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The Kokoda VR Education Resource This resource is designed to be used in conjunction with the Kokoda VR experience. The focus questions directly relate to the information in each chapter of the experience. The activities following the focus questions allow students to explore in more detail Australia’s involvement in the Kokoda campaign and the impact the campaign had on those involved. Links to the Australian Curriculum are at the end of this resource. Port Moresby: Militia Life in New Guinea Focus Questions 1. On which Australian city did Japan launch a surprise attack on during WWII? 2. Why were reserve forces sent to New Guinea? 3. Where on the Kokoda Track does the action take place in this chapter of the VR experience? Highlight on the map (see map at the end of this resource). 4. Were the Militia professional soldiers? 5. Why were the men in the 39th battalion poorly prepared for war? 6. Why were the militiamen called “chocolate soldiers”? 7. In 1942 New Guinea was a territory of Australia. True or false? 8. Approximately how many militiamen were sent to Port Moresby in December 1941? a. 500 b. 5,000 c. 50,000 9. How did Japan try to take control of Port Moresby? 10. Why was it important for Japan to take control of New Guinea? Owen Stanley Ranges: The Trek to Kokoda Focus Questions 1. Where did the Japanese first land when they arrived in New Guinea? 2. Where on the Kokoda Track does the action take place in this chapter of the VR experience? Highlight on the map. 3. What words would you use to describe the Kokoda Track? 4. How long did the journey take from Owers’ Corner to Kokoda? 5. How do you think the soldiers were feeling about the conditions on the track? 6. How does war correspondent Chester Wilmot describe the conditions? 7. What insight did Jack Manol give about the conditions on the Kokoda Track? 8. What happened on July 28, 1942? ©ABC 2017 Kokoda Plateau: The Battle Begins Focus Questions 1. What was the strategic importance of the Kokoda airfield? 2. The plateau was a strong defensive position. What do you think this means? 3. Who were the Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB)? 4. What were the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit responsible for? 5. Who was killed in the battle at Kokoda Plateau? Isurava: Waiting for Help to Arrive Focus Questions 1. Where on the Kokoda Track does the action take place in this chapter of the VR experience? Highlight on the map. 2. Who was sent to support the Militia? 3. Where had most of Australia’s army been fighting before they were recalled by Australian Prime Minister, John Curtin? 4. Who was Sir Thomas Blamey? 5. What does `digging in’ mean? 6. What did the soldiers use to `dig in’? Myola: Supplies Arrive by Air Focus Questions 1. Where on the Kokoda Track does the action take place in this chapter of the VR experience? Highlight on the map. 2. What were the soldiers waiting for at Myola? 3. How were the supplies delivered? 4. What happened to the supplies that were dropped at Myola? 5. Why was it important for the experienced soldiers to get supplies for the Militia? ©ABC 2017 Isurava: The Battle of Isurava Focus Questions 1. Where on the Kokoda Track does the action take place in this chapter of the VR experience? Highlight on the map. 2. Describe how the Japanese soldiers had an advantage over the Australian troops in terms of their weaponry? 3. Compare the Japanese weaponry to that of the Australian troops. 4. Why was an attack party formed to push the Japanese soldiers back? Kingsbury’s Rock: Bruce Kingsbury, VC Focus Questions 1. What happened to Bruce Kingsbury in the attack to push the Japanese soldiers back? 2. Was the attack successful in pushing them back? 3. What medal was Bruce Kingsbury awarded? 4. The medal is the highest award for __________ in wartime. 5. How does Bob Thompson describe Bruce Kingsbury as a soldier? Jungle Retreat: Importance of Papuan Carriers Focus Questions 1. What does this chapter explain? 2. What were the Papuans recruited to do during the Kokoda campaign? 3. What were the conditions like for the Papuans? 4. Did the Papuan carriers choose to help Australian soldiers? Explain your answer. 5. How did many Australians feel about the work the Papuans did during the campaign? 6. How were Australian soldiers affected by sickness at Kokoda? 7. More Australians died from sickness than in battle. True or false? 8. Which diseases or infections affected Australian and Japanese soldiers? ©ABC 2017 Brigade Hill: A Desperate Stand Focus Questions 1. What difficult task had Brigadier Arnold Potts been given? 2. Why was he criticised? 3. How did Australian soldiers feel about the criticism? Ioribaiwa: Japanese Withdrawal Focus Questions 1. Where on the Kokoda Track does the action take place in this chapter of the VR experience? Highlight on the map. 2. Describe the physical and emotional state of the Japanese soldiers in Ioribaiwa. 