Banjo Birthday

Episode 3 Activity 18th February 2014

Banjo Birthday

Key Learning Students will develop a deeper understanding of the life and work of Banjo Paterson.

The Australian Curriculum

English / Language / Language variation and change History / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / The Colonies Understand that the pronunciation, spelling and meanings of The role that a significant individual or group played in shaping words have histories and change over time. (ACELA1500) a colony: for example, explorers, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, Year 5 writers, humanitarians, religious and political leaders, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. (ACHHK097)

Year 5

English / Literacy / Interacting with others

Participate in and contribute to discussions, clarifying and interrogating ideas, developing and supporting arguments, sharing and evaluating information, experiences and opinions(ACELY1709) Year 6

Discussion Questions

1. What song is known as Australia’s “unofficial national anthem”? 2. Where would you see Banjo Paterson’s face most often? 3. What was Banjo Paterson’s real name? 4. Where did his nickname come from? 5. Name two jobs that Banjo Paterson had in his lifetime. 6. What Banjo Paterson poem was made into a movie and a TV series? 7. What inspired a lot of Banjo Paterson’s poetry? 8. What famous person quoted Banjo Paterson when he visited Australia recently? 9. In “Waltzing Matilda” who camps by the Coolibah tree? 10. Why do you think Banjo Paterson’s poetry was so popular?

Activities

Banjo Paterson

Using the information from the BtN story and their own research, students will create a summary of Banjo Paterson’s life.

©ABC 2014 Research questions • What was Banjo Paterson’s full name? • When and where was he born? • What was his cultural heritage? • What jobs did he have? • What are his most well-known works? • What is an interesting fact about Banjo Paterson?

Encourage students to present their research in an interesting way, for example using: • Prezi http://prezi.com/index/ • Glogster http://www.glogster.com/ • Bio Cube Creator http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/cube_creator/

The words of Waltzing Matilda

Students will investigate one of Banjo Paterson’s most well-known pieces of work Waltzing Matilda Read through or listen to Waltzing Matilda by Banjo Paterson. http://www.imagesaustralia.com/waltzingmatilda.htm http://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/sound/sounds-australia/waltzing-matilda/

Swagman Billabong Billy

Waltzing Matilda Jumbuck

Squatter Thoroughbred Troopers

Coolabah tree Tucker-bag Shoved

Ask students to write what they think is the meaning of each word. Swap definitions with a partner and ask them to add to or change the definition. Check these against the dictionary definition or website.

Researching Waltzing Matilda

Working in pairs, students research and prepare a double-page spread as though for a history magazine aimed at the general public about the Banjo Paterson’s song Waltzing Matilda. Encourage students to come up with their own questions to research. Here are some to get them started:

©ABC 2014

Research questions

• What story does the song tell? • How did Banjo Paterson come to write the lyrics of the song? • Who wrote the music?

• What events were happening in Australia around the time Waltzing Matilda was written?

• What do you think Waltzing Matilda tells us about Australia? Do you think it’s

accurate? Explain your answer.

• What role did bush poets like Banjo Paterson play in helping to shape a colony?

Should Waltzing Matilda be Australia’s national anthem?

Waltzing Matilda has been referred to as Australia’s unofficial national anthem. Students will develop an argument for or against the song replacing Advance Australia Fair as Australia’s national anthem. Encourage students to share their persuasive texts with the class.

Structure of a persuasive text

Introduction • What is the point you are trying to argue? Construct an introductory paragraph which states the issue or topic. Tips for persuasive text writing • Introduce the arguments that will be developed in the • Who is your audience? For example body of the text. are you directing your argument at kids, teachers or politicians? Body • Provide facts and evidence to support • Construct arguments that support your point of view. your argument. • Each paragraph starts with a topic sentence which introduces each point. • Be creative with your word choice to enhance your argument. Convey • The rest of the paragraph gives more reasons. emotion using thinking and feeling • Arguments can be ordered from strongest to weakest. words.

• Write in the present tense Conclusion Restate your position on the argument • • Check your spelling and punctuation. Construct a concluding paragraph that provides a • summary of your arguments and a call to action.

Use the read, write, think persuasion map to plan your exposition text.

Further Investigation

Create a portrait of Banjo Paterson or an artwork that shows a scene from Waltzing Matilda. Encourage students to explore and experiment with different techniques and media to produce their artwork. These could include painting, drawing, photography, collage or mixed media.

Australian Dictionary of Biography –Banjo Paterson http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/paterson-andrew-barton-banjo-7972

National Film and Sound Archives – Waltzing Matilda recordings http://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/sound/sounds-australia/waltzing-matilda/

Australian Geographic – Banjo Paterson http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2012/02/on-this-day-in-history-banjo-paterson- was-born/

ABC Splash - The story behind Waltzing Matilda http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/104760/the-story-of-waltzing-matilda-and-winton

Civics and Citizenship - Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/paterson,34824.html National Film and Sound Archive – Biography Banjo Paterson http://www.nfsa.gov.au/site_media/uploads/file/2011/01/17/biograph_patterson.pdf