at A4. Move 5 squares east. Draw a red egg. •f rr e vi ewDrawpau r p osesonl y• (b) Move 3o squares south-west. blue egg. A

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3. Give the person at E1 directions to find all the hidden chocolates. (a) Move

squares

(b) (c) (d) (e) www.ricpublications.com.au

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An Aussie Easter

Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Aussie Easter picnic – page 41 Indicator • Interprets bar graphs and pictographs to gather information. Worksheet information • Students may like to create a survey to determine their class’s favourite activities to play at a picnic. Answers 1. (a) Josh 2. (a) 26

(b) Zac (b) 8

(d) 49 (e) 7 (d) Teacher check

r o e t s B r e oo A very busy bilby! p u k S – page 42

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Indicator • Completes activities involving time, including reading analog clocks and calculating time intervals. Worksheet information • Students may work in pairs to complete the worksheet. • Allow students to view a map of Australia to answer Question 3 (f). Discuss the direction travelled by the hands of a clock. Answers 1. (a) 4.00 am (b) 11.30 pm 2. (a) 10 past 1, 1.10 (b) 20 to 6, 5.45 3. (a) 5.15 am (b) Western Australia (e) 2 hours and 40 minutes

(d) 11.50 pm (e) 2.05 am (d) 5 to 3, 2.55 (d) 1 hour and 15 minutes

Indicator • Adds and subtracts decimal number measurements to find a mystery egg.

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Worksheet information • Younger students can use calculators to perform the calculations. Older and more able students can complete the calculations on the back of the sheet. • It will help students (and avoid confusion) if they cross off each question as the calculation is completed. • Remind students that if an answer can not be found, they need to redo the calculation.

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Answers The mystery egg is 14.5 cm in height.

An Aussie Easter

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Aussie Easter picnic This bar graph shows the number of chocolate bilbies found by seven children during the bilby hunt at the Easter picnic. Bilbies found at Easter hunt

12 11

Number of bilbies

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Sam

Ava

Josh

Emma

Jye

Lucy

Children

1. Use the graph to answer the questions below. (a) Who found the most chocolate bilbies? (b) Who found the fewest chocolate bilbiies?

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© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons (d) How many chocolate bilbies were found in total? •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• (e) What was the average number of chocolate bilbies found by the children? (c) Which two children found the same number of bilbies?

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2. This pictograph shows the favourite activities played at the Easter picnic. (a) How many children were questioned in total?

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(c) Five children liked kite flying the best. How many more liked the water balloons? (d) On the back of this sheet, write three more questions about the pictograph. Give them to a friend to solve. www.ricpublications.com.au

Bilby hunt

Number of children

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(b) How many children liked the bilby hunt the best?

Favourite activity

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(Hint: Divide the total number of bilbies by the number of children.)

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Kite flying

Egg and spoon race

Painting eggs

Water balloons

An Aussie Easter

A very busy bilby! 1. The Easter Bilby is running behind schedule and will be two hours late delivering his eggs. Write the new times the Easter Bilby will now arrive at these houses. (a) Jack’s house: 2.00 am

(d) Sienna’s house: 11.00 pm

(b) Seth’s house: 9.30 pm

(e) Amy’s house: 9.50 pm

(f) Jenna’s house: 12.05 am

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The Easter Bilby is late because his digital watch broke and he is having trouble reading the time on his new analog watch.

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2. Help the Easter Bilby learn how to tell the time by writing the analog time and digital time shown on these watch faces.

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3. Look at the bilby’s timetable for delivering eggs on Easter night. Answer the questions below.

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Bilby’s timetable Northern Territory

(a) At what time is the bilby’s last stop?

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(b) Where will he be at midnight?

(c) How long will he spend in the Northern Territory? (d) How long will he spend in Tasmania? (e) How much time between SA and the ACT? (f) In which direction does the Easter bilby travel around Australia? 42

An Aussie Easter

10.30 pm

Western Australia

11.15 pm

South Australia

12.50 am

Tasmania

1.30 am

Victoria

2.45 am

Australian Capital Territory

3.30 am

New South Wales

4.00 am

Queensland

5.15 am

clockwise

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The mystery egg Find out which one is the mystery egg by calculating the height of the egg. Colour each egg as you go. The egg not coloured is the mystery egg. 1. It is not 0.3 cm + 2.3 cm – 0.5 cm

6. It is not 3.8 cm + 0.9 cm – 1.0 cm

2. It is not 14 cm + 3.4 cm – 1.2 cm

7. It is not 6.3 cm + 15.1 cm – 2.2 cm

3. It is not 8.5 cm + 3.1 cm – 1.5 cm

8. It is not 13.4 cm + 25.9 cm – 3.8 cm

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9. It is not 12.7 cm + 8.4 cm – 5.8 cm

5. It is not 18.4 cm + 11.2 cm – 4.3 cm

10. It is not 17.9 cm + 13.9 cm – 9.9 cm

10.1 cm

15.3 cm

25.3 cm

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4. It is not 9.3 cm + 14.6 cm – 2.9 cm

2.1 cm

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14.5 cm

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3.7 cm

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35.5 cm

The mystery egg is www.ricpublications.com.au

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An Aussie Easter

Bonzer Aussie Easter activites SMS to Easter bilby – page 45 Indicators • Uses a key to help decipher a SMS. • Creates his or her own SMS. Worksheet information • Mobile phones usually have about enough space for 160 characters per message. • Capital letters in SMS messages can indicate shouting or strongly emphasising a point. Capitalisation is used in this activity to make the shortcuts used easy to identify. Other shortcuts could also be used; e.g. 4 – for. As many students will be aware of SMS shortcuts, discuss what they know and compile a list for reference.

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Aussie Easter stamp – page 46 Indicator • Creates a design suitable for an Australian Easter stamp.

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Answers 1. Dear Easter bilby, How are you and what have you been up to since last year? Correct me if I’m wrong but I guess you had some time off before making eggs in your burrow for this Easter. By the way, I would like a milk chocolate egg this year please. For your information, I have been excellent all year. Thanks and Happy Easter. Brady (and friendly smile added).

Worksheet information • Show and discuss the designs and shapes of various stamps, identifying where the cost of the stamp is placed and the country it is from. The Australia Post website would be a useful site to view: <http://www.auspost.com.au/philatelic/stamps/intro.asp>

Indicator • Plans and designs a product to be used at Easter with an Aussie ‘flavour’.

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Worksheet information • Students could work individually, in pairs or a small group for this activity. A class brainstorm of ideas for suitable products could be beneficial. Display completed plans for students to view.

