Thursday, 2nd September 2021 – Literacy

Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories – The Rainbow Serpent Story Retell

Remind yourself about the main points of the Rainbow Serpent Story by watching this video:

Today, you will be using descriptive writing to retell the Aboriginal legend “The Rainbow Serpent” in your own words.

To add interest to your writing, think about how you can use different words to start your sentences. Consider the poster below for ideas:

Independent Activity:

1. Open your green lined book.
2. Rule a line under any previous work.
3. Write today’s date.
4. Write the heading “My Rainbow Serpent Retell”
5. Using this story-starter below, write your version of the Rainbow Serpent.
6. Your written piece should have between 10 and 14 sentences.
7. Use the EDITING CHECKLIST to guide your writing.
8. Take a photo of your sentences and send to your teacher on Compass.

STORY STARTER:

Long, long ago in the Dreamtime, when the earth lay sleeping and nothing moved or grew, the Rainbow Serpent awoke and slithered out from beneath the earth…

Wednesday, 1st September 2021 – Literacy

Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories – The Rainbow Serpent 

The Rainbow Serpent is considered one of the most powerful Aboriginal Stories.  

It describes a time long ago when the Earth was flat. The serpent emerged from under the ground to awaken different groups of animals. 

The movement of its body formed physical features like hills, gorges, creeks and rivers into the once-featureless landscape. 

It slithered all over the country, occupying waterholes and providing nourishing water. Once it grew tired with shaping the Earth, it coiled into a waterhole where it lays to this day.  

Aboriginal legend states the sleeping place of the Rainbow Serpent is Uluru. Because of this belief, Uluru is considered a sacred site in Aboriginal culture. 

Step 1: Read the Tale of The Rainbow Serpent 

rainbow-serpentDownload

Step 2: Independent Activity 

1. Open your green lined book.
2. Rule a line under any previous work .
3. Write today’s date.
4. Write the heading “The Rainbow Serpent” 
5. Answer the following reading comprehension questions.

rainbow-serpent-questionsDownload

6. Check your answers here: 

rainbow-serpent-answersDownload

Monday, 30th August 2021 – Literacy

Introduction to Aboriginal Studies

Step 1: An Introduction to Indigenous Culture 

How old is Indigenous Aboriginal Australian Culture?  

It is one of the oldest in the world – more than 60,000 years old!  

How do we know?  

Evidence found in many archaeological sites throughout Australia. 

How can we begin to understand Aboriginal Culture? 

The Dreamtime stories and beliefs are at the centre of the Aboriginal culture and show their special connection with the land.

If Aboriginals didn’t write books, how do we know these stories?  

Australian Aboriginals passed down Dreamtime stories from one generation to the next – through songs, oral storytelling, and dances.  

Step 2: 

Today, we are going to explore the sacred Aboriginal connection to place in the story: 

The Lost Girl by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Leanne Tobin

Getting organized: 

1. Open your green lined book.
2. Write today’s date.
3. Write the title “The Lost Girl”  

Independent Activity: 

Answer the following questions in your book 

Questions: 

 About the Book: 

1. How did the girl get lost? 
2. Write 2 sentences to describe the place where she fell asleep. 
3. What was the role of the crow in the story? 
4. Write down the onomatopoeia in the story. 
5. Write down one word only from the story that tells you: 

• the girl curled up close to a rock 
• that the campfires were giving off light 
• the people scolded her 
• then they hugged her 

Exploring Indigenous Connection to Country 

6. In the video, how did the Aboriginal people traditionally find their food and drink?  
7. Where do you find your food and drink? 
8. If you were lost, would you know how to survive without shops? Why/Why Not?
9. Can the land we live on look after us? How? 
10. Give an example of how people can look after the land. 

Monday, 23rd August 2021 – Literacy

Poetry Studies: Australian Poetry Focus

I am learning how to examine poetry

I know I can do it when I can: 

• Spot the rhyme
• Visualise the image
• Convert my knowledge to my own writing

For Integrated Studies we have been researching about our beloved country Australia. We are now going to look at some poetry about life in Australia.

Today, we will be reading: Flies, by Irene Gough

STEP 1: Read the poem for pleasure!

Reading Tips:

1. Poetry should be read out aloud, so get speaking!

• Read with intonation: ups and downs in your voice

• Pause at the end of every second line

• Can you find the rhythm/beat as you read?

Step 2: Getting Organised

1. Open your green lined book.
2. Rule a line under any previous work to rule off.
3. Write today’s date: Monday 23rd August, 2021
4. Write the heading: “Flies”,  by Irene Gough

Step 3: Independent Activity

Under your title, answer the questions below:

Question 1:

Question 2:

Question 3:

Question 4:

Book Week 2021

Did you know it’s Book Week? The theme for this year is “Old worlds, new worlds, other worlds”. For more information, visit the Book Week 2021 website.

Enjoy listening to this story ‘No, Never’

Thursday, 19th August 2021 – Literacy

Quality Literature, Author’s Study

I am learning to describe a character’s personality.

I know I can do it when I can: 

• Think about how a character feels
• Think about how a character acts
• Match this knowledge to a personality trait word

Let’s begin

Warm Up 

Understanding a character’s personality means we have to hunt for clues that reveal:

• How they are feeling
• What they are thinking
• How they treat others
• Their passions and interests

As readers, we will rarely be told the exact words, but, by hunting for clues in the story, we can gain evidence about a character’s personality.

Let’s practise with the examples below:

Your task today, is to listen to a Beatrix Potter story and hunt for evidence about a character’s personality.

