Supporting the teaching of literature

Explore these Scootle resources focused on teaching literature, including some resources in Auslan and First Nations languages.

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  1. Story Time: Come Over to My House (Auslan)
    Video

    A004477 Story Time: Come Over to My House (Auslan)

    • Published 22/08/2023
    • TLF-ID A004477

    Watch this story told in Auslan that explores the home lives of children and parents who are Deaf or disabled (9 min). Teaching ideas are included on the webpage.

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  2. Story Time: Argh! There's A Skeleton Inside You!
    Video

    A004466 Story Time: Argh! There's A Skeleton Inside You!

    • Published 18/08/2023
    • TLF-ID A004466

    Watch and listen to this story of two aliens, Quog and Oort, who learn all about the science of what's inside our bodies. (6 min) Teaching ideas are included on the webpage.

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  3. Story Time: Open Your Heart to Country
    Video

    A004448 Story Time: Open Your Heart to Country

    • Published 05/03/2024
    • TLF-ID A004448

    Watch and listen to this story about returning and connecting to Country told in two languages, English and Dharug. (4:41 min) Teaching ideas are included on the webpage.

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  4. Engaging students in literature

    M016814 Engaging students in literature

    • Published 18/02/2021
    • TLF-ID M016814

    The teacher librarian acknowledges the importance of incorporating a variety of strategies to engage students in meaningful learning tasks. She works with the library team to plan, implement and evaluate learning tasks that cater for the specific learning needs of a range of children. She values planning with the library team and other teachers to establish the routines, rules and expectations that create shared understandings and responsibility in students.

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  5. How can a traditional folktale be adapted to a play?
    Text

    A003784 How can a traditional folktale be adapted to a play?

    • Published 01/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003784

    In this lesson, students will read and compare Russian folktales. Students will be introduced to the elements of a plot, then become playwrights to write a play about a traditional Russian folktale

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  6. Creating Fictional Characters
    Text

    A003782 Creating Fictional Characters

    • Published 01/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003782

    In this teaching activity, students will examine character as a significant element of fictional stories. They will learn methods of characterization, identify supporting details, and critique these methods in works of fiction.

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  7. Adapting a Musical
    Text

    A003779 Adapting a Musical

    • Published 01/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003779

    How can stories transform into a musical theatre adaptation? In this teaching activity, students will develop a musical from a book, play, or short story. They will bring the story to the stage through movements and song by analysing elements of a story and adopting creative team roles.

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  8. Elements of Myth
    Text

    A003775 Elements of Myth

    • Published 01/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003775

    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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  9. Story Time: Be Careful, Xiao Xin! (English)
    Video

    A004473 Story Time: Be Careful, Xiao Xin! (English)

    • Published 19/03/2024
    • TLF-ID A004473

    Watch and listen to this story about a boy who learns to conquer his fears (7 min). Teaching ideas are included on the page.

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  10. Find advice as to how to help your students learn to creatively critique each other's work
    Text

    A003758 Find advice as to how to help your students learn to creatively critique each other's work

    • Published 28/03/2024
    • TLF-ID A003758

    Find advice as to how to help your students learn to creatively critique each other's work. The resource includes useful questions that can be used as a structure for critique and review.

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  11. Fairy Tale
    Text

    A003800 Fairy Tale

    • Published 02/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003800

    How does culture influence fairy tales from storyteller to storyteller? Students will compare and contrast culturally distinct variations of the fairy tale, Cinderella. Students will also research the cultures represented in the fairy tales and create a visual art piece.

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  12. Sci-Fi and Fantasy Worldbuilding
    Text

    A003785 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Worldbuilding

    • Published 01/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003785

    In this lesson, students will explore the intersection of science fiction and fantasy from the works of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time Trilogy. Students will create an original character, thing, ability, and/or place using worldbuilding elements. Students will choose between dramatizing, making a book trailer, or creating an illustration to introduce their imaginary world.

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  13. Us Mob Walawurru: Unit of work
    Text

    A004412 Us Mob Walawurru: Unit of work

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004412

    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 themes such as education, language, family obligation, relationship to country and environment, and ideas of ownership. This unit provides practical teaching ideas and an assessment task.

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  14. Fox: Unit of work
    Text

    A004393 Fox: Unit of work

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004393

    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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  15. The Jerilderie Letter: Unit of work
    Text

    A004399 The Jerilderie Letter: Unit of work

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004399

    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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  16. Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines: Unit of work
    Text

    A004400 Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines: Unit of work

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004400

    This unit of work has been written to support the text titled Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines. David Unaipon created the original collection of stories, drawing from traditional Aboriginal stories from around South Australia including his own Ngarrindjeri people. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Billy Griffiths.

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  17. Evil Genius: Unit of work
    Text

    A004374 Evil Genius: Unit of work

    • Published 05/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004374

    This unit of work has been written to support the coming-of-age novel Evil Genius. It explores themes of belonging, identity, being gifted and morality. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Beth Driscoll.