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SMS to Easter bilby When people send a message (SMS) on a mobile phone they often use shortcuts for some words; for example, m8 = mate. It saves time and also costs less as only a certain number of characters can be used before it becomes expensive. What have you been up to? by the way like would year correct me if I’m wrong excellent for your information thanks

U :-) TYM B4 UR MLK PLZ HE HRU

you a friendly smile time before your milk please Happy Easter How are you?

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WUBU2 BTW LYK WD YR CMIIW XLNT FYI THNX

1. The SMS below was sent to the Easter 2. Write your own SMS to the Easter Bilby in the space below. Use some of the Bilby. Look at the table to help you work shortcuts above and add your own. Then out the message. Write out the message give it to a classmate to decipher and in full. write it on the lines.

Dear Easter Bilby

THNX and HE!

w ww Brady :-)

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HRU and WUBU2 since last YR? CMIIW but I guess U had some TYM off B4 making eggs in UR burrow for this Easter. BTW I WD LYK a MLK choc egg this YR PLZ. FYI I have been XLNT all YR.

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An Aussie Easter

Aussie Easter stamp Australia Post regularly issues new stamps for general use and for collectors to buy. Sometimes they are based on a theme such as Australian wildflowers or native animals. Other times they are in commemoration of a special event, such as 100 years of surf lifesaving or 75 years since the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Imagine you are in a competition to design an Aussie Easter stamp. Some things you will need to think about are: What kind of Aussie picture will you draw? – an Easter bilby? (and Aussie animal friends?) – an Easter bunny in Aussie clothes? – an Aussie scene with an Easter flavour? (at the beach, in the outback, at a ‘barbie’, at a landmark such as Uluru?)

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• How much will your stamp cost?

• Where will you write ‘Australia’ to show where it is from? • What shape will your stamp be? (square, rectangular?) Make sketches on a separate sheet of paper, then draw your design below.

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•

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Made in ‘Oz’ The Australia Made campaign was launched by the government more than 20 years ago to encourage Australians to buy products either made in Australia or made using Australian resources.The aim was to increase growth in Aussie industries and create more jobs. Your task is to design a product made in ‘Oz’ that has an Easter theme with an Aussie flavour. You can choose from the suggestions below or think of your own. Make notes under the headings in the table. Then sketch and colour your completed design on a separate sheet of paper, labelling appropriate parts and writing a summary of its purpose and how it works or how it is used.

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• egg-carrying basket for a bilby

• suitable vehicle for transporting Easter eggs in the Outback

• uniform for bilby and helpers to wear

• hot cross bun-making machine

Design brief/Purpose:

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Suggestions: • egg-making machine for a bilby

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Design plan:

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Target audience:

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An Aussie Easter

Bonzer Aussie Easter activities A bonzer mob of hats, mate! – page 49 Indicator • Reads and completes sentences about the Easter bonnets and Easter parades. Worksheet information • Students may wish to share photos of themselves wearing Easter bonnets or in an Easter parade from previous years or view photographs taken at the New York Easter Parade on the Internet.

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Have a Gander!* – page 50

Indicator • Plans a program for an Aussie Easter Bonnet Parade.

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Answers 1. (a) New, white clothes were worn by newly-baptised Christians as a sign of new life. (b) Wearing new clothes was considered to be good luck or courteous to Eastre, the goddess of spring. (c) In many European towns, a person carrying a cross or Easter candle leads a promenade of people wearing new clothes. (d) The traditional Easter Parade in New York began as a kind of fashion parade. (e) The first Easter bonnet was probably a wreath of leaves and flowers representing the cyclic movement of the sun and new life. 2. Teacher check

Worksheet information • * Have a look! • Encourage the students to be creative when making up their program. As the Easter Bonnet Parade is to be an Aussie one, the title and events should be Australian words, and Australian versions of well-known songs, dances etc. even if they are fictitious. • Students may use a spare sheet of paper if the number of events exceeds 12. • Students may wish to print their program on the computer and share with the remainder of the class.

Fab hats! – page 51

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Indicator • Draws additions to create three styles of Aussie Easter bonnet.

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Worksheet information • Students may use the designs as a basis to make one or more of the hats using the materials listed and a similar base from home or made in class. • Although making Easter bonnets is usually more suitable for younger students, older students enjoy the design process. Other activities may include creating hats given specific requirements such as to provide protection from the sun, based around an Australian icon such as the Holden car, meat pie, sport, famous landmarks, flora, fauna, sporting personalities etc. • Completed bonnets may be displayed during an Aussie Easter Bonnet Parade or New York City-style parade.

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A bonzer mob of hats, mate! Wearing new clothes, including hats or bonnets, is believed to have originated from a number of different sources. Newly-baptised Christians wore new, white clothes to celebrate Easter. The new clothes were a representation of new life.

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An Easter promenade of people wearing new clothes, led by a person carrying a cross or Easter candle, is a common tradition in many European towns and villages.

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In ancient times, it was also considered bad luck, or rude to the goddess of spring, Eastre, not to put on new clothes. The first Easter bonnet was most likely a circular wreath of flowers and/or leaves, with the circle representing the cyclic movement of the sun and the return of warmer weather and new growth in spring.

In the middle of the 1800s, the rich and well-known people of New York City would walk down Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets after Easter church services, wearing new, fashionable clothes, creating the tradition of the Easter Parade. This tradition still continues today, although rather than a fashion parade, the NewYork Easter Parade is more of a carnival with extravagant costumes and even pets dressed in their best clothes and bonnets.

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1. Match the beginning to the end of each sentence.

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Easter bonnet parades are often held by schools and community groups as a competition with chosen winners receiving some kind of prize.

(a) New, white clothes were worn by

people wearing new clothes.

(b) Wearing new clothes was considered to be

good luck or courteous to Eastre, the goddess of spring.

newly-baptised Christians as a sign of new life.

(d) The traditional Easter Parade in New York began as

the cyclic movement of the sun and new life.

(e) The first Easter bonnet was probably a wreath of leaves and flowers representing

a kind of fashion parade.

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2. With a partner, discuss the most interesting Easter parade you have attended. www.ricpublications.com.au

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Have a Gander! Many schools hold and enjoy an Easter bonnet parade, particularly the younger classes. Parents and grandparents come and watch the children dance ‘bunny’ dances, sing ‘bunny’ songs and parade around in hats or bonnets made in class or at home. Sometimes, the Easter Bunny or Easter Bilby, visits the children’s rooms while they are absent and leaves an egg in baskets the children have made in class.

