Lesson Plans - Our Country
Lesson 4
We are Australian
Students Prior Knowledge and Experience
Students can draw on their own knowledge and experiences of life in Australia. They are familiar with planning techniques such as brainstorming from previous lessons.
Learning Purpose
ICT
- Students interact with visual presentations and are able to relate them
to their own knowledge and experiences.
- Students understand that the internet can be use to locate
information and answer their questions.
- The students know that websites have tools to help them locate and
select information (e.g.Google Images has advanced options to
choose image type).
English
- Students understand that they are able to create knowledge to
share with a wide audience.
- Students improve reading, writing and researching skills
- Students are able to rewrite information using their own words.
Preparation and Resources
YouTube video "I am Australian" running on the SMART Board
A3 paper for the brochure
Drawing and writing implements
Map of Australia
Scissors
Travel Brochure Worksheet
Glue
Printer
Professional travel brochures
Internet access for students - Google Images and ThinkQuest sites
Learning Experience
The lesson will begin with the YouTube clip "I am Australian". This will familiarise them with Australian icons, geography and stereotypes. The clip successfully details the lives of the early Australians - the Aboriginal people, convicts and early settlers as well as life in 2010 in Australia.
The class will then complete a brainstorming session on the board with 'Australia' in the center. They will be asked to share what words/ideas and pictures they think best represent Australia.
The students will then work in pairs to create a simple 3 fold travel brochure to encourage tourists to come to Australia using the guidelines outlined on the worksheet. The students must use the internet to research basic facts about Australia on the Zoom Schools Site and the brochure must also contain a labeled map of Australia. They are also able to print photos in class (with assistance) to glue into the brochure. Students will be provided with professional brochures to models theirs on.
After the brochure is complete the students will be able to share and explain their finished product with the class.
Student Evaluation
Student brochures will be allocated a mark. The marks will be determined by the inclusion/omission of the requirements outlined on the worksheet.
Lesson 5
Australian Story
Students Prior Knowledge and Experience
Students are familiar with the SMART Board and feel comfortable using the technology.They use their knowledge of the topic of 'Travel Stories' and Australia to engage and interpret the text.
Learning Purpose
ICT
- Students work collaboratively to gather and present information
using technology.
- Students are able to complete the task on the SMART Board by
writing and using a 'drag and drop' method.
English
- The students make connections between own knowledge and
experiences and the information read in texts.
- The students make simple interpretations from visual texts.
- The students can predict events in using background knowledge of
the topic.
- The student can sequence and follow events.
- The student can located required information in a text extract.
Preparation and Resources
"Are We There Yet" by Alison Lester
SMART Board displaying the journey map
Images loaded onto SMART Board
Comprehension Worksheet
Learning Experience
Lesson 5 will begin with a whole class activity. While the teacher reads the text "Are We There Yet", the students will simultaneously follow the journey of the family in two ways.
Each student will be chosen to do one of two actions during the course of the story;
1) Tracing the journey of the family onto the map displayed on the SMART Board.
2) Dragging and dropping the images and words onto the appropriate location on the map.
The students will then individually complete the Comprehension worksheet using an extract from the text..
Student Evaluation
Observe the effort and participation of all students in the group activity.
The Comprehension Worksheet will be marked using the Marking Key to determine the students ability to find and interpret information viewed and read in texts.
Lesson 6
Postcards
Students Prior Knowledge and Experience
Students are familiar with different visual texts and are confident using the classroom computers.
Learning Purpose
ICT
- The students will use technology to enhance learning and promote
creativity.
- Students learn how to transfer their written plans into electronic
images.
- Students practice their typing and editing skills.
English
- Students plan and practice narrative writing to communicate
information.
- The students relate information read in texts to real world
experiences.
Preparation and Resources
Copies of the text "Are We There Yet?"
Postcard Planning Worksheets
Computers with the ReadWriteThink postcard creator loaded up
Card
Printer
Magazine
Scissors
Glue
Students are familiar with different visual texts and are confident using the classroom computers.
Learning Purpose
ICT
- The students will use technology to enhance learning and promote
creativity.
- Students learn how to transfer their written plans into electronic
images.
- Students practice their typing and editing skills.
English
- Students plan and practice narrative writing to communicate
information.
- The students relate information read in texts to real world
experiences.
Preparation and Resources
Copies of the text "Are We There Yet?"
Postcard Planning Worksheets
Computers with the ReadWriteThink postcard creator loaded up
Card
Printer
Magazine
Scissors
Glue
Learning Experience
Lesson 6 will focus on non fiction writing in the format of a postcard.
The student will imagine that they are a character from "Are We There Yet?" and will plan and create a postcard that the character would have sent to a friend during their journey.
The Postcard Planning worksheet will be used to organise and sequence ideas.
When the worksheet is completed and checked the student may come up to the computer and type their information into the ReadWriteThink interactive postcard creator.
The postcard will be printed and the student must use the supplied magazines to find, cut out and glue an appropriate image onto the front of the postcard. The finished pieces will be displayed in the classroom.
Student Evaluation
Monitor students planning and sequencing skills.
Postcards must contain a character and event present in the text.
Observe students ability to use the computer hardware.
Observe students ability to correctly follow the instructions of the software.
