English / Year 8 / Literacy / Texts in context

Curriculum content descriptions

Analyse and explain how language has evolved over time and how technology and the media have influenced language use and forms of communication (ACELY1729)

Elaborations
  • identifying and explaining how mobile technologies are influencing language uses and structures
  • analysing the ways that identity may be created in digital contexts
  • identifying how meanings or words change or shift depending on context, for example the word ‘cool’ is used to describe temperature or to express approval when used in informal contexts
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • ICT capability Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
ScOT terms

Language conventions,  Telecommunications

Text

Science Fiction: Radio Dramas

This resource for students is one in a series of three on science fiction. The introduction contains links to old radio dramas as great examples of story telling. Students are then asked to produce their own two minute science fiction radio drama. A link is provided to Celtx, an application which allows you to write the ...

Interactive

Secondary English: presentation

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'presentation' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers present students with models of ...

Online

QuickSmart: a numeracy and literacy program

This teacher resource describes the literacy and numeracy interventions that comprised the QuickSmart program for students at or below the National Minimum Standard in literacy and numeracy in years 4-8. The resource is organised in nine sections: Summary, Target student group, Method, Results, Lessons learned, Next steps, ...

Image

Morning at Passchendaele, 1917

This is a black-and-white composite photograph, taken by Frank Hurley on the morning after the first battle of Passchendaele during the First World War, showing Australian infantry survivors laying out and placing blankets over dead soldiers around a blockhouse near the site of Zonnebeke Railway Station in Belgium on 12 ...

Interactive

Secondary English: collaboration

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'collaboration' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers provide students with opportunities ...

Online

Literacy Empowerment Project: Literacy Backpack Program

This teacher resource is about the Literacy Backpack Program established in 16 remote school campuses in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory. The program supplies books and magazines to schools and homes in the region as part of a levelled reading program and is designed to foster a community approach to reading. ...

Online

Improving student writing outcomes through teacher induction

This teacher resource describes the induction program for new and beginning teachers at North Lake State College in Queensland and how it supports the college's literacy initiative, particularly in the early and primary years. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Results; Lessons learned; Next ...

Online

Literacy and Numeracy Pilot in low SES school communities

This teacher resource describes a pilot implemented in 76 public schools in Victoria, including primary, P-12, and secondary schools in two rural and regional and two metropolitan clusters. The pilot aimed to improve the literacy and numeracy of students in low socioeconomic status communities. This included new arrivals, ...

Online

Evidence Based Observations and Coaching

This teacher resource describes an extended professional learning program implemented in 38 Victorian independent schools using evidence-based observations (EBO) as the basis for in-school teacher coaching to improve students' literacy and numeracy. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Results; ...

Online

Reflective writing: the 3D format

This is a teacher resource describing a scaffolding strategy developed by New South Wales teacher Kerri-Jane Burke to help her students analyse texts and write reflective responses to them. The resource describes the three-dimensional writing strategy - Describe, Disclose, Decision - in more detail, outlining how it provides ...

Online

Coaching Initiatives

This teacher resource describes the success and wider applicability of coaching strategies implemented in government primary and secondary schools in Victoria. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; Results; Next steps; Lessons learned; Research base; Further reading and links; and Contacts, ...

Online

English as an Additional Language: Science Language Literacy Pilot Project

This teacher resource describes a pilot project in which selected Victorian science teachers learnt functional and systemic pedagogical strategies to support English as an Additional Language (EAL) students to understand and use science literacy genres. Organised in nine sections: Summary; Target student group; Method; ...

Online

Leading Literacy: Professional Learning

This teacher resource describes the Leading Literacy: Professional Learning course provided by the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to principals and school leaders. The course helped them to develop deep understandings about how student literacy can be improved. There are nine sections ...

Online

Australia's Trade through Time

Using an interactive timeline created by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this Teacher guide provides 12 series of learning experiences that engage students in the analysis and interpretation of data about Australian trade from 1900 to the present day. Students study videos, tables, images and texts in order ...

Text

Tales of Terror

This text for students contains short answer questions on four short stories - 'The Landlady', 'Lamb to the Slaughter', 'The Monkey's Paw' and 'Cold Reading'. It describes how to write short answers, as well as how to use textual evidence.

Text

Book Review

This resource provides advice to students on how to present a three-minute book review, with advice on how to write the review, and how to present it orally.

Interactive

Beach safety: video campaign

Look at the importance of water safety and skin protection at a beach. Talk with a lifeguard and beach goers about safety tips. Build a video for a public awareness campaign. Choose animated clips to illustrate responsible behaviour. Examine differences between formal and informal language. Select text for the script that ...

Interactive

Lights, camera, action: camera

Explore how cameras are used to tell a story in films. Learn words used to describe camera shots, movements and angles. See how combinations of camera shots can hide or reveal things, set a mood and influence audience feelings. Look at ways to create feelings such as excitement, humour or fear. For example, filming from ...

Text

Adventure Stories

This resource for students discusses the conventions of action and adventure stories, suggests some possible scenarios, how to plot the story and examples of descriptive writing techniques, as well as suggestions for proofreading and revising.

Text

Science Fiction: Short Stories

This resource for students presents information on how to respond to short answer questions on texts. Using textual evidence is discussed, with details on the use of ellipses and full stops. A sample answer is provided to a short answer question on Louise Lawrence's story 'Extinction is Forever'. Students are then asked ...