Classroom lesson · Festival · 🇳🇷 Nauru

Nauruan Independence Day

The day Nauru became its own nation — 31 January 1968

Photo · Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

On 31 January 1968, Nauru became an independent republic — its own country with its own government, its own flag, and its own future. This was a momentous day for the Nauruan people, who had been governed by other countries for much of the previous century. Independence Day is now one of the most important celebrations of the year, a time for every Nauruan to feel proud of who they are.

Tell me more

Becoming an independent country is a huge step. It means making your own laws, running your own schools and hospitals, looking after your own coast, and speaking for yourself in the world. For a tiny island of fewer than 15,000 people, that responsibility is enormous — and Nauruans have embraced it with pride.

The Nauruan flag is beautiful and meaningful: a blue background represents the Pacific Ocean, a gold stripe across the middle represents the Equator (which Nauru sits just south of), and a bright white 12-pointed star represents the 12 original tribes of Nauru. Every part of the flag tells part of the story.

On Independence Day, the whole island celebrates together. There are parades, traditional dances, singing, and sports competitions. Government leaders give speeches, schoolchildren perform, and families share food. It is the day Nauruans remind each other — and the world — that even the smallest country has a story worth telling and a future worth building.

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

01What do you think it means for a country to be 'independent'? What responsibilities come with it?
02Nauru's flag is full of meaning — the ocean, the Equator, the 12 tribes. What would you put on a flag to represent your school or community?
03Many countries have independence days. Why do you think people feel so strongly about celebrating the day their country became its own nation?

Try this

Classroom activity

Design a flag for your class. As a group, decide on: one colour for the background (what does it represent?), one symbol (what does your class care about?), and one stripe or shape (what separates your class from others?). Draw it together and write a one-sentence explanation of what each element means.

Nauruan Independence Day

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Discussion prompts

Classroom activity

Other things that make Nauru special

Want your class to meet Nauru?