Unit Orientation The class will look at the features of Macquarie Island through the maps resources, watch a short informative video on Macquarie Island and read One Small Island by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch. This will spark a curiosity to know why the island is degrading and how it can be saved. 1-2
Building knowledge of the field The teacher will help students to increase their background knowledge to ensure the development of knowledge, understanding and skills by providing the students with various learning opportunities in which they can learn why the topic is important through the history of what has happened and also providing opportunities for students to research concepts they find interesting so they are more motivated to learn. 1-2, 4-5, 8
Utilising the non-fiction focus text Tulloch, C., & Lester, A. (2011). One small island: The story of Macquarie Island. Australia: Penguin Group. This text is the focus text of the unit and every activity in the unit directly relates to expanding on the concepts in the book. This book is a hybrid text so it will first be read as a narrative, then the class will look deeper into the other more advanced information provided in the text. 1-4, 8, 11-12, 16
Responding to texts Students will be responding to the units focus text as it conveys information about particular social, cultural and historical contexts important to Australia. 3, 8-9, 12-15
Exploring texts Students will be exploring texts including the units focus text, a news story, and a journal article. Students will use comprehension strategies to analyse information, integrate and link ideas from a variety of sources.
1-4, 7, 12
Examining texts including: Text structure and organisation Students will examine this through looking at the structure and organisation of texts including the focus text, journal entries, and news stories. They will gain a greater understanding of this when they participate in creating their own texts throughout the unit. 3, 7, 11 COMPONENTS EXPLANATION/DETAILS LEARNING EXPERIENCES (provide the number) Expressing and developing ideas This is done throughout the unit when students examine the focus text, read through the journal entries and also participate in the rehabilitation of Macquarie Island activity.
1-2, 8-9 Visual and multimodal features of texts Students can do this through exploring the pictures in the focus text, watching the informative video on Macquarie Island and also when they create their own video piece they are extending knowledge on this.
1, 9
Extending beyond the focus text including:
Creating texts utilising print and multimodal texts Students create their own texts based off the concepts explored throughout the unit. They plan, draft and publish these texts which are in a range of different styles (creative, informative, persuasive).
4-5, 8-9, 12-15
Assessment Formative (one strategy and instrument) Formative assessment will take place throughout a range of learning experiences in the unit. It will be mostly made from observations about how the students work collaboratively together and their participation in the unit.
1-3, 6, 9, 10, 16 Summative (one strategy and instrument) Students will write a journal entry pretending to be Douglas Mawson. Assessment instrument can be found under the Assessment section on website. 12-15 15 is the final learning experience where they hand in their finished journal entry
Significant demonstration of learning. Identify aspects of literary texts that convey details or information about particular social, cultural and historical contexts
Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive print and multimodal texts, choosing text structures, language features, images and sound appropriate to purpose and audience