3. How far was Port Moresby away from Japanese positions at Ioribaiwa? 4. What was the diet of the Japanese soldiers? 5. Why were Japanese soldiers told to retreat from Ioribaiwa? 6. How did the Japanese soldiers feel when they were told to retreat? Kokoda Village: Retaking Kokoda Focus Questions 1. What did Australian soldiers discover when they reached Kokoda Village? 2. What did the newspaper article in this chapter explain? 3. What did the raising of the flag at Kokoda symbolise on the 3rd November 1942? 4. Describe how the Australians were feeling during the ceremony. ©ABC 2017 Kokoda Memorial: The Plateau Today Focus Questions 1. Why does the Kokoda campaign remain an important symbol to many Australians today? 2. Which country surrendered in August 1945 signalling the end of World War II in the Pacific? 3. Why do thousands of Australians walk the Kokoda Track every year? ©ABC 2017 Australia’s involvement in the Kokoda campaign Students will define and use historical terms and concepts that relate to the Kokoda campaign. Students will gain an understanding of Australia’s involvement in World War II. Class Discussion Discuss with students what they already know about the Kokoda campaign, using the following questions to help guide discussion: • When did the Kokoda campaign happen? • Who was involved? • What images/words come to mind when you think of the Kokoda campaign? Explain your reasoning. Glossary of key terms Students will develop a glossary of historical terms and concepts that relate to the Kokoda campaign. Students will add definitions to the glossary as they come across unfamiliar words throughout the Kokoda VR experience. Students will demonstrate their understanding by writing their own sentences using historical terms and concepts from the glossary. Below are some key terms and concepts: Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Battalion Camouflage Campaign Militia Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) Timeline of main events Students will create a timeline to sequence significant events that led to World War II, significant events during World War II and Australia’s involvement in World War II. 1939, September 1942, February 1945, September Germany invades Poland. Mainland Australia comes under Japan signs surrender World War II begins. attack when Japanese forces agreement, ending war. 3 Sept – Australia enters mount two air raids on Darwin. World War II. ©ABC 2017 Students will work in small groups to work through the following questions to build on their understanding of Australia’s involvement in World War II. Students will find and collect images, photographs, illustrations and video as part of their research. • When did World War II begin and end? • What was Australia’s involvement in World War II? • Why were Australian troops sent to Kokoda? • When did the Kokoda campaign begin and end? • What impacts did the Kokoda campaign have on Australia and its people at the time? Map Students will locate a map that shows Papua New Guinea, Australia and the Western Pacific Ocean. Students will then: • Mark these places on the map – New Guinea, Port Moresby, Owers’ Corner, Owen Stanley Range, Kokoda, Darwin, Victoria and Buna. • Mark an X on Darwin This is where Japan launched a surprise bombing raid on February 19, 1942, killing more than 200 people. • Draw an arrow from Victoria, Australia to Port Moresby, PNG. The 39th battalion was from Victoria. Around 5,000 Militiamen were shipped off to Port Moresby in December 1941. • Highlight Owen Stanley Range The Australians expected a large-scale attack at any time, but they felt pretty safe from attack in the island’s north, with the dense jungle and mountain range of the Owen Stanley Range protecting them. The Owen Stanley Range acts as a barrier between the north and south coasts. The Kokoda track makes its way through the barrier where it is thinnest and where the mountains are lowest in altitude. • Mark an X at Buna On July 21, 1942 Japanese forces land here, and thousands begin making their way to Port Moresby. Further Investigation Students will draw a line to indicate the South West Pacific Area. Students will respond to the following: • Can you think of reasons why Port Moresby might have been strategically important to the Japanese Army? Refer to this Splash resource. Question for inquiry Having experienced the Kokoda VR experience, what questions do your students have about the Kokoda campaign? The following KWLH organiser provides students with a framework to explore their knowledge on this topic and consider what they would like to know and learn. ©ABC 2017 What do I What do I want What have I How will I know? to know? learnt? find out? Students will develop their own question/s for inquiry, collecting and recording information from a wide variety of sources.

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