Australian Symbols Teaching Resources

Teaching about Australian symbols in your primary classroom? Explore printable worksheets, digital activities and more created by teachers for teachers like you!

This curriculum-aligned social studies collection is stocked with teaching resources that have been carefully reviewed and selected by experts on our teaching team to ensure every single one is ready for your lesson plans, your classroom and your students!

Looking for more ideas to help explain symbols of Australia to your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a kid-friendly definitions of symbols to share with your class, plus examples of famous Australian symbols that can help you build your lesson plans.

What Is a Symbol? A Kid-Friendly Definition

Before we share our list of Australian symbols for your next lesson, we have a kid-friendly definition for you to explain what a symbol means.

A symbol can be defined as a visual representation or object that stands for something else and carries a special meaning.

We can use symbols to represent ideas, concepts or values that are important to a particular group of people or a country.

Australian Symbols Every Kid Should Learn About

• The Coat of Arms — Explore the shield, kangaroo and emu on the Coat of Arms and explain to your students that the kangaroo and emu were chosen because they are native animals that cannot move backward, symbolising progress.
• The National Anthem — Ensure your students know the words to Advance Australia Fair, and explore the significance of our national anthem in national and international contexts.
• The Australian Flag — Is there any symbol more recognisable or iconic? Explore the history, design and meaning of the Australian flag as a symbol of our country, including the Southern Cross.

Your students will likely recognise the the flag as a symbol of Australia, but do they know what the various stars stand for?

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags —  In addition to our national flag, these flags of First Nations peoples represent an important aspect of Australian society.
• The Commonwealth Star — Seen on our flag — amongst other places — the Commonwealth Star stands out due to its seven points. Each point on this iconic symbol represents one of the six Australian states, with one for the territories.