LEVEL – Lower primary

FLORAL EMBLEMS

DESCRIPTION In these activities, students learn about the floral emblems of Great Britain. They discuss their own responses to the emblems and explore design elements and features including colours, shapes, lines and their purpose before colouring a picture.

These cross-curriculum activities contribute to the achievement of the following:

Creative and visual arts

• Selects, combines and manipulates images, shapes and forms using a range of skills, techniques and processes.

English

• Interprets and discusses some relationships between ideas, information and events in visual texts for general viewing.

SUGGESTED TIME approximately 15-30 minutes for each activity (this may be customised accordingly)

WHAT YOU NEED • photographs or actual samples of the floral emblem for your state or territory http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/index.html • photographs or actual samples of the floral emblems of Great Britain – Rose (England), Shamrock (Ireland), Thistle (Scotland) and Daffodil (Wales) o http://www.flickr.com/groups/roses/ o http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/shamrock/clusters/green-irish-stpatricksday/ o http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Thistle+ o http://www.flickr.com/groups/daffodilworld/ • copies of Student handout • paint, brushes, markers, crayons, glitter and other art materials

ACTIVITIES

The following activities may be completed independently or combined as part of a more comprehensive learning sequence, lesson or educational program. Please refer to your own state or territory syllabus for more explicit guidelines.

Australia’s floral emblems

1. Show the class a picture or sample of Golden Wattle, along with the floral emblem for your state or territory. Ask the class if anyone has these flowers growing in their garden or local area. Discuss the colours, shapes and other features of the flowers and plants.

• Commonwealth of Australia - Golden Wattle - (Acacia pycnantha) • Australian Capital Territory - Royal Bluebell - (Wahlenbergia gloriosa) • New South Wales - Waratah - (Telopea speciosissima) • Northern Territory - Sturt's Desert Rose - (Gossypium sturtianum) • Queensland - Cooktown Orchid - (Dendrobium phalaenopsis) • South Australia - Sturt's Desert Pea - (Swainsona formosa) • Tasmania - Tasmanian Blue Gum - (Eucalyptus globulus) • Victoria - Common Heath - (Epacris impressa) • Western Australia - Red and Green Kangaroo Paw - (Anigozanthos manglesii)

Rose, Shamrock, Thistle and Daffodil

2. Explain that in many parts of the world, plants and flowers are used as symbols to represent countries. These are known as floral emblems and are often used in clothing, decorations and official ceremonies. Show the class example of the floral emblems of Great Britain – Rose (England), Shamrock (Ireland), Thistle (Scotland) and Daffodil (Wales). Discuss the colours, shapes and other features of the flowers and plants to encourage ideas and discussion. Ask the class to think of ways in which these flowers might be used in London 2012, such as decorating official ceremonies or handing a bunch to athletes after a race.

Distribute art material and work with the class to label and colour each flower, including name and country.

REFLECT ON a.s.p.i.r.e. VALUES

Discuss how painting, drawing and creating art allows you to express yourself. How do floral emblems help you to feel pride for your own country and respect for other countries? What are some situations where the Australian Olympic Team might express themselves?

EXPLORE A LITTLE FURTHER

• Find out more about the floral emblems of great Britain at http://www.woodlands- junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/flowers.html • Develop additional designs and drawings of floral emblems and the Australian Olympic Team and display on the classroom wall. • Invent a simple play or drama for some characters based on each floral emblem. • Collect photos and illustrations of different types of flowers and plants. • Research floral emblems for other countries around the world.

STUDENT HANDOUT