Harmony Week (previously known as Harmony Day) is celebrated in Australia during March. It is about celebrating cultural diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness of all Australians.
The main message of Harmony Week is, everyone belongs in our Australian society.
The message of Harmony Week is such an important one to teach the next generation, and it is no surprise that teachers all over Australia are looking for ways to implement lessons about this message in their classrooms. To help Aussie teachers plan some relevant and meaningful learning experiences in relation to Harmony Week we have listed a few age-appropriate ways to integrate the core themes into your lessons (although these ideas can be used in classrooms worldwide too):
Kindergarten / Prep / Foundation
Trace your students hands or use a template, ask students to decorate their hand and then display them in your classroom or on your classroom door as a welcome.Â
Grade 1 & 2
Discuss the idea of ‘Everyone belongs’ and then give each student a heart with the word Harmony inside it. Ask them to decorate it in any way. Then come together to discuss how each heart is different, and has its own special features. Grab your free template here.
Grade 3 & 4
Complete a Y chart about Harmony: What does it look like, sound like and feel like? OR Engage students in a mini research project using a flipbook.
Grade 5 & 6
Ask students to write a recipe for Harmony. Encourage them to consider what is needed to create a harmonious society and how they as individuals can contribute. OR Engage students in the Harmony Day Project – a series of 24 mini projects for students to complete around the themes and values of Harmony Week.
We also share a range of picture books you could use in your classroom, for Harmony Day including:
- This Love by Isabel Otter and Harriet Lynas
- I’m Australian Too by Mem Fox
- Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
- The Hueys in the New Jumper by Oliver Jeffers
- We are All Equal by P Crumble and Jonathan Bentley
- I am Love by Susan Verde and Peter H Reynolds
- A New Alphabet for Humanity by Leesa McGregor and Daniela Sosa
Need more help planning Harmony Day / Harmony Week celebrations? We have got you covered. This free guide is for teachers and lists a range of simple yet effective activities to teach your students about the core meaning and values of Harmony Week in Australia.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a teacher friend.Â
Rainbows ahead,
Ashleigh and Alisha
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- FREE Harmony Day lesson ideas eBook
- Free Harmony Mini Hearts
- Harmony Day Flipbook
- The Harmony Day Project
- I’m Australian Too Book Study – Grades 1 & 2
- I’m Australian Too Book Study – Grades 3 & 4
- Books for Harmony Day blog post
Start your free trial at Amplify Music Education
