Christmas

Please click here to return to Year 3 Topics This is about a little boy living in the outback who meets a bearded swagman and who thinks that the old man is Father Christmas. From viewing the movie, still available as a DVD from Amazon.com, children will find out about The film also examines the place of custom and tradition in the lives of immigrants to Australia. The way the British immigrants celebrate Christmas is totally unsuited to the climate and fire hazards of life in the Australian bush. Children could discuss which Christmas customs, symbols and activities are suited to Australian conditions.
 * A useful resource combining the subject Christmas with a look at Australian colonial life is the 1989 movie "Bushfire Moon", also called "Miracle Down Under".
 * Early shops, houses and transport
 * The very real conflict that existed between squatters and selectors/farmers
 * The importance of sheep farming to colonial Australia
 * Water divining
 * Australian farming hazards like dust storms, bushfires and drought

Being made in the 1980s, the film is fairly slow-moving. Taken in little bursts, however, with teaching introduction beforehand and discussion afterwards, it could be used to teach the children many things and to reinforce basic concepts like the meaning of Christmas. || ||

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