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  18. Don’t Call Me Ishmael: Unit of work
    Text

    A004373 Don’t Call Me Ishmael: Unit of work

    • Published 05/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004373

    This unit of work has been written to support the young adult novel Don’t Call Me Ishmael. The novel explores the theme of bullying but it is also about identity, self-acceptance and importance of friendship. The novel also highlights the power of language. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Miriam Cosic.

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  19. Fashionista: Unit of work
    Text

    A004186 Fashionista: Unit of work

    • Published 30/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A004186

    This unit of work has been written to support the story 'Fashionista' which is about the power of expressing yourself. Connect to the themes of fashion, pop culture and self-acceptance. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, suggestions about how students might respond creatively to the text and assessment opportunities.

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  20. How to Heal a Broken Wing: Unit of work
    Text

    A004190 How to Heal a Broken Wing: Unit of work

    • Published 30/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A004190

    This unit of work has been written to support the story 'How to Heal a Broken Wing'. The book explores the themes of compassion, confidence, empathy and hope. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, suggestions about how students might respond creatively to the text and assessment opportunities.

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  21. The purpose of imaginative texts
    Video

    A004106 The purpose of imaginative texts

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004106

    This animated video (2 min 57 s) provides an overview of the purpose and features of imaginative texts. Students learn how language contributes to the reader's experience of this text type. Examples such as Cinderella, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland illustrate the concept.

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  22. What is personification?
    Video

    A004119 What is personification?

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004119

    This animated video (3 min 02 s) provides an overview of personification. Students will learn about this figurative language device through an example poem. The video includes a short activity to encourage students to experiment with personification in their writing.

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  23. The purpose of informative texts in writing
    Video

    A004107 The purpose of informative texts in writing

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004107

    This video (3 min 34 s) provides an overview of the purpose of informative texts. Students learn about the features of informative texts through the example of a research project on honey bees.

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  24. How to write discussions with text stages and language features
    Video

    A004124 How to write discussions with text stages and language features

    • Published 06/05/2024
    • TLF-ID A004124

    This animated video (4 min 02 s) provides an overview of discussions. Students will learn about the text stages and language features of a discussion text, including the issue statement, the arguments stage and the conclusion.

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  25. AERO Ochre English Year 4 Unit 2 - Mulga Bill’s Bicycle: Ballad
    Video

    A003851 AERO Ochre English Year 4 Unit 2 - Mulga Bill’s Bicycle: Ballad

    • Published 07/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003851

    This sequence of five lessons unpacks the features of a ballad using Banjo Patterson’s ‘Mulga Bill’s Bicycle.’ Students are guided through the process of analysing a poem before using it as a model to create a version of their own.

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  26. Story Time: Just One Bee
    Video

    A004459 Story Time: Just One Bee

    • Published 18/08/2023
    • TLF-ID A004459

    Watch and listen to this story of a bee who is determined to bring back a whole field of to her home. (5 min) Teaching ideas are included on the web page.

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  27. Story Time: My Strange Shrinking Parents
    Video

    A004445 Story Time: My Strange Shrinking Parents

    • Published 18/08/2023
    • TLF-ID A004445

    Watch and listen to this story about a boy who learns that his parents are not as strange as he thinks, and that sacrifice is a big part of love. (8 Min) Teaching ideas are included on the webpage.

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  28. Andy Griffiths on writing songs and stories
    Video

    M020465 Andy Griffiths on writing songs and stories

    • Published 24/11/2015
    • TLF-ID M020465

    What's the difference between writing song lyrics and writing a story? Andy Griffiths thinks they are quite similar. Why does he think this? How important is rhythm in Andy's stories? Next time you write a story, try reading it out loud and listen for the rhythm of the words. Can you make your story's rhythm sound even better?

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  29. 10 picture books to use with your secondary English class
    Text

    A003838 10 picture books to use with your secondary English class

    • Published 02/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003838

    This insightful resource provides teaching ideas to support the use of ten specific picture books in secondary classrooms. It unpacks the complexities and nuances of this genre.

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  30. Gothic Horror
    Text

    A003836 Gothic Horror

    • Published 08/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003836

    This unit provides students with experiences of listening to, viewing and reading short Gothic Horror stories, including extracts and a poem from the pens of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley and Robert Browning. Students will explore how the authors manipulate language to create characters and develop ideas. After exploring the features of the Gothic Horror genre, students will apply their knowledge, skills and understanding to write their own short story.

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  31. Teaching science fiction
    Text

    A003833 Teaching science fiction

    • Published 02/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003833

    Find some starting points for teaching work from the genre of science fiction.

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  32. A Man of Honour Teaching Resource
    Text

    A003701 A Man of Honour Teaching Resource

    • Published 08/04/2024
    • TLF-ID A003701

    This resource supports students to read closely and critically to understand the relationship of fact to fiction in the book A Man of Honour. A Man of Honour is a creative nonfiction book about Henry James O'Farrell who, in 1868, was the first person to attempt a political assassination in Australia. The resource includes a reflection on the process of writing from the author Simon Smith as well as links to the syllabus to support you in programming. Smith’s exploration of the conventions of genre and the importance of ‘voice’ are thematically explored throughout the study.

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