The goodbye

• Ask students to watch the clip carefully and name all the people Michaelis has to say goodbye to before he leaves. Make a list on the board before beginning the lotus-diagram activity below.

• A lotus diagram is a graphic organiser based on developing higher-order thinking when observing a scene from a movie. The lotus diagram in Student Activity Sheet H5.8 provides students with scope to tease out ideas on what they observe.
• The lotus diagram used in this activity asks students to observe the characters in the clip and how they react to Michaelis leaving for war. It allows students to delve deeper into each character's thoughts, feelings and motivations.

Student Activity Sheet H5.8: A lotus diagram

• Propaganda posters are wonderful examples of how governments encouraged people to support the war effort. Posters were also used by other groups to protest against the horrors of war.
• Ask students to research the websites listed below and discuss the differences between war poster designs from the First and Second World Wars and the Vietnam War.

1. Australia and the Vietnam War, http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au
2. Anzac Day, http://www.anzacday.org.au
3. World War Pictures, http://www.world-war-pictures.com
4. National Archives of Australia, http://www.naa.gov.au
5. First World War, http://www.firstworldwar.com

• Ask students to research the war posters produced by Vietnamese artists during the 'American War'. Ask them to evaluate the different messages from each side that the posters portray.

• Ask students to design and construct a poster commemorating all of the wars that Australians have fought in. This design could highlight propaganda for or against war.

Student Activity Sheet H5.9: Propaganda posters

• Ask students to find other symbols of peace recognised around the world.

• Ask students to write a letter of protest to the local newspaper on behalf of Michaelis's family, asking for the war in Vietnam to be stopped and the troops sent home. In the letter, students should outline their concerns about the validity of the war and its cost to the Australian people. Have students sign the letter with a symbol of peace.
• Alternatively, ask students to write a poem or song lyrics protesting the war in Vietnam.
• They should share their work with the class.

Student Activity Sheet H5.10: I protest!

• As a class, discuss the emotional context of the scene and respond to these questions:

1. What mood does the scene create for the viewer?
2. How does the filmmaker do this? Look at the use of the camera and the body language to construct the feelings as everyone says goodbye to Michaelis.
3. Discuss how students think the adults are feeling in this scene, particularly Michaelis's mother and Janice.
4. What is the fear of people going off to fight a war? Listen to the background sounds and discuss the purpose of the emergency sirens heard.
5. Why do you think the filmmaker added these sounds to the scene?
6. What does sound contribute to the emotional context here?

• As a class, discuss the music in the scene as the taxi drives away and describe the mood.

• Drawing on information gained from earlier research on the Vietnam War, have students write a letter from Michaelis to his family after he has arrived in Vietnam. They should use visual imagery to describe the country. Have students think about the following questions in writing this letter:

1. How would Michaelis be feeling?
2. What sort of things would he want to share with his family to make them feel he was happy and safe?

Student Activity Sheet E5.7: Saying goodbye

• Janice draws attention to the badge on Michaelis's hat. Ask students if they know what the badge means and, if necessary, explain that it is a peace symbol. Discuss the peace badge; what does it mean? Draw attention to the way the filmmaker has used the camera to keep the audience focused on the badge in this sequence.
• Ask students to respond to the following questions:

1. Why does Janice advise Michaelis to remove the badge?
2. What does this badge tell the audience about Michaelis's views about war?
3. Why is this important to the story?

• The slouch or digger hat is an important Australian symbol. Ask students to research the history of the slouch hat and find out when was it incorporated into the Australian army uniform.
• The peace symbol is universally recognised. Asks students to find out who designed it and what the symbolic elements of this design are. Ask students to find other symbols of peace and compare the symbolism of each.
• Ask students to design a symbol of their own. The symbol or logo could represent peace, environmental protection, reconciliation, unity or any other issue they may wish to explore.

Student Activity Sheet E5.8: Symbols