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English Unit: Yahoo Creek: An Australian Mystery by Tohby Riddle
3 4 5 6 Primary + Unit Plans Unit Plans English Text Structure & Organisation Interacting with Others Creating Texts Language for Interacting With Others 94 Pages

English Unit: Yahoo Creek: An Australian Mystery by Tohby Riddle

This five-week persuasive writing unit explores Yahoo Creek: An Australian Mystery by Tohby Riddle, guiding students through the analysis of historical narratives, persuasive devices and source reliability. The unit builds argument structure, critical thinking and authorial voice through structured weekly lessons, creative tasks and differentiated activities tailored for Years 3–6. Students explore multiple perspectives, plan and draft persuasive texts, revise and edit for clarity and impact and present their final arguments using a range of formats—supported by graphic organisers, sentence scaffolds and peer feedback to ensure curriculum-aligned skill development and meaningful engagement with historical inquiry.

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Learning goals

  • We are learning to identify stages and phases of texts and to understand how authors adapt text structure and language features to express humour, persuasion and other effects.
  • We are learning to plan, rehearse and deliver multimodal presentations for specific audiences and purposes sequenced logically in an organised manner, with appropriate features of voice and relevant information, arguments and facts from reliable sources.
  • We are learning to re-read and edit texts for appropriate meaning, structure, grammatical choices and punctuation.
  • We are learning to understand the structures and language features of text types, such as simple narratives, procedures, persuasive texts and information reports.
  • We are learning to plan, rehearse and deliver presentations in an organised manner with relevant facts and description from reliable sources.
  • We are learning to understand the structures and language features of text types, such as narratives, procedures, explanations, discussions, persuasive texts and information reports.
  • We are learning to plan, rehearse and deliver multimodal presentations for specific audiences and purposes sequenced logically in an organised manner with appropriate features of voice and relevant facts from reliable sources.
  • We are learning to plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts using text structures and language features appropriate to the audience and purpose.
  • We are learning to plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts with correct text structure, language features and grammatical features and incorporating research from a range of sources.
  • We are learning to plan, create, edit and publish imaginative, informative, persuasive and multimodal texts with correct text structure, grammar, punctuation, language features, images and sound appropriate for the purpose and the audience.
  • We are learning to plan, create, edit and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts with correct text structure, tense, language features, vivid vocabulary, punctuation, spelling and images.
  • We are learning to use different language features and structures of a variety of text types relevant to their purpose.
  • We are learning to recognise that capital letters signal proper nouns and commas are used to separate items in lists.
  • We are learning to plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts using text structures and language features appropriate to the audience and purpose.
  • We are learning to use software, e.g. MS Word or PowerPoint to plan, sequence, compose and edit multimodal texts featuring visual, print and audio elements.
  • We are learning to plan and deliver oral or multimodal short presentations, providing some key details in logical sequence.
  • We are learning to understand the structures and language features of text types, such as simple narratives, procedures, persuasive texts and information reports.
  • We are learning to plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts with correct text structure, language features and grammatical features, and incorporate research from a range of sources.
  • We are learning to re-read and revise written texts and to edit texts for clarity, structure, grammatical and spelling accuracy.
  • We are learning to identify the features of online texts, including chapters, headings, subheadings, home pages and sub pages and how they assist with navigation.
  • We are learning to plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative, persuasive and multimodal texts with correct text structure, language features, images and sound appropriate for the purpose and the audience.
  • We are learning to re-read and edit work using knowledge of text structures and language features.
  • We are learning to use software, e.g. MS Word or PowerPoint proficiently to construct, edit and publish multimodal texts featuring visual, print and audio elements.
  • We are learning to plan, rehearse and deliver presentations for specific audiences and purposes in an organised manner with multimodal elements and relevant facts from reliable sources.
  • We are learning to understand how authors innovate on texts and use language features of texts to express humour, persuasion and other effects.
  • We are learning to plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts with correct text structure, language features and images for purpose and the audience.
  • We are learning to re-read and edit work using agreed criteria and to explain our editing choices.
  • We are learning to use software, e.g. MS Word or PowerPoint, learning new functions as required to create texts.
  • We are learning to plan, rehearse and deliver appropriately sequenced multimodal presentations for specific audiences and purposes.
  • We are learning to create and edit texts by experimenting with figurative language, story lines, characters and settings.
  • We are learning to describe the ways in which a text reflects the time and place in which it was created.