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Title of parade

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Plan a program for an Aussie Easter Bonnet Parade for a group of classes at your school. If you would like the program to be a whole-school activity, include all classes at the school. Use the format below to help you.

Date of parade

Location of parade Starting time

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Event 3 and/or class and duration

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Event 4 and/or class and duration Event 5 and/or class and duration

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Event 6 and/or class and duration Event 7 and/or class and duration Event 8 and/or class and duration Event 9 and/or class and duration

Event 10 and/or class and duration Event 11 and/or and duration Event 12 and/or and duration Finishing time 50

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Fab hats! Use the shapes of the hats below to create three different styles of Aussie Easter bonnets. Use coloured pencils, crayons or marker pens to show appropriate colours when you draw your additions to these bases. Next to each ‘bonnet’, list the materials (apart from the base) which you would need to make it.

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Materials required

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Materials required

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Materials required

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Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Aussie Easter eggs – Lithuanian-style – page 53 Indicators • Reads information about egg-decorating techniques. • Completes a Lithuanian-style Easter egg. Worksheet information • After reading the information, discuss the technique and others which the students may be familiar with. Enlarge the egg section if desired and complete as instructed. • Encourage the students to experiment to create their own designs. • If students are going to boil eggs and use wax to create patterns either at home or at school, care should be taken when working with hot materials, utensils and appliances.

r o e t s Bo r e p o u Easter Emu chick envelope k S Indicators • Follows steps to create an Easter Emu chick envelope. • Writes a message to include in an envelope to send to a special friend.

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– page 54

Worksheet information • Students may wish to elaborate on the basic envelope by using other materials such as sequins for eyes etc. • Students may wish to write a poem, joke, limerick or rhyme to include in their envelope.

Easter Bilby doorknob hanger – page 55

Indicator • Follows instructions to create an Easter Bilby doorknob hanger.

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Worksheet information • Collect the materials. Each student will need 2 pieces of ribbon approximately 3 mm wide and 60 cm long, a pair of googly eyes, strong glue, scissors, coloured pencils, crayons, markers etc., tape (optional) and a copy of the worksheet enlarged to A3 size and preferably mounted onto cardboard for added strength and durability. • Colour and cut out the Easter Bilby and the words. • Attach the eyes using strong glue. • While the eyes are drying, place the 2 ribbon pieces on a flat surface and tie a bow at the top to join them. • Glue the Easter Bilby and the words to the ribbon (see finished picture) leaving enough space at the top to slip the ribbon over the doorknob. • Use tape to secure the pieces at the back if desired. • Bilbies move with an unusual gait. It has been described as ‘half-hopping’, ‘shuffling’ and ‘cantering’. The greater bilby walks on all fours. The hind legs move together, and the front legs move together alternately. The bilby will often carry its tail like a stiff banner.

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Aussie Easter eggs – Lithuanian-style Decorating eggs is a very ancient craft. Pysanka is the name given to describe the art of decorating eggs using a wax-batik method. Several types of decorated eggs are made traditionally in the Ukraine and other countries, including Poland, Romania and Hungary. Melted wax is applied to hard-boiled eggs with a pin or small nail as dots or dots with tails and allowed to dry. Then the egg is dyed in a solution which is cooler than the melting temperature of the wax. The wax is then removed by heating it in an oven and rolling the egg on a hot towel. A white pattern is revealed. Multicoloured patterns can be created by repeating the process of dying and waxing the egg.

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1. Use white and one other colour of wax crayon to complete the eggs below. Then paint the background using a different colour of vegetable dye.

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2. Use the steps above to create some traditional Lithuanian-style Aussie eggs of your own. (NOTE: HOT WAX CAN CAUSE SEVERE BURNS SO USE WITH ADULT SUPERVISION.)

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Easter Emu chick envelope Follow the instructions for making a ‘spekky’ envelope to send Easter greetings to a special mate! 1. Collect your materials. You will need: • an envelope • a brown or black pipe-cleaner • brown and yellow crayons

2. Turn the envelope over and fold up the flap.

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(a) Draw two eyes at the top of the point and a beak beneath it.

(b) Draw and colour stripes along the envelope creases and the ‘body’ of the envelope. (c) Bend the pipe-cleaner into a V-shape.

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(d) Cut about 3 cms from each end of the V-shape and wind the smaller pieces around each end to create three-pointed chicken feet. (e) Tape the top bend of the V to the back of the envelope near the bottom to create feet and legs for the chick. (f) Add real feathers if desired.

3. Use the space below to write the message to place inside your envelope.

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Dear

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Happy Easter from 54

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Easter Bilby doorknob hanger

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Follow the instructions to create a cute Easter Bilby doorknob hanger for yourself, a young friend or a relative.

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Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Here comes Barnaby Easter Bilby – page 57 Indicator • Writes new lyrics for a familiar Easter song. Worksheet information • The students will need to be familiar with the words of ‘Here comes Peter Cottontail’ before completing this activity. A copy of the words can be found on the following websites: < http://www. llerrah.com/petercottontail.htm >, < http://www.brownielocks.com/bunnytrail.html > and < http:// www.dobhran.com/greetings/GReaster2.htm >. • Students may read their completed song lyrics for the class and also form small groups to practise and perform their song for each other or a younger class.

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u Hip, hop S (what else!), rap

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– page 58

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Indicator • Creates an Easter rap using a traditional rhyme.

Worksheet information • Some words which the students may find useful include: B-boy: a dude who breakdances; Homey: close friend; Homeboy: friend; Homegirl: a girl who is a friend, a girl from the same neighbourhood; Dolo: solo; Deuce: two; Bite: copy; brother/buddy: friend; Loc: son, homeboy; Scratch: money; Y’all: you all, you; Yo: you, your; cuz/dog: homeboy, friend. • Encourage the students to be creative. Some students may wish to include all Aussie words in their rap.

Indicator • Creates actions for dances to perform.

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Worksheet information • A conga dance is a Latin American dance which was popular in the United States during the 1930s and 1960s. The dancers form a single, long line and perform three shuffling steps, followed by a kick. The steps are then repeated over and over. • Information about The Chicken Dance/Birdie Dance, the Hokey Pokey, Ag-a-doo-doo-doo and the Macarena can be found by accessing Internet sites, YouTube™ or by referring to the school music teacher or lower primary teachers and their classes.

