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RAFT Topic: Read all about it, Giza.

Curriculum Area: History Ancient Civilisations - Egypt
Year Level: year 7
Learning Objectives.
As a result of completing the RAFT activity, students will show a clear understanding of what life may have been like in Ancient Egypt, the
significance of landmarks and the different roles people played in Egypt applying knowledge they have previously learnt.

RAFT Title: Read all about it, Giza.

ROLE

AUDIENCE
The people of Giza

FORMAT
Newspaper article

TOPIC
Why it is good to be a slave,
and why everyone should want
to be one.

The people of Giza

A column in a newspaper

A day in the life of a slave

driver/ owner. What are your
daily experiences?

The people of Giza

Advertisement for a newspaper

The cats of Giza

Newspaper article

Youre old and soon will pass

away, but you need a tomb, a
magnificent tomb, and you
need someone to design it for
you make an ad for the
newspaper looking for a tomb
designer.
An article explaining the
newest CAT-astrophe and why
humans are so silly and why
cats should rule the world.

A slave in ancient Egypt

Slave driver/ owner

Nobility

A cat in ancient Egypt

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Explanation of how RAFT represents a differentiated learning task:
It was decided that this RAFT represented a differentiated learning task because it is suited to people of all kinds of abilities. There are some roles
that require longer pieces of writing and a style of writing that is seen as more challenging than a recount. The column is included for students that
may not see themselves as creative enough to create an advertisement, yet see the persuasive writing pieces as too challenging. This is not to say that
it cannot be done. Some students may prefer a visual way of learning, the RAFT as a Noble person will suit them as they will be able to play to their
strengths.
The students get a choice with the RAFT, they are able to choose a role that they believe they will be able to complete, and unconsciously or perhaps
consciously picking a role that suits their learning profile.
By creating the format as a newspaper article, column, or advertisement it makes it clear that there will be an audience reading the piece and starts the
students thinking how they can write in an engaging way. The topics may seem a little abstract but this will hopefully engage the students more and
will also require them to think carefully about how they include their research and facts into their projects.

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Appendix:
1.1 Explanatory notes for 1st RAFT
1.2 Explanatory notes for 2nd RAFT
1.3 Explanatory notes for 3rd RAFT
1.4 Explanatory notes for 4th RAFT
1.5 Rubric used for assessment
1.6 Y Chart example used for pre-assessment
1.7 Exit card for students to complete during lesson closure.

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Appendix 1.1

Role
A slave in ancient Egypt

Audience
The people of Giza

Format
Newspaper article

Topic
Why it is good to be a
slave, and why everyone
should want to be one.

Your task is to write a persuasive piece on why it is good to be a slave. Sound strange? Maybe
it is, but be creative, turn the negatives into the positives.
If nothing else think of the amazing structure you are building and the impact it will have on
the world and the mark you are making in history.
- Make sure you put yourself in a slaves shoes, write from their point of view, not from an
outsiders.
- Remember you can refer to your research and the Y charts to brainstorm ideas.
Before handing up your piece make sure you have included all the things a good newspaper
article requires:
- Title
- date
- authors name (yours)
- columns
- good punctuation and spelling
Appendix 1.2

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Role
Slave driver/ owner

Audience
The people of Giza

Format
A column in a newspaper

Topic
A day in the life of a slave
driver/ owner. What are
your daily experiences?

Your task is to write a column all about you! What is your daily routine, from sunrise to sunset?
- Remember columns are generally shorter then articles but if you have a lot to say, or a lot that you do in your day then feel
free to write as much as you need.
- Events should be written in chronological order (order in which they happen)
- Refer to research and Y charts for possible ideas or brainstorming
Before handing up this piece remember to include all the things a good column includes:
- Title
- Date
- Authors name (you)
- Columns
- Good punctuation and spelling

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Appendix 1.3
Role
Nobility

Audience
The people of Giza

Format
Advertisement for a
newspaper

Your task is to create an advertisement attracting tomb designers.

- What do you want in your tomb?
- How do you want it to look?
- How will the designer be rewarded?
- Why is you tomb so important?
Remember to include all the things a good advertisement has:
- Catchy title
- Pictures
- Not too much writing
- Details of the job

Topic
Youre old and soon will
pass away, but you need a
tomb, a magnificent tomb,
and you need someone to
design it for you make an
ad for the newspaper
looking for a tomb
designer.

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Appendix 1.4

Role
A cat in ancient Egypt

Audience
The cats of Giza

Format
Newspaper article

Topic
An article explaining the
newest CAT-astrophe and
why humans are so silly
and why cats should rule
the world

Your task is to put yourself in the shoes of the treasured Ancient Egyptian cat. Write a persuasive piece about why cats
are better than humans and why they should rule the world.
- Consider the role the cat had in Ancient Egypt
- How would a cat run the world differently to a human, what things would you make the humans do?
- Refer to research and Y charts for brainstorming
Before handing up your piece make sure you have included all the things a good newspaper article requires:
- Title
- date
- authors name (yours)
- columns
- good punctuation and spelling

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Appendix 1.5

Rubric:
Learning area
Demonstrates
understanding of the
chosen Role
Demonstrates use of
factual knowledge
Spelling and
Punctuation
Demonstrates
understanding of
chosen genre

Comments:

Satisfactory

Good

Great

Excellent

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Appendix 1.6

Y Chart
Sound

Look
Feel

Appendix 1.7

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Exit Card:
What RAFT did you choose and why?

What part of this RAFT do you find most challenging?

List 2 interesting facts you have learnt about Ancient Egypt:

1.

2.

References:

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Australian Curriculum Asessment and Reporting Authority. (2014) History.http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/history/Curriculum/F-10
Curriculum Support. (2014). Y Chart. Retrieved from www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/desighnproduce/../ychart
Department for Education and Child Development. (2013). Assessment and Reporting Blooms Taxonomy. Retrieved from
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/assessment/pages/assessmentstrategies/toxonomy/?reFlag=1
Sousa, D.A. (2011). Mindset, learning environment and differentiation. Differentiation and the brain: how neuroscience supports the learnerfriendly classroom. Solution Tree Press, Bloomington, Ind pp17-43.
Tomlinson, C. (2004). How to differentiate instruction in mixed-ability classrooms, 2nd edn,. Association for Supervison and Curriculum
Development, Alexandria, VA. Pp 45-51.