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English Unit: Book Unit: Digger
1 2 3 Primary + Unit Plans Resources ANZAC Day Worksheets Unit Plans English Examining Literature Creating Literature Literature & Contexts Engaging With & Responding to Literature History 20 Pages

English Unit: Book Unit: Digger

This book unit is based on the storybook ‘Digger’ written by Mike Dumbleton and illustrated by Robin Cowcher. ‘Digger’ was written as a tribute to the brave Anzacs who fought in World War 1 and the French schoolchildren who tended to their graves.

This unit unpacks the characters within the story, with numerous opportunities to reflect on how life was different in the past. 
 

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Learning goals

  • We are learning to discuss depictions of characters in well-known fairytales, e.g. children in forests, royalty in castles.
  • We are learning to identify features, such as characters and settings, of different literary texts and give reasons for personal preferences.
  • We are learning to understand how authors develop characters, settings and events in a variety of texts.
  • We are learning to understand the celebrations and commemorations in places around the world (for example, Lunar New Year in countries of the Asia region), including those that are observed in Australia (for example, Christmas Day, ANZAC Day, NAIDOC Week, Diwali, Easter, Hanukkah, the Moon Festival and Ramadan).
  • We are learning to describe plot, characters and settings in stories.
  • We are learning to innovate on familiar texts by experimenting with character, setting or plot and by adding prepositional phrases to improve descriptions.
  • We are learning to retell or adapt familiar stories through performance, reciting rhymes, writing, drawing pictures or using technology.
  • We are learning to understand how authors develop characters in texts.
  • We are learning to describe characters, settings and events in different types of literature.
  • We are learning to retell familiar texts through role play, reciting rhymes, drawing pictures or using technology.
  • We are learning to imitate the speech, characteristics or attitudes of familiar characters.
  • We are learning to discuss depictions of characters in print, sound and images which reflect the contexts in which they were created.
  • We are learning to identify aspects of different types of literary texts that entertain and give reasons for personal preferences.
  • We are learning to tell known stories from different points of view, construct sequels and imaginative reconstructions of stories and poetry.
  • We are learning to innovate on familiar texts by experimenting with character, setting or plot.
  • We are learning to understand the days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia (including Australia Day, Anzac Day and National Sorry Day) and the importance of symbols and emblems, e.g. flags.
  • We are learning to understand the celebrations and commemorations in places around the world (for example, Lunar New Year in countries of the Asia region), including those that are observed in Australia (for example, Christmas Day, Diwali, Easter, Hanukkah, the Moon Festival and Ramadan).

Curriculum alignment

AC9E2LE02 9 Identify features of literary texts, such as characters and settings, and give reasons for personal preferences AC9E2LE01 9 Discuss how characters and settings are connected in literature created by First Nations Australian, and wide-ranging Australian and world authors and illustrators AC9E1LE05 9 Orally retell or adapt a familiar story using plot and characters, language features including vocabulary, and structure of a familiar text, through role-play, writing, drawing or digital tools AC9E2LE05 9 Create and edit literary texts by adapting structures and language features of familiar literary texts through drawing, writing, performance and digital tools AC9E1LE03 9 Discuss plot, character and setting, which are features of stories AC9HS3K02 9 Significant events, symbols and emblems that are important to Australia’s identity and diversity, and how they are celebrated, commemorated or recognised in Australia, including Australia Day, Anzac Day, NAIDOC Week, National Sorry Day, Easter, Christmas, and other religious and cultural festivals AC9E1LE01 9 Discuss how language and images are used to create characters, settings and events in literature by First Nations Australian, and wide-ranging Australian and world authors and illustrators ACHASSK065 8.4 Celebrations and commemorations in places around the world (for example, Chinese New Year in countries of the Asia region, Bastille Day in France, Independence Day in the USA), including those that are observed in Australia (for example, Christmas Day, Diwali, Easter, Hanukkah, the Moon Festival and Ramadan) ACHASSK064 8.4 Days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia (including Australia Day, Anzac Day, and National Sorry Day) and the importance of symbols and emblems ACELT1833 8.4 Innovate on familiar texts by experimenting with character, setting or plot ACELT1593 8.4

Create events and characters using different media that develop key events and characters from literary texts

 ACELT1832 8.4 Innovate on familiar texts by using similar characters, repetitive patterns or vocabulary ACELT1590 8.4 Identify aspects of different types of literary texts that entertain, and give reasons for personal preferences ACELT1587 8.4 Discuss how depictions of characters in print, sound and images reflect the contexts in which they were created ACELT1586 8.4 Recreate texts imaginatively using drawing, writing, performance and digital forms of communication ACELT1584 8.4 Discuss features of plot, character and setting in different types of literature and explore some features of characters in different texts ACELT1581 8.4 Discuss how authors create characters using language and images
EN1-2A old Plans, composes and reviews a small range of simple texts for a variety of purposes on familiar topics for known readers and viewers EN1-10C old Thinks imaginatively and creatively about familiar topics, ideas and texts when responding to and composing texts HT2-1 old Identifies celebrations and commemorations of significance in Australia and the world EN1-11D old Responds to and composes a range of texts about familiar aspects of the world and their own experiences EN1-7B old Identifies how language use in their own writing differs according to their purpose, audience and subject matter HT2-5 old Applies skills of historical inquiry and communication EN1-CWT-01 new Plans, creates and revises texts written for different purposes, including paragraphs, using knowledge of vocabulary, text features and sentence structure EN1-VOCAB-01 new Understands and effectively uses Tier 1, taught Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary to extend and elaborate ideas EN1-OLC-01 new Communicates effectively by using interpersonal conventions and language to extend and elaborate ideas for social and learning interactions EN1-UARL-01 new Understands and responds to literature by creating texts using similar structures, intentional language choices and features appropriate to audience and purpose
VCELT240 Discuss how depictions of characters in print, sound and images reflect the contexts in which they were created VCELT241 Identify aspects of different types of literary texts that entertain, and give reasons for personal preferences VCELT193 Build on familiar texts by using similar characters, repetitive patterns or vocabulary VCELT192 Recreate texts imaginatively using drawing, writing, performance and digital forms of communication VCELT228 Create events and characters using different media that develop key events and characters from literary texts VCELT229 Build on familiar texts by experimenting with character, setting or plot VCELT208 Discuss features of plot, character and setting in different types of literature and compare some features of characters in different texts VCHHK076 Significance of days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia and the importance of symbols and emblems, including Australia Day, ANZAC Day, Harmony Week, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC week and National Sorry Day VCELT205 Discuss how authors create characters using language and images VCHHK077 Significance of celebrations and commemorations in other places around the world VCHHK075 One significant narrative, myths or celebration from the past VCHHC071 Describe the significance of Australian celebrations, symbols and emblems

Australian Curriculum covers QLD / SA / WA / NT / TAS / ACT.

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