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Here comes Barnaby Easter Bilby A popular Easter song for young children is ‘Here comes Peter Cottontail’. The lyrics were written by Walter ‘Jack’ Rollins and the music by Steve Nelson.The song was first performed by Gene Autry, actor, singer and cowboy, in the 1950s on his television show, ‘Melody Ranch’. 1. Write an Australian version of ‘Here comes Peter Cottontail’ by completing the missing words in the lyrics. Try to include lots of Aussie words and don’t forget to rhyme! Verse one

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Here comes Barnaby Easter Bilby

Hoppin’ down the

Hippity hoppin’, Easter’s on its way

and

Bringin’ ev’ry

Things to make your Easter

He’s got

ful of Easter joy

for

There’s an

And an Easter

and

for your

Hoppin’ down the

Hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day

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Oh! Here’ comes Barnaby Easter Bilby

Verse two

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and listen to him

Look at him

‘Try to do the things you should’

Maybe if you’re

He’ll

You’ll wake up on Easter morning

And you’ll know that he

When you find those

That he’s hiding

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your way

Repeat chorus

2. Practise and perform your Aussie song for a younger class. You may ask some classmates to assist you. www.ricpublications.com.au

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Hip, hop (what else!), rap 1. Write actions to accompany each line of this traditional Easter song for young children to make it into a rap. Repeated lines may have the same actions. Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns!

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If you have no daughters

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Give them to your sons

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One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns.

2. Rewrite the rhyme replacing any non-Australian words with more appropriate ones; for example, ‘penny’. Also add any extra words, such as ‘Yo’, as required.

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3. Write descriptions of sound effects below which could be added to match the lines of the traditional rhyme. Lines 1,2, 4 and 8 Lines 3 and 7 Line 5 Line 6

4. Form small groups to practise and present your rhyme to the class. Select one or two people to create the accompanying sound effects while the others say the rap and perform the actions. Repeat with other raps. 58

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The bilby hop The Bunny Hop was a fun party dance created at a high school in the United States in 1952. It was often used to help people to get together or relax at a dance or social function. The dance is similar to a conga dance, where people line up behind each other and hold the hips, waist or shoulders of the person in front of them. The steps in order are:

• two taps on the floor with the right foot • two taps on the floor with the left foot • hop forward • hop backward • three hops forward. This sequence is then repeated.

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1. Write a sequence of steps for a ‘Bilby Hop’. Consider some of the mannerisms or actions of a bilby to include in the dance.

© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons 2. Select another popular repetitive action dance such as ‘The Chicken Dance’ (or Birdie •thef o rr evi ew pur p os esoCreate nl y • Dance), Hokey Pokey, ‘Ag-a-doo-doo-doo’ or the ‘Macarena.’ and write the

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actions below.

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3. Practise your dances with the appropriate music and write the title of your most successful one. www.ricpublications.com.au

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Bonzer Aussie Easter activities Bouncing Easter eggs – page 61 Indicator • Conducts an experiment to observe the effect of vinegar on raw eggs. Worksheet information • You will need a raw egg, cup and spoon for each student, or per pair of students if you prefer. This experiment takes place over a few days. • Chicken eggs contain a lot of calcium. When suspended in vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs, releasing carbon dioxide (which appears as bubbles). The acid in the vinegar dissolves the calcium carbonate. • Students write observations after a few minutes, on day two, on day three, and after dropping the eggs. They then suggest a possible explanation as to how the shell disappeared.

r o e t s Bo r e p jokes ok Aussie Easter u S – page 62

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Indicator • Uses patterns to decipher a code for Easter joke answers. Worksheet information • Students use the code at the bottom of the page to spell the answers to the Easter jokes. Answers 1. He was being a little roo-d. 2. Holes all over Australia. 3. Coca Koala. 4. A fluffy roo-bar. 5. Hoppy Easter 6. Tired.

Snazzy eggs – page 63

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Bonzer Easter board game – page 64

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Indicator • Uses tissue paper and masking tape to decorate boiled eggs. Worksheet information • Each student will need scissors, a hard-boiled egg and a cup to hold the drying egg. • Students draw some ideas for designs in the box provided. They then cut decorative designs and shapes from the masking tape and stick these onto the egg. Once they have covered the egg, they tear pieces of tissue paper, wet them and stick them one at a time onto the egg. Once dry, they remove the paper and tape. The colour from the paper should have transferred to the egg around the masking tape designs.

Indicators • Cooperates to play an Easter board game • Converts patterns to numbers using a code to collect counters. Worksheet information • Enlarge page 64 onto A3 paper. Two to four students follow the instructions to play the game. The winner is not the person who finishes first, but the one who has the most counters. Any available materials, such as matchsticks, can be substituted for counters.

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An Aussie Easter poem – page 65

Indicators • Reads three different styles of poetry on the topic of Easter. • Chooses one of these styles to compose own Easter poem. Worksheet information • Read the poems with the students and discuss the different styles and ways Easter is expressed. Students then choose one of these styles to create a poem expressing their ideas or feelings about Easter. After writing some ideas on page 65, they write their poem on a separate sheet of paper.

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Bouncing Easter eggs! Follow this experiment to make eggs bounce. Materials • raw eggs • vinegar • plastic spoons • clear plastic cups

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Observations

First few minutes

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Instructions 1. Place a raw egg into a clear plastic cup. 2. Pour enough vinegar into the cup to totally cover the egg. 3. Place the eggs where they can be observed undisturbed. 4. Observe and make notes in the table. 5. Leave for three days, taking observations each day. 6. Carefully remove the egg from the vinegar with a plastic spoon. 7. Drop the egg from 10 cm. 8. Write observations about what happens.

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Day 3

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Dropping the egg

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Day 2

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Possible explanation for what happened

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Aussie Easter jokes Use the patterns on the Easter eggs to crack the code for the answers to these hilarious jokes!! a

1. Q: Why couldn’t the joey come to Easter lunch? A:

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–

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2. Q: What do you get if you cross the Easter Bilby with an elephant?

3. Q: What is a koala’s favourite drink at Easter?

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5. Q: What do Bilbies say to each other at Easter? A:

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4. Q: What do you get if you cross a kangaroo and a sheep?

6. Q: What do you call the Easter Bilby on Easter Sunday night? A:

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Snazzy eggs Try this way to dye Easter eggs … without dye! Equipment • hard-boiled eggs • tissue paper (different colours) • water • masking tape (thick) • eggcups/holders • scissors Instructions

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1. Draw designs on the masking tape and cut them out.

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2. Place the tape shapes onto the egg.

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3. Tear the tissue paper into small squares.

4. Wet the pieces in water one at a time and place them on your egg. 5. When the egg is completely covered, place it in an egg cup to dry.