Curriculum alignment

AC9E6LY07 9 Plan, create, rehearse and deliver spoken and multimodal presentations that include information, arguments and details that develop a theme or idea, organising ideas using precise topic-specific and technical vocabulary, pitch, tone, pace, volume, and visual and digital features AC9E5LE05 9 Create and edit literary texts, experimenting with figurative language, storylines, characters and settings from texts students have experienced AC9E5LY01 9 Describe the ways in which a text reflects the time and place in which it was created AC9E5LY06 9 Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, developing ideas using visual features, text structure appropriate to the topic and purpose, text connectives, expanded noun groups, specialist and technical vocabulary, and punctuation including dialogue punctuation AC9E6LA03 9 Explain how texts across the curriculum are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases depending on purposes, recognising how authors often adapt text structures and language features AC9E3LY07 9 Plan, create, rehearse and deliver short oral and/or multimodal presentations to inform, express opinions or tell stories, using a clear structure, details to elaborate ideas, topic-specific and precise vocabulary, visual features, and appropriate tone, pace, pitch and volume AC9E4LA03 9 Identify how texts across the curriculum have different language features and are typically organised into characteristic stages depending on purposes AC9E4LY07 9 Plan, create, rehearse and deliver structured oral and/or multimodal presentations to report on a topic, tell a story, recount events or present an argument using subjective and objective language, complex sentences, visual features, tone, pace, pitch and volume AC9E5LA03 9 Describe how spoken, written and multimodal texts use language features and are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases, depending on purposes in texts AC9E5LY07 9 Plan, create, rehearse and deliver spoken and multimodal presentations that include relevant, elaborated ideas, sequencing ideas and using complex sentences, specialist and technical vocabulary, pitch, tone, pace, volume, and visual and digital features AC9E3LY06 9 Plan, create, edit and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive written and multimodal texts, using visual features, appropriate form and layout, with ideas grouped in simple paragraphs, mostly correct tense, topic-specific vocabulary and correct spelling of most high-frequency and phonetically regular words AC9E4LY06 9 Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, using visual features, relevant linked ideas, complex sentences, appropriate tense, synonyms and antonyms, correct spelling of multisyllabic words and simple punctuation AC9E6LY06 9 Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, using paragraphs, a variety of complex sentences, expanded verb groups, tense, topic-specific and vivid vocabulary, punctuation, spelling and visual features AC9E3LA03 9 Describe how texts across the curriculum use different language features and structures relevant to their purpose ACELY1695 8.4 Re-read and edit for meaning by adding, deleting or moving words or word groups to improve content and structure ACELY1677 8.4 Plan and deliver short presentations, providing some key details in logical sequence ACELY1700 8.4 Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations for defined audiences and purposes incorporating accurate and sequenced content and multimodal elements ACELA1518 8.4 Understand how authors often innovate on text structures and play with language features to achieve particular aesthetic, humorous and persuasive purposes and effects ACELY1707 8.4 Use a range of software including word processing programs with fluency to construct, edit and publish written text, and select, edit and place visual, print and audio elements ACELY1714 8.4 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, choosing and experimenting with text structures, language features, images and digital resources appropriate to purpose and audience ACELY1705 8.4 Re-read and edit student’s own and others’ work using agreed criteria for text structures and language features ACELY1697 8.4 Use a range of software including word processing programs to construct, edit and publish written text, and select, edit and place visual, print and audio elements ACELY1704 8.4 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive print and multimodal texts, choosing text structures, language features, images and sound appropriate to purpose and audience ACELA1490 8.4 Understand how texts vary in complexity and technicality depending on the approach to the topic, the purpose and the intended audience ACELY1694 8.4 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts containing key information and supporting details for a widening range of audiences, demonstrating increasing control over text structures and language features ACELY1715 8.4 Re-read and edit students’ own and others’ work using agreed criteria and explaining editing choices ACELY1685 8.4 Use software including word processing programs with growing speed and efficiency to construct and edit texts featuring visual, print and audio elements ACELA1478 8.4 Understand how different types of texts vary in use of language choices, depending on their purpose and context (for example, tense and types of sentences) ACELA1797 8.4 Investigate how the organisation of texts into chapters, headings, subheadings, home pages and sub pages for online texts and according to chronology or topic can be used to predict content and assist navigation. ACELY1717 8.4 Use a range of software, including word processing programs, learning new functions as required to create texts ACELY1710 8.4 Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements for defined audiences and purposes, making appropriate choices for modality and emphasis ACELA1504 8.4 Understand how texts vary in purpose, structure and topic as well as the degree of formality ACELY1682 8.4 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts demonstrating increasing control over text structures and language features and selecting print,and multimodal elements appropriate to the audience and purpose ACELY1683 8.4 Re-read and edit texts for meaning, appropriate structure, grammatical choices and punctuation ACELY1689 8.4 Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations incorporating learned content and taking into account the particular purposes and audiences