The FIRST time you listen to the story, listen for understanding and enjoyment.

The SECOND time you listen to the story, listen closely to collect evidence about a character’s personality.

Text: The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnys

Getting Organised

1. Open your green lined book. 

2. Rule a line under any previous work to rule off. 

3. Write today’s date. 

4. Write the heading “Hunting for Clues about Personality” 

5. Please examine the examples below before starting the task.

Independent Activity

1. Copy the chart below into your book.
2. Fill in the details with evidence you have collected from the story.

*You can list different personality words for the same character – as long as you have evidence to support each word.

Helpful Hint: Use the poster below to help you with character trait words if you are unsure.

Wednesday, 18th August 2021 – Literacy

Quality Literature, Author’s Study

I am learning to think about how Beatrix Potter creates a character. 

I know I can do it when I can:  

• describe a character’s appearance (what they look like) 
• describe a character’s personality traits (how the character thinks, feels and behaves) 
• describe a character’s actions (hobbies or common activities) 

Let’s begin

Warm Up 

Play this “Which Beatrix Potter Character Are You?” Quiz and get to know some of Beatrix Potter’s most famous characters 

Click Here: Quiz

 

Taking A Closer Look 

Beatrix Potter created many delightful characters based on real animals she met in the English Countryside.  

However, her “wild” characters lived in very familiar, human-like worlds.

Independent Activity

Using the Peter Rabbit Poster above as a guide, create a poster of your own Beatrix Potter-style animal character 

Your Task:  

• draw your own animal character in the centre of the page in your scrapbook 
• write information about your character around the central image 

The information should include: 

Below are some character traits to describe your characters personality.

Tuesday, 17th August 2021 – Literacy

Writing – Onomatopoeia

I am learning to use my knowledge of onomatopoeia to write interesting sentences.   

I know I can do it when I have written some interesting sentences using onomatopoeia.  

Today we are going to discuss onomatopoeia. 

How exciting!  

What is onomatopoeia?  

Onomatopoeias are words that describe a sound AND when you read the words, they actually mimic (copy) the sound that they are describing.  

Watch this video to learn more:  

 

Independent Task 

Step One:  

Open your green lined book and write the date.

Step Two:  

Write your heading “Onomatopoeia”, make sure you spell it correctly!  

Step Three:  

For each of the pictures below, you have to identify an onomatopoeia that can be used to describe what is happening in the picture. The first two have been completed for you.  

Step Four:  

You will need to write an interesting sentence or two to describe each picture that includes one onomatopoeia word. The sentence should also include an adjective or adverb to make it interesting. The first two have been done for you. Follow them as examples. 

Monday, 16th August 2021 – Literacy

Grammar

I am learning about describing adjectives. 

I know I have learnt it when I use describing adjectives correctly in sentences. 

Let’s begin: 

• Read the text below a few times till you understand it. 
• Then you are ready to write out the answers only, in your green exercise book. 
• Rule a line under any previous work to rule off. 
• Write today’s date next to the margin.
• Write the heading: Freddy and His Egg 
• Write the number of the question in your book and then write your answer next to it. 

Now watch this video before going on to the next activity

OPTIONAL EXTENSION ACTIVITY

Tuesday, 10th August 2021 – Literacy

Beatrix Potter Author Study

I am learning how to REVIEW a story just by listening to it. 

I know I can do it when I can:  

• practise my best focused listening (good communication habits) 
• work out the meaning of unfamiliar words by listening for clues about their meaning in the story (infer meaning) 
• use the new words in my own writing (vocabulary) 

Who Is Beatrix Potter?

Let’s begin: 

Helen Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator and author best known for her children’s books featuring animals such as Peter Rabbit. She was born in, 1866. 

That’s over 150 years ago!  

She used beautiful words in her writing. We call beautiful words “rich language”.

 

Listening Response Activity: 

Click below to listen to the story “Squirrel Nutkin” by Beatrix Potter. 

Please note, this listening activity will run for 12 minutes.  

The FIRST time you listen to the story, listen for understanding and enjoyment. 

The SECOND time you listen to the story, listen closely to make sense of the words in the boxes below and match them to their correct meanings.  

Hey, why don’t you have a go at matching them before you listen and see how many you get correct at the end! 

Listen

Independent Activity

1. Open your green lined book. 

2. Rule a line under any previous work to rule off. 

3. Write today’s date.

4. Write the heading “Squirrel Nutkin, Listening Response” 

After Listening

1. Write the correct matches in your green lined book. 

You can check your answers below.

2. Write your own 4 sentences, using one of the focus words, impertinent, cautiously, gracious and presently, in each sentence. 

Click Here: Beatrix Answers

Monday, 9th August 2021 – Literacy

Reading Skill

I am learning how to make INFERENCES when I read.

I know I can do it when I can understand what is happening by:

• using what I already know (my prior knowledge)
• using things I read or see (clues)

Let’s begin: 

 

Watch this video to help your understanding of making inferences.

 

Independent Activity

Now, have a go on your own.

1. Open your green lined book.
2. Rule a line under any previous work to rule off.
3. Write today’s date. 
4. Write the heading “ Inference”

Open this document and read 4 poems. Each poem gives clues (infers) what it is about.

Click Here: Inference-poetry.pdfDownload

After reading the four poems, copy the sentences starters below into your green book and finish the sentence with the answer.

1. A Taste of the Goodlife: I am a ……
2. The Cold Hard Facts: I am a…
3. Presto Change: I am a…
4. Feeling Tied Down: I am a….