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Appendix Contents:
ALANAH KNIGHT
1
Name of Unit: 'Exploring Australia's Indigenous History through The Rabbits by Shaun Tan'
Grade Level: 4
Description of Unit (scope of learning): The diversity of Australian culture and history will
be investigated in this unit as learners explore the stories and histories of Australia's
Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people. Consideration and analysis of a variety of
elements included within text is prevalent as critical literacies are focused on, to enhance
learner growth and development. Literacy skills such as listening, reading, speaking, writing
and creating are developed through this unit, with learners producing a multimodal
presentation that informs a final summative assessment of the unit.
Synopsis of major text: The Rabbits (1998), written by John Marsden and illustrated by Sean
Tan, depicts the colonisation of Australia in a powerful mode. The images and text reveal an
alarming tale of invasion, cultural domination and the desecration of natural environment.
The European settlers within the text are personified through the ‘Rabbits’, while the
Aboriginal people are personified through native animals. The text recounts the turbulent
history of Australia through the perspective of Australia's Indigenous people.
ACELA1487 Understand that Standard Australian English is one of many social dialects used in Australia,
and that while it originated in England it has been influenced by many other languages.
(Cross - Identifying words used in Standard Australian English that are derived from other
curriculum languages, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and determining if the
Priority) original meaning is reflected in English usage
ACELA1496 Explore the effect of choices when framing an image, placement of elements in the image,
and salience on composition of still and moving images in a range of types of texts.
ACELT1605 Discuss how authors and illustrators make stories exciting, moving and absorbing and hold readers’
(Literature) interest by using various techniques, for example character development and plot tension
ACELT1602 Make connections between the ways different authors may represent similar storylines, ideas and
(Literature) relationships
ACELT1606 Understand, interpret and experiment with a range of devices and deliberate word play in poetry and
(Literature) other literary texts, for example nonsense words, spoonerisms, neologisms and puns.
ACELT1603 Discuss literary experiences with others, sharing responses and expressing a point of view.
ACELY1697 Use a range of software including word processing programs to construct, edit and publish written
text, and select, edit and place visual, print and audio elements
ACELY1689 Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations incorporating learned content and taking into account the
particular purposes and audiences.
2
VCELT28 Discuss how authors and illustrators make stories exciting, moving and absorbing and hold
4 readers’ interest by using various techniques.
VCELT28 Describe the effects of ideas, text structures and language features of literary texts.
3
VCELT28 Understand, interpret and experiment with a range of devices and deliberate word play in
5 poetry and other literary texts.
VCELT28 Make connections between the ways different authors may represent similar storylines, ideas
2 and relationships.
VCELT29 Create literary texts that explore students’ own experiences and imagining.
8
VCELT29 Create literary texts by developing storylines, characters and settings.
7
VCELT30 Discuss literary experiences with others, sharing responses and expressing a point of view.
6
VCELY30 Use a range of software including word processing programs to construct, edit and publish
2 written text, and select, edit and place visual, print and audio elements
(literacy)
Critical and Creative thinking
VCCCTM018 Consider concrete and pictorial models to facilitate thinking, including a range of
visualisation strategies.
History
VCHHC070 Identify and explain the causes and effects of European settlement.
VCPSCSO022 Identify the importance of including others in activities, groups and games.
VCPSCSO023 Demonstrate skills for effective participation in group tasks and use criteria provided
to reflect on the effectiveness of the teams in which they participate.
VCPSCSO024 Identify conflicts that may occur in peer groups and suggest possible causes and
resolutions.
3
10 Why do we work in Sit in circle,ask ‘what Students form Evidence of Poster Paper.
groups? makes a group work’ groups for the teamwork/
Go around the circle, final task. Each involvement in VCPSCSO022
What can go each student group writes a discussion/ VCPSCSO024
right/wrong? responds to one or ‘conduct’ poster presentation of VCCCTM018
more of the advising poster.
questions, drawing
Advice you’d give to expectations for
on potential
someone future
conflicts/ how to
experiencing issues overcome them. collaboration.
within a group?
The task: In groups students are required to create a multimodal response to the text ‘The Rabbits’
by John Marsden and Shaun Tan (1998); the texts key themes of colonisation, country and
Indigenous perspectives must be included and explored in this response. The students will include a
sequel to the text, utilising the powerful language techniques they have learned in class, that will be
presented in a class reading. They will research the author and illustrator, presenting their research
in the form of a power-point presentation. A ‘new cover’ must be designed with the text’s themes in
mind. A reflective group discussion with each learner will inform their grasp of the critical literacies
learned within this unit and allow assessment of collaboration and input of each group member.
This will form the major assessment piece for this unit.
References:
Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority 2014, Foundation to Year 10 Curriculum:
Cross Curriculum Priorities, retrieved 16 September 2017,
<https://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities>.
Baines, E, Blatchford, P, Kutnick, P, Chowne, A, Ota, C & Berdondini, L 2017, Promoting effective
group work in the primary classroom : a handbook for teachers and practitioners, 2nd edn,
Routledge, New York.
