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Elements of Myth

In this lesson, students will read myths, discuss the elements of this literary form, and dramatize a myth of their choice. They will write scientific, research-based reports, as well as fantastical stories to explain the natural phenomena of the world.

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Performing a Haiku: How can spoken word transform a poem?

In this lesson, students will reflect on small moments of peace or happiness to write an original haiku. Students will demonstrate spoken word to perform a haiku for an audience.

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Character Building

In this teaching activity, students analyse popular characters and methods of characterization used by writers. They apply these methods to create a profile and illustration of an original character. They will then write a short script.

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Aesop’s Fables: Comedy and Tragedy Masks

In this teaching activity, students will explore how characters from fables express their thoughts and feelings in comedy and tragedy plays? The activity encourages insights into human nature and making connections between ancient Greek culture and contemporary cultures.

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Mythological Characters

How do Greek mythological figures inspire modern day characters? In this lesson, students will explore the connection between Greek mythology and modern culture. They will analyse Greek culture, mythological characters, and apply elements of mythology. They will design and paint original mythological characters with watercolours.

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Painting: The Art of Self Expression

How are elements of art and styles expressed through painting? In this K-2 lesson, students will explore elements of art and different artists' techniques to create various styles of paintings. Students will interpret art and describe styles by using key vocabulary terms when discussing paintings.

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Mirror: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support Mirror, a picture story book set in Morocco. It explores themes of family, identity, and cultural interactions. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Robin Morrow.

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Art and Poetry

How are surrealist techniques applied in art and poetry? In this lesson, students will analyse poetic devices in the poems and images of the surrealist movement. They will learn about artists including André Breton, Robert Desnos, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró. Students will write original poems using surrealist techniques.

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The Making of Monsters

In this lesson, students will investigate monsters in film and across cultures. Students will analyse film scores and soundtracks that feature monsters. Students will create original conceptions of a monster to present in a multimedia presentation.

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The Arrival: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the textless graphic novel The Arrival. The book draws its inspiration from tales of migrants in past and recent times. Find themes related to the Australian landscape, colonisation, connection to place, fear, identity, isolation, marginalisation and the migrant experience. ...

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The Boat: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the short story collection The Boat. Identity is a significant theme along with definitions of place, concepts of home, emotional and geographical dislocation, and trust. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Catherine Cole

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Tracks: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the autobiographical account by Robyn Davidson of her journey in the 1970s across 1,700 miles of Australian desert to the sea with four camels and a dog for company. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Tony Birch.

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Character Sketches

What techniques do storytellers use to create characters? In this lesson, students will analyse how a character's personality traits, actions and motives influence the plot of a story. They will use their senses to create character sketches, then dramatize the character for an audience.

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47 Degrees: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support 47 Degrees, an account of the experiences of writer Justin D'Ath during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria. Explore themes of belonging, bravery, community, grief, resilience and the environment. This unit provides practical teaching ideas and an assessment task

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Tell Me I’m Here: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the memoir Tell Me I’m Here. The book is a moving account by writer, broadcaster and filmmaker Anne Deveson of her son’s losing battle with schizophrenia. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Stephanie Dowrick. Teaching activities explore ...

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The Jerilderie Letter: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the text The Jerilderie Letter by Ned Kelly. In the letter Kelly tries to justify his actions, including the murder of three policemen in 1878 at Stringybark Creek. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Germaine Greer.

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While The Billy Boils: Unit of work

Fifty-two of Henry Lawson’s stories and sketches, first published in newspapers and magazines from 1888 onwards, were gathered in the collection While The Billy Boils. This unit focuses on that collection of writing and provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Peter Craven.

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Us Mob Walawurru: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book Us Mob Walawurru. The book is set in the 1960s in an Aboriginal community in Central Australia and follows the life of a young Luritja girl. It explores the cultural challenges faced by both the community members and non-Indigenous people. The story touches on various ...

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Sea Country: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book Sea Country. In this picture book, Aunty Patsy Cameron shares the stories and traditions from her family’s seasonal life on Flinders Island in Tasmania. Find out when to pick ripe wild cherries, when the moon (mutton) birds fly home and how the nautilus shells smell ...

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Staircase to the Moon: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book Staircase to the Moon. This picture book shares a little girl’s imagination as she dreams about journeying to the moon. It is about courage and imagination. This unit includes practical ideas for using this book in your classroom.