Theme: Australia

This unit includes traditional Dreamtime stories, Australian history, adventure tales and funny yarns set in Australia, references to Aussie icons like vegemite, the outback and more.

It is vital for teachers to understand the Ziptales 10 stage Reading Scheme, which governs how reading groups can be formed in a way which matches children’s abilities to the appropriate texts. To check on this essential resource - click here.

The 10 Zip Stages cover all levels of reading ability, from Foundation/Prep/Kindergarten through to Year 6. This scheme underpins the whole Themes module.

Learning Components

Focus Stories Comprehension Conventions Writing Speaking & Listening Extension
Zip Stage 3
How the Kangaroo Got Her Pouch
(Stories from long ago –
Junior Readers) 		Worksheet #2:
Story Focus 		Worksheet #1:
Spelling/Grammar Focus 		Create your own fable about how an Australian animal got a particular body feature. In small groups, use the scripts to role play the story to an audience. Retell this story using traditional Aboriginal dot painting style.
Zip Stage 3
The Thirsty Frog
(Stories from long ago –
Junior Readers) 		Worksheet #2:
Story Focus 		Worksheet #1:
Spelling/Grammar Focus 		Write about some things you would do to make Tiddalik laugh. In pairs, find 5 funny jokes to tell each other (try Joke in a Box for some ideas). Create a poster about native Australian animals.
Zip Stage 4
Jack Likes Jam
(People) 		General Worksheet #2:
Ways to Stop Crying 		Classify words from the story ending in ‘ed’ according to their rules. General Worksheet #1:
Funny Foods 		Present an oral report in response to the topic ‘Vegemite is delicious!’ Vegemite was invented in Australia. Research its history.
Zip Stage 5