Deray, K & Simoff, S 2012, 'Framing Interaction through Engagement in Interactive Open Ended
Environments', in Interactive Open Ended Environments, Proceedings of International Conference on
Information Visualisation (IV), IEEE, Montpellier, France, pp.534-439,
<http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.ezproxy-b.deakin.edu.au/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=6295867>.
Eckermann, A 2013, ‘Ochre’, in L Gorton, (eds), The Best Australian Poems, Black Ink, Collingwood,
VIC, pp.1-240.
Education Services Australia 2011, My Place For Teachers:1788, ACTFESA LTD, Retrieved 25
September 2017, <http://www.myplace.edu.au/teaching_activities/1878_-
_before_time/1788/episode_landing_23.html>.
'Framing Interaction through Engagement in Interactive Open Ended Environments', 2012, 2012
16th International Conference on Information Visualisation, Information Visualisation (IV), 2012 16th
International Conference on, Information Visualisation, International Conference on, p. 534.
Available from: 10.1109/IV.2012.91. [1 October 2017].
Exley, B 2006, ‘Trans-mediation in the Middle Years: Integrating picture books & process drama
activities to enhance students’ engagement with multimodal text’. In J Rennie, (eds), Proceedings
from ALEA National Conference: Voices, Vibes, Visions: Hearing Voices, Feeling Vibes, Capturing
Visions, AATE/ALEA, Darwin, NT, pp. 1-12.
‘List of Place names of Aboriginal Origin’ 2017, Place names in Australia 6 September, retrieved 27
September 2017,
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_place_names_of_Aboriginal_origin>.
Marsden, J & Tan, S 1998, The Rabbits, Lothian Books, Port Melbourne, Victoria.
Mrs Hartigs Classroom 2017, ‘The Rabbits Web Quest’, Teachers’ pay teachers resource,
<https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Lesson-Ideas-and-Resources-to-Teach-The-
Rabbits-by-John-Marsden-and-Shaun-Tan-2719256>.
11
Shaun Tan invites you into his studio 2012, YouTube, SOH Competitions, 1 July, retrieved 23
September 2017, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9NCUydoJFk>.
Smith, K & Geil, A 2016, 'Student Choice in Literature Circles in the Middle-School Classroom', Illonois
Reading Council Journal, Vol. 44, no.3, pp.3-12.
Tekavek, H & Spengler, M 2002, Storm is coming!, 1st edn, Dial Publishing, U.S.A, New York.
The Rainbow Serpent - Animated Short Film 2015, YouTube, Blazin Guns, 31 October, retrieved 22
September 2017, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STFd3cp8B0s>.
Winch, G, Johnston, R.R, March, P, Ljungdahl, L & Holliday, M 2006, Literacy: Reading and Writing
and Childrens Literature, 5th edn, Oxford University Press, USA.
Word Choice By Shmoop 2014, YouTube, Shmoop, 11 September, retrieved 28 September 2017,
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlaeV-TH8WE>.
12
Introduction Inform students of lesson goal and task them with writing it down in their
(VCELT297) workbooks -
VCCCTM020 ‘After today’s lesson I will have predicted what might happen after the
ending of The Rabbits by writing and illustrating the next page of the story.’
ACTIVITY 3
ACTIVITY 4
Tuning In Video: 5 Senses Poetry 2014, YouTube, Ntrschool4, 13 January, retrieved 21 September
2017, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1myKx1zBY>.
ACTIVITY 5
,
Interactive Indigenous Language Map.
Mura 2014 ,AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia, AIATSIS, Retrieved 25 September
2017,<https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/aiatsis-map-indigenous-australia>.
17
Myplace Video’s.
Education Services Australia 2011, My Place For Teachers:1788, ACTFESA LTD, Retrieved 25 September 2017,
<http://www.myplace.edu.au/teaching_activities/1878_-_before_time/1788/episode_landing_23.html>.
ACTIVITY 6
A selection of words from the theme ‘The Rabbits’. If students are unsure they can research and
learn these words! Must use at least 4!
Within the reflection, hear each of these in a sentence from the students work! :)
ACTIVITY 8
Tuning In Video - describing illustration and representative purpose
Shaun Tan invites you into his studio 2012, YouTube, SOH Competitions, 1 July, retrieved 23
September 2017, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9NCUydoJFk>.
ACTIVITY 9
Thesaurus.com 2017, Definitions, Dictionary.com LLC, retrieved 25 September 2017,
<http://www.thesaurus.com/>
Word Choice By Shmoop 2014, YouTube, Shmoop, 11 September, retrieved 28 September 2017,
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlaeV-TH8WE>.
20
ACTIVITY 10/11
Just poster Paper!/ Student workbooks ect.
ACTIVITY 12/13
No referenced resources.
ACTIVITY 14
(RESEARCH REPORT) Illustrator Shaun Tan and Author John Marsden.
Web-Quests developed by:
Mrs Hartigs Classroom 2017, ‘The Rabbits Web Quest’, Teachers’ pay teachers resource,
<https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Lesson-Ideas-and-Resources-to-Teach-The-Rabbits-by-John-
Marsden-and-Shaun-Tan-2719256>.
21
ACTIVITY 15
Teacher Created: Student Self Evaluations: ‘How I worked in a group’ Prompt for students
to address during the finishing off lesson.
ACTIVITY 16
Presentations (yay!)