EN2-3A old Uses effective handwriting and publishes texts using digital technologies EN3-5B old Discusses how language is used to achieve a widening range of purposes for a widening range of audiences and contexts EN2-8B old Identifies and compares different kinds of texts when reading and viewing and shows an understanding of purpose, audience and subject matter EN2-2A old Plans, composes and reviews a range of texts that are more demanding in terms of topic, audience and language EN3-3A old Uses an integrated range of skills, strategies and knowledge to read, view and comprehend a wide range of texts in different media and technologies EN3-2A old Composes, edits and presents well-structured and coherent texts EN3-1A old Communicates effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes using increasingly challenging topics, ideas, issues and language forms and features EN3-7C old Thinks imaginatively, creatively, interpretively and critically about information and ideas and identifies connections between texts when responding to and composing texts EN2-6B old Identifies the effect of purpose and audience on spoken texts, distinguishes between different forms of English and identifies organisational patterns and features EN3-OLC-01 new Communicates to wide audiences with social and cultural awareness, by interacting and presenting, and by analysing and evaluating for understanding EN3-RECOM-01 new Fluently reads and comprehends texts for wide purposes, analysing text structures and language, and by monitoring comprehension EN2-UARL-01 new Identifies and describes how ideas are represented in literature and strategically uses similar representations when creating texts EN2-HANDW-02 new Uses digital technologies to create texts EN2-SPELL-01 new Selects, applies and describes appropriate phonological, orthographic and morphological generalisations and strategies when spelling in a range of contexts EN2-OLC-01 new Communicates with familiar audiences for social and learning purposes, by interacting, understanding and presenting EN2-CWT-03 new Plans, creates and revises written texts for persuasive purposes, using text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language for a target audience EN2-CWT-02 new Plans, creates and revises written texts for informative purposes, using text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language for a target audience EN2-CWT-01 new Plans, creates and revises written texts for imaginative purposes, using text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language for a target audience EN2-VOCAB-01 new Builds knowledge and use of Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary through interacting, wide reading and writing, and by defining and analysing words EN2-RECOM-01 new Reads and comprehends texts for wide purposes using knowledge of text structures and language, and by monitoring comprehension EN3-VOCAB-01 new Extends Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary through interacting, wide reading and writing, morphological analysis and generating precise definitions for specific contexts EN3-CWT-01 new Plans, creates and revises written texts for multiple purposes and audiences through selection of text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language EN3-SPELL-01 new Automatically applies taught phonological, orthographic and morphological generalisations and strategies when spelling in a range of contexts, and justifies spelling strategies used to spell unfamiliar words EN3-HANDW-01 new Sustains a legible, fluent and automatic handwriting style EN3-HANDW-02 new Selects digital technologies to suit audience and purpose to create texts EN3-UARL-01 new Analyses representations of ideas in literature through narrative, character, imagery, symbol and connotation, and adapts these representations when creating texts EN3-UARL-02 new Analyses representations of ideas in literature through genre and theme that reflect perspective and context, argument and authority, and adapts these representations when creating texts
VCELY359 Reread and edit own and others’ work using agreed criteria and explaining editing choices VCELY329 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive print and multimodal texts, choosing text structures, language features, images and sound appropriate to purpose and audience VCELY358 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, choosing and experimenting with text structures, language features, images and digital resources appropriate to purpose and audience VCELY361 Use a range of software, including word processing programs, learning new functions as required to create texts VCELY367 Participate in formal and informal debates and plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements for defined audiences and purposes, making appropriate choices for modality and emphasis VCELA339 Understand how authors often innovate on text structures and play with language features to achieve particular aesthetic, humorous and persuasive purposes and effects VCELY267 Reread and edit texts for meaning, appropriate structure, grammatical choices and punctuation VCELY269 Use software including word processing programs with growing speed and efficiency to construct and edit texts featuring visual, print and audio elements VCELY338 Participate in informal debates and plan, rehearse and deliver presentations for defined audiences and purposes incorporating accurate and sequenced content and multimodal elements VCELY276 Plan and deliver short presentations, providing some key details in logical sequence, using appropriate tone, pace, pitch and volume VCELY332 Use a range of software including word processing programs to construct, edit and publish written text, and select, edit and place visual, print and audio elements VCELY330 Reread and edit own and others’ work using agreed criteria for text structures and language features VCELA277 Identify features used in imaginative, informative and persuasive texts to meet the purpose of the text, and understand how texts vary in complexity and technicality depending on the approach to the topic, the purpose and the intended audience VCELY299 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts containing key information and supporting details for a widening range of audiences, demonstrating increasing control over text structures and language features VCELY300 Reread and edit for meaning by adding, deleting or moving words or word groups to improve content and structure VCELA246 Understand how different types of texts vary in use of language choices, depending on their purpose, audience and context, including tense and types of sentences VCELA310 Investigate how the organisation of texts into chapters, headings, subheadings, home pages and sub pages for online texts and according to chronology or topic can be used to predict content and assist navigation VCELA309 Understand how texts vary in purpose, structure and topic as well as the degree of formality VCELY266 Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts demonstrating increasing control over text structures and language features and selecting print and multimodal elements appropriate to the audience and purpose VCELY308 Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations incorporating learned content and taking into account the particular audiences and purposes such as informative, persuasive and imaginative, including multimodal elements VCELY302 Use a range of software including word processing programs to construct, edit and publish written text, and select, edit and place visual, print and audio elements

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

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