6. When the tissue paper pieces are dry, peel them and the masking tape designs off. The colour of the tissue paper will have transferred to the egg around your designs.

1. Practise some designs in this box before starting.

2. How did you find this activity? Can you think of any ways to improve it?

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Bonzer Easter board game Cut out a playing piece for each player and place them on ‘start’. Take turns to roll a die and move along the board. When you land on a decorated egg, pick up counters according to the pattern on the egg. The winner is the person who has the most counters when everyone has reached the finish.

AM MEE GA G D D R AR A O B O E R A B EASSTTEER

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Code stripes – 1 counter circles – 2 counters zig-zigs – 3 counters swirls – 4 counters stars – 5 counters ribbon – 6 counters

You help your mum with Easter lunch. Take 3 extra counters.

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Your dog ate your eggs! Put 4 counters back.

FIN ISH ! You forgot to buy your friends chocolates. Give 4 counters back.

You refuse to share your chocolates. Put 2 counters back.

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fold

chick

fold

bilby

fold

bunny

STA RT

You leave some food for the Easter Bilby. Take 3 extra counters.

You share your chocolate with your family. Take 4 extra counters.

Easter egg

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Easter day is fine and sunny. Have another turn.

You sleep in on Easter morning. Put 1 counter back.

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An Aussie Easter poem Easter means different things to different people. Read the poems below showing some of the different ways Easter ideas can be expressed. Concrete poems take the shape of the objects they describe.

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When I got up, day was just dawning.

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It was no usual Easter morning; I stretched and yawned, mouth open wide While my blurry eyes peered outside– And saw a creature hopping round! Cute and fluffy, low to the ground.

‘The Easter Bunny!’ I cried with glee.

Then ... it turned around and glared at me.

© R. I . C.Publ i ca i o s I heard it screech, ‘I’Mt NOT An BUNNY!’, tell Long tail quivering with the speech. •Narratives f o r r e v i e w p u r p o sesonl y• or recite stories. “I’m a BILBY, you clueless galah,

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To save God’s people.

And off he hopped into the dawn, Leaving nothing but droppings on my lawn. A Haiku is a three– line poem. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has five.

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What does Easter mean? Jesus dying on a cross

No choccies for you, mate ... see ya!’

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Couplets are two lines of poetry, with end-words that rhyme.

Choose one of these poetic styles to write your own Aussie Easter poem on a separate sheet of paper. Write some ideas for your poem here before you start.

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Aussie Easter tucker Ripper pancakes – page 67 Indicator • Follows a procedure to make a basic pancake mix. Worksheet information • Pancakes vary around the world. English pancake batter is traditionally mixed with ale. French pancakes are thin and crispy and called ‘crepes’. Russian pancakes, called ‘blinis’, are made with buckwheat and commonly served with caviar and sour cream. Tortillas are the Mexican version served with a bean or meat filling. American pancakes are thicker and called ‘battercakes’, ‘flapjacks’ or ‘griddlecakes’. The latter are often served with bacon and syrup.

r o e t s Bo r e Beaut hotp cross buns ok u S – page 68

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Indicator • Follows a procedure to bake hot cross buns.

Worksheet information • A popular alternative to the traditional fruit and spice hot cross bun is to make them with the same spiced mixture but add cocoa to the dough and chocolate chips instead of the dried fruit.

Eggscellent eggs! – page 69 Indicator • Follows a procedure to make moulded chocolate Easter eggs.

Worksheet information • Advise the students not to handle the chocolate too much during Steps 7 and 8 as the heat of their hands will cause it to melt.

Easter Bilby bickies – page 70

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Worksheet information • Students can use the picture of the bilby on page 70 to help define the distinguishing features when decorating each bilby biscuit. • Students could make their own templates for other Aussie animals to be made from the biscuit dough. Ensure they do not have thin parts when designing their template that could be easily broken off when handling.

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Indicator • Follows a procedure to make stuffed eggs of his or her choice.

Worksheet information • Eggshells are sometimes hard to peel off as the inner skin can attach to the egg. It can help to roll the egg and slightly crush the shell before peeling.

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Ripper pancakes Lent is the period of 40 days leading up to Easter and is traditionally a time of fasting. The day before it begins is called Shrove Tuesday, commonly called Pancake Day. Making pancakes on this day was a good way of using up fats, eggs and other ingredients in preparation for fasting. The pancakes were the feast before the famine! Make this ripper pancake batter, then choose the topping of your choice—or why not try a different topping with a second helping! Ingredients

r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S Method

1. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.

/4 cup plain flour pinch salt 2 eggs 2 teaspoons oil 3 /4 cup milk extra oil for cooking

2. Make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it. 3. Whisk the eggs into the mixture.

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4. Add the milk and oil and whisk until the mixture becomes smooth. 5. Leave the batter to stand for a few minutes.

Equipment

6. Heat some oil in the frypan.

7. Using a scoop, pour in batter in batches, adding oil between batches. Mixture makes about 10 to 12 small to medium pancakes or 6 to 8 large ones.

measuring cups sifter whisk scoop teaspoon knives large mixing bowl frypan spatula

© R I . C .P ubover l i c at i o nsbrown underneath and 8. . Turn each pancake when it is lightly bubbles form on top. (Some people like to turn their pancakes •f orr ev i e wp ur posesonl y• by tossing them!) 9. Cook other side until bottom is lightly browned.

Topping suggestions

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sugar icing sugar sugar and lemon juice golden syrup honey strawberries banana butter maple syrup cream ice-cream caramel sauce

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Variations

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10. Serve each pancake separately or as a stack. Add a topping or two poured or spread over. (Some people like to roll their pancake up to eat.)

• Add caster sugar to the pancake mixture at the sifting stage for a sweeter version. • Stir in about 6 tablespoons of cottage cheese after Step 4 to make cottage cheese pancakes.

Did you know? The world’s largest pancake was cooked in Rochdale, England, in 1994. It was 15 m in diameter and weighed 3 tonnes!

