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A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the novel A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove. The novel explores themes of belonging, coming of age, emotional growth, family, identity and love. This unit provides practical teaching ideas and an assessment task.

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The Art of Taxidermy: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the novel The Art of Taxidermy which is a verse novel about sadness and loss, and the role of art in helping people manage challenges. Themes include connections to the natural world, grief, holding on to the past, relationships and vulnerability. This unit provides practical ...

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The Gathering: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the novel The Gathering. The novel explores themes such as good vs evil, conformity vs individuality, and the nature of friendship. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Ruth Starke.

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By the river: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the verse novel By the River. The novel explores the tough and tender sides of growing up in a small country town with themes such as bullying, coming of age, connection to place, death, grief, identity and small town living. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment ...

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The Divine Wind: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support The Divine Wind novel which evokes an era of Australians caught up in the events of war and its effects. Its themes include coming of age, family, friendship, identity, love, multiculturalism, racism and war. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and ...

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Fox: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the book Fox which is a picture book that explores the themes of betrayal, friendship, jealousy, loneliness, loyalty and wilderness. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Robyn Sheahan-Bright.

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Follow the rabbit-proof fence: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the accounts of the Stolen Generations as told to Doris Pilkington by members of her family in Western Australia in the 1930s. The memoir imagines the historical experiences of Indigenous Australians prior to contact with European colonists and the experiences and consequences ...

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First Tuesday Book Club: Just for girls? Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca'

Gender and its representation is a significant concern for many writers, readers and critics. Some dismissed Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel 'Rebecca' as a romantic novel, but du Maurier insisted that she was exploring deeper issues of jealousy and power in relationships. Explore these different readings in this discussion. ...

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Wuthering Heights: Fantasy and realism

Do you think Wuthering Heights is a fantasy novel? Or is it all too realistic in its descriptions of hardship, cruelty and human frailty? John Bowen, Professor of Literature at York University notes, 'Gothic elements ... haunt the edges of the book.' Yet they never compromise the authenticity of the story. In this clip, ...

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Heywire: Country towns: all drop bears and skate rats?

Why might you use humour when presenting your local community to a national audience? In this Heywire clip, an 'ex-bushranger and survival expert' (in reality Hayden Laube) introduces us to the wilds of Port Pirie. After several adventures including fighting off ferocious wildlife, he reflects on the value of life in a ...

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Jane Eyre: Tapping into childhood

How was childhood depicted in English literature in the mid-nineteenth century? In this clip from The British Library, two experts in the works of the Bronte sisters discuss the manner in which children were regarded in the 1800s and consider the significance of Charlotte Bronte's accounts of childhood in Jane Eyre. This ...

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Jane Eyre: The role of women

What does Jane Eyre tell us about the role of women in 19th century England? Charlotte Bronte's best-known character is, according to Professor John Bowen, an 'assertive heroine ... who speaks the truth'. How does this distinguish her from other women of her time, especially those who serve as governesses? This clip from ...

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Hannie Rayson on writing complex roles for women

Watch as Hannie Rayson describes her early desire to write multidimensional, complex roles for women in her plays. What was this in response to?  Why is it important for audiences to see female characters as well as male characters driving drama in plays? 

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Introduction to Shakespeare: Ten Things I Hate about You

This resource for students is the third in a series of three entitled 'Introduction to Shakespeare', which is mainly based on a study of 'The Taming of the Shrew'. This resource asks students to: write a plot summary of the film; contrast plot flow charts of the play and the film; discuss gender roles in Shakespeare's ...

Interactive

Different views

This resource will encourage students to develop their understanding of the first contact of the Aboriginal people of Kamay Botany Bay and the men aboard the HMB Endeavour in 1770. This resource is one part of the 'Endeavour – eight days in Kamay' resource.

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First Tuesday Book Club: Memory in 'My Place'

Sally Morgan's autobiography, 'My Place', recounts the experiences of the author, her mother and her grandmother. Why do the panellists in this video think it is such an important book? What issues does it address?

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Lifting the lid on Gothic literature

What comes to mind when you think of 'Gothic fiction'? What are some of the characteristics of the genre? In this clip from the British Library, Professor John Bowen from the University of York suggests the Gothic tradition emerged in literature with the publication of Horace Walpole's The Castle of Qtranto in 1764 and ...

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Wuthering Heights: Who is Heathcliff?

Heathcliff is one of the main characters in Emily Bronte's classic novel, Wuthering Heights. As Professor John Bowen from the University of York notes, we know very little about this mysterious character and his apparent contradictions. Ms Bronte offers suggestions about Heathcliff's background but provides few details ...

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David Malouf on violence in literature

Do you think we live in a violent world? Do you agree with David Malouf when he says that violence is everywhere? Should stories reflect what is happening in the world? How do you feel about violence as a theme in literature?

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First Tuesday Book Club: The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' is a dystopian novel set in the fictional Republic of Gilead. What are some hallmarks of dystopian novels? What are some similarities and differences between this novel and another dystopian novel mentioned in this video, Orwell's '1984'?