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An Aussie Easter

Beaut hot cross buns Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, but in Australia, as in other countries, they are now available from bakeries and supermarkets several weeks before Easter. The cross on the top symbolises the cross Jesus died upon. Follow this procedure to make some beaut homemade hot cross buns. Ingredients

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Buns 1 /2 cup milk 1 /2 tsp. salt 1 /2 cup water 60 g butter 30 g yeast 1 egg 4 cups plain flour 1 /2 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 tsp. mixed spice 1 tsp. mixed peel (chopped) 1 cup sultanas or raisins extra flour for kneading

1. Heat milk in saucepan to very warm. Pour into small bowl and add water. 2. Sprinkle yeast over, stir well, cover with plastic wrap and leave for 5 minutes. 3. Sift flour, spice and salt into large bowl. Rub butter in with fingers. 4. Add sugar, fruit and mixed peel. Combine. 5. Make a well in centre. Pour in yeast mixture and unbeaten egg. Mix to form a soft dough and place on a floured surface. 6. Knead the dough until it feels soft and elastic, using extra flour if necessary. 7. Place in a lightly greased large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place; e.g. top of stove, until dough is doubled in size. (About an hour.) 8. Turn the dough out and knead again back down to its original size. 9. Divide and shape into about 15 round portions. Arrange on the oven tray, cover and leave to rise again for about 20 minutes until double in size. 10. While rising, make cross mixture. Mix flour and water to a smooth paste. Use a piping bag to make cross on top of each bun. 11. Bake in preheated 200 °C oven for about 20 minutes or until brown on top. 12. While cooking, make glaze. Heat sugar, water and a pinch of gelatine in a saucepan. Brush glaze on buns as soon as they come out of the oven. Yum!

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Cross 2 tbs. self-raising flour 2 tbs. water

Equipment

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measuring cups teaspoon tablespoon saucepans wooden spoons plastic wrap large and small mixing bowls greased oven tray or tray lined with baking paper piping bag 68

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Glaze 2 tbs. sugar 2 tbs. water gelatine

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Eggscellent eggs Easter eggs, symbolising new life, are traditionally eaten on Easter Sunday. While Easter eggs are readily available from shops, it is fun to make and decorate your own Easter versions. This recipe uses moulds available from specialist kitchen shops or department stores for making chocolate eggs. You will need

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• 8 small egg moulds

• spoons

• cellophane, ribbons etc. for decoration

• knife

• heatproof bowl

• icing for piping decorations on eggs

• pastry brush

• paper towels

• baking paper

• flavourless oil (e.g. sunflower)

• baking tray

Follow these steps 1. Use a piece of paper towel to polish the inside of each mould.

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• 300 g milk, dark or white cooking chocolate or chocolate melts

2. Dampen a piece of paper towel with oil and again polish the inside of each mould. (This makes the outside of the egg shiny and helps the set chocolate egg to be removed from the mould more easily.) saucepan of hot water.

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4. Cool slightly so it is not too thin and pour spoonfuls of chocolate into each mould.

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5. Swirl around until the mould is coated in a thin layer. Use the pastry brush to wipe any extra chocolate off the edges. 6. Leave to set for about 20 min. Repeat another two or three times to build up a good layer of chocolate in each mould. Use the flat edge of a knife across the chocolate after each layer to make sure the edge remains flat each time.

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7. When the moulds are properly set, carefully remove eggs from the mould and place on a clean surface. 8. Heat baking paper on a tray and remove from tray onto flat surface. Place edges of two halves on paper for a few seconds and then gently stick halves together. Repeat process until all halves are joined. Suggestions for decorating eggs

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Pipe a name or message on egg with icing. Tie a ribbon gently around egg. Place in a basket with egg or basket wrapped in cellophane. For an Aussie flavour, decorate with gumleaves, gumnuts or blossoms from Aussie flowers.

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An Aussie Easter

Easter Bilby bickies Use this recipe to make bickies in the shape of a bilby using the template provided. The bilby’s facial and body features can be added before or after you cook the bickies. Ingredients

Equipment

electric beaters measuring cups teaspoon/tablespoon wooden spoon baking trays lined with baking paper rolling pin piping bag or snap-lock bag with small hole snipped in corner wire rack

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Biscuits 125 g softened butter 1 /2 cup caster sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 1/2 cups plain flour 1 to 2 tablespoons milk chopped raisins for eyes chopped cherry for nose slivers of licorice for whiskers

Icing

Template

1 cup sifted icing sugar 4 to 5 teaspoons water food colouring

Place the template on a piece of cardboard. Trace around it and cut it out. Place on rolled dough and trace around with knife.

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2. Stir in sifted flour and enough milk to make a soft dough. 3. Tip dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth. Form dough into a ball. Refrigerate until firm.

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4. Roll out dough to thickness of 1/2 cm.

5. Trace and cut out bilby shapes. Add eyes and noses. 6. Refrigerate to firm again.

7. Place on lined baking trays and cook in preheated 160 °C oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden. 8. Transfer to wire rack to cool. 9. Make icing by combining icing sugar and enough water to form a thick consistency. Add food colouring of choice. 10. Pipe on features to decorate. Use a bit of icing sugar to attach whiskers. 70

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Aussie appetisers The following recipes are a great way to use up left-over hardboiled eggs that have been dyed or decorated for Easter activities (and kept in the fridge). They are also a terrific idea to make specially as finger food for an Aussie Easter barbecue, Aussie Easter picnic or for an Aussie Easter camping holiday.

Scotch eggs

Stuffed eggs

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What to do 1. Shell the eggs.

Ingredients 6 hardboiled eggs

Stuffing #1 2 tbs mayonnaise 3 /4 tsp Dijon mustard 1 /2 tsp Worcestershire sauce salt & pepper to taste paprika for garnish

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Ingredients 6 hardboiled eggs 400 g sausage meat 1/2 tsp dried basil & thyme 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt 2 tsp pepper 2 beaten eggs plain flour for coating oil for frying

Stuffing #2 /3 cup mayonnaise 11/2 tsp curry powder 1 tsp dry mustard 1 /3 cup of milk capsicum strips or parsley for garnish 1

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5. Ensure each egg is dry by using a paper towel.

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6. Roll egg lightly in flour.

1. Cut each shelled egg in half and carefully scoop out the yolk. 2. Mash the yolks with a fork, along with the other stuffing ingredients of your choice. You can mash it until it is smooth or leave slightly lumpy.

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3. Divide the mixture into six portions.

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7. Use a portion of sausage mixture to shape a coating completely around the egg.

3. Spoon the mixture back into the egg white.

8. Roll in flour again, dip in beaten egg then roll in breadcrumb mixture.

5. Garnish according to the stuffing recipe before serving.

4. Store in fridge

9. Repeat process with each egg.

10. Heat oil in frypan and fry eggs, turning frequently until golden all over. 11. Drain on paper towels. 12. Store in fridge. Serve cut in half with favourite mustard, chutney or sauce.

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An Aussie Easter

Ridgy-didge bits ’n’ pieces An Easter play – Pages 73–75 Indicators • Demonstrates clear, expressive speech. • Learns lines. • Follows script to speak on cue.

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Worksheet information • Before working on the play, establish what is already known by the students about the story of Easter. Explain that it is the most important of all the Christian feasts, the belief upon which the whole religion is based. • Discuss the ways in which students might practise ‘spiritual spring cleaning’ at home, in school and in the wider community. • Discuss the commercial aspect of Easter and how it is related to the true meaning of Easter. • Read through the script and explain any words or concepts that students are unfamiliar with. • It may be helpful to draw up a time line of the period to include all the days and to research Jesus’s 40 day fast in the desert. • Explain the layout of the script with stage directions and character responses indicating the mood in which the character speaks. • Presentation of the play can be simple or elaborate. – The numbers of readers could be reduced with each student reading more than one section. The remaining students could perform tableaux at the side of the stage to match the readings. Further research into the story of Easter may be required to present more authentic tableaux. Costumes and props for the tableaux could also be made. – Ensure students are always positioned so they speak out to the audience and not into the stage.

Indicator • Reads a story relating to Easter.

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Worksheet information • This story should be used with discretion, particularly with younger children who believe in the Easter Bunny. • This text can be used: – as an oral reading activity with a small group of children chosen to read the parts – to motivate students to write other imaginative Easter stories using a standard narrative format – as a comprehension exercise with teacher-made questions for the students to answer – to highlight words which follow specific spelling rules or patterns – to highlight correct grammar and punctuation patterns.

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An Easter play

Page 1:3

Scene 1 A teacher is talking to his class about some research they are about to do in the library. Mr Novak: Listen up everyone. We’re going to be presenting an assembly about Easter to the rest of the school. We’ll start with each group researching a particular day relating to Lent and Holy Week. (Takes seven sheets of paper from a folder and reads from each one.)

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Mr Novak: The days are: Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Simon:

Please, sir, Lent isn’t a day.

Simon:

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Mr Novak: Quite right Simon. Would you like to tell everyone what it is? (nervously) Yes, er, well, it’s ... er the time before Easter but I can’t remember how long. I just know because last year my mum gave up sugar in her tea for Lent and when Easter Sunday came she was allowed to have it again ... but she almost spat it out because it was too sweet. She doesn’t take sugar in anything now.

Mr Novak: Thank you for that, Simon. I’ll put your group down to find out about Lent, shall I? (Mr. Novak distributes all the papers.)

Mr Novak: Now remember, I just want a brief explanation of the days ... and Lent ... and how the Easter symbols we know today are related to them. Organise your information so that everyone has a little bit to say. When you’ve finished, we’ll come together and talk about how Easter is important to Christians today.

Off you go now and remember to work quietly.

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Children exit stage left. Mr Novak exits stage right.

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Children and Mr Novak return to stage.

Mr Novak: So, how did we go? Children:

(Muttering.) Fine, sir. OK. Not bad.

Mr Novak: I’m sure you’ve done really well. Now put yourselves in order and we’ll go once through to see what we’ve got. Short discussion as children arrange themselves in the correct order. Reader 1:

For Christians, Lent is a time to think about their lives over the past year and to reflect on how well they have followed the teachings of Christ and how they could improve. It’s a sort of spiritual spring cleaning. It reminds them of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before he rode into Jerusalem.

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An Aussie Easter

An Easter play

Page 2:3

Reader 2: In the olden days, people used to prepare for Easter by fasting during Lent. They couldn’t give up food completely, but they ate only enough to keep them alive … no rich fancy foods or special treats. Reader 3: On Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins, people cleared their food cupboards of anything they weren’t allowed to eat during Lent such as butter and eggs. They used all of these ingredients to make a special feast before the fasting began. For many years now, pancakes have been the traditional food to eat on Shrove Tuesday as they include butter and eggs in the recipe.

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Reader 4: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, about six weeks before Easter. On this day, some Christians attend a church service at which the minister marks an ash cross on their foreheads and reminds them to turn their backs on sin and follow the word of the Gospel.

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Reader 5: The ash used at the Ash Wednesday service comes from the burning of the palms which were used at the previous year’s Palm Sunday service. Reader 6: Palm Sunday was when Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey and people threw down palms to make a pathway for him.

Reader 7: The people were happy to see Jesus because they believed he was the king who was going to drive the Roman army out of the Holy Land.

Reader 8: Lots of things happened on Maundy Thursday. Jesus and his 12 special friends, called the apostles, had their last meal together. Christians call this the Last Supper.

Reader 9: It was at this meal that Judas, one of the friends, slipped out and told the Romans where they could find Jesus. For this information, he was paid 30 pieces of silver.

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Reader 10: The Romans had heard that Jesus was calling himself the Son of God, which they thought was blasphemy. They believed he should be punished for this. Reader 11: None of his friends knew what was going to happen next but Jesus did and he was very sad. He went outside to pray to his father in Heaven. Led by Judas, this is where the Romans found him.

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Reader 12: Judas realised too late what a dreadful thing he had done, trading a good friend for money. He went away and killed himself. Reader 13: On Good Friday, Jesus appeared in court and, although he was acquitted by the judge, the crowd wanted him convicted. They began to riot so the judge let them take Jesus and do what they wanted to him. They wanted to crucify him. Reader 14: They placed a crown of thorns on his head and made him carry the cross on which he was to be hanged, to a place called Calvary, outside the city walls. When he arrived at Calvary, he was nailed to the cross by his hands and feet. When he was dead, his body was taken down and placed in a tomb. Reader 15: The hot cross buns we eat at Easter time are to remind us that Jesus died on the cross. In years gone by, they were only available on Good Friday but now they are in the shops for much longer. 74

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An Easter play

Page 3:3

Reader 16: In times past, Christians were not allowed to eat meat on Fridays so they used to eat fish instead. Today, Good Friday is the only day in the year when Christians are supposed to not eat meat. Reader 17: On the Sunday morning, two women went to the tomb to attend to Jesus’s body, but it was not there. Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead. During the 40 days after Easter, it is said that he appeared many times to his friends before returning to his father in Heaven on Ascension Day.

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Reader 18: By dying on the cross, it is believed that Jesus paid the price for all the sins of humankind and, with his resurrection, people now have the chance of a new life, following the word of God. Eggs and fluffy chicks are symbols of new life that represent this belief.

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Reader 19: On Easter Sunday all the fasting was over and people could indulge in all those things they had fasted from during Lent. Today, Easter Sunday is the day when we give chocolate Easter eggs as special treats. Reader 20: Simnel cake is a light fruit cake with a marzipan layer on the top and in the middle. Eleven round marzipan balls are placed around the edge of the cake. These are supposed to represent the apostles who were left after Judas betrayed Jesus. Mr Novak: (staring silently for a few moments at the children) What can I say? You have explained it all. We’ll add a short introduction and conclusion but there’s no need to change anything. Well done class. I’m most impressed!

What about what Easter means to Christians today, sir?

I’m not sure, sir, but when you hear the story of Easter and all the pain and suffering Jesus went through, it sort of makes you feel guilty for not always being good.

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Simon:

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Mr. Novak: Of course, Simon. Any suggestions?

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Mr. Novak: I do understand what you mean, Simon, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Nobody’s perfect. Harry:

Sir, is it like you know the rules of how to behave and live properly but even though you might try your best you don’t always get it right, so you say sorry?

Mr. Novak: Yes, that’s the sort of thing, Harry. Sally:

Easter’s like spring cleaning and New Year’s resolutions isn’t it, sir. You clear out all the bad stuff from your heart and promise to make a real effort to do better next year.

Mr. Novak: That’s a lovely way of putting it, Sally. Any more ideas from anyone … ? www.ricpublications.com.au

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An Aussie Easter

Believing is seeing

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‘But what about things you can’t see!’ echoed the little voice in her head. ‘You can’t see love, but you know that your parents love you. So you must believe that it exists. You can’t see the wind, but you can see what it does. So it must exist.’

‘Did you make an Easter basket at school this year?’, Mum asked 10-year-old Hannah.

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As Hannah washed her hands and ate dinner, she thought about what Mum had said. She really was too old to believe in the Easter Bunny. It was fine for little kids to believe. She wasn’t going to spoil things for her little brother and sister but she knew better. They’d find out soon enough when they got older. It was better to believe in things you could see — real things.

‘That’s different’, thought Hannah. ‘That’s still real stuff. Who would honestly believe that some big fluffy rabbit runs around hiding eggs for every kid in the world?’

just not possible!’, she finally declared. © R. I . C.P‘It’s ub l i cat i ons Early the next morning, Hannah and her family packed the their Easter •f orr evi ew p ur p os ecar sforo nl y•

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‘Didn’t you like making them?’, Mum asked. ‘You usually like making things.’ ‘Yes, I guess, it’s just that it’s not real! Is it? It’s just make-believe for little kids so that they don’t know that their mum and dad buy the eggs and hide them’, said Hannah.

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‘What’s so wrong about make-believe?, countered Mum. ‘Its not much fun being sensible or practical all the time. What about all the great people who did things just because they believed that they could? Imagine how many things wouldn’t have been invented or created if people didn’t believe.’ ‘That’s different’, replied Hannah. ‘Is it?’, queried Mum. ‘Go and wash your hands. Dinner will be ready soon.’ 76

An Aussie Easter

camping trip. They were going to spend four days in the bush at their favourite spot near the river. They planned to fish, bushwalk along the trails and swim in the river. The camping spot was a popular one so other families used it as well, which meant that there were always lots of new kids to get to know and hang out with. Meals cooked over the camp stove and eaten in the fresh autumn air always seemed to taste better. Maybe this year, they’d even roast marshmallows again over a real campfire.

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‘Sure’, Hannah grumbled. ‘Mrs Charles likes making crafty things so we had to make lots of stuff — a card, an Easter Bunny, an Easter Bilby and a basket. We even had to make some ‘churchy’ stuff.’

On Good Friday morning, Hannah and her family arrived at the camping spot and set up their tent, camp beds and sleeping bags. They stacked their cases in their corner of the tent and stored the food in a safe place and put out the table, chairs and stove. Hannah made friends with Jada and her family and the two girls were soon exploring the river bank and surrounding R.I.C. Publications®

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Believing is seeing camping area. After lunch, the weather had warmed up enough to venture into the river for a swim and a paddle in the kayak. ‘That’s funny,’ thought Mum as she prepared the rolls for the barbecue. ‘I thought I’d packed more vegetables than this.’

On Easter Sunday, when Hannah and her brother and sister woke up, there were chocolate eggs on the end of their camp beds. There was even a trail of little eggs leading out of the tent and into the bush from Hannah’s camp bed.

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‘That’s odd’, thought Hannah. ‘Mum’s usually so organised. She writes enough lists to sink a battleship.’

‘This year the rangers have opened up a new section’, Dad explained as they trudged along. ‘They’ve put up barriers to protect regeneration areas and signposts to identify special trees and places. There’s supposed to be a sacred Aboriginal site up here as well. Who knows we might even see a bunyip or two’, he joked.

As her brother and sister ran to show Mum and Dad their goodies, Hannah quickly dressed, put on her socks and shoes and began to track the trail of tiny eggs into the bush.

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On Saturday, the whole family placed sandwiches, water bottles, sunscreen and insect repellent in their backpacks, donned their hats and set out along the marked trail. It was the longest one in the area and it meandered and twisted through the bush and up the mountain where a spectacular view of the area could be seen.

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‘Funny,’ thought Hannah as she studied the holes in the ground, ‘they don’t look like any animal holes I’ve ever seen before either.’

‘Mum and Dad have gone to a lot of trouble this Easter’, she thought to herself as she trekked along in the early morning air. But then she remembered the missing vegetables and the strange-looking holes in the ground. And wasn’t it odd how her brother and sister hadn’t noticed the trail of eggs from her camp bed?

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‘Hey, Dad! Look at this!’ yelled Tanner, Hannah’s younger brother, as he pointed to a group of holes hidden in the bush. ‘What sort of animal lives in a hole like this? A snake? It’s fairly big. Maybe it’s a wombat hole!’ ‘It could be,’ replied Dad, ‘but I didn’t think there were wombats in this area. Maybe the ranger will know. Take a picture and we’ll ask him.’ www.ricpublications.com.au

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When they finally reached the viewing area, they all agreed that the climb had been worth it. They found a comfortable spot to rest while they ate and drank and rested their legs. Mum even drifted off to sleep while Dad kept an eagle eye on the children as they poked around investigating.

apart as she rounded a curve in the trail. Noone could be seen and it was quiet and still all around. Suddenly, she heard a rustling behind her to the left. She spun around just in time to see a large fluffy tail disappearing into the bush.

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For an instant she wanted to rush after the animal, but then she thought, ‘People say that seeing is believing, but maybe it really should be “Believing is seeing” instead.’

An Aussie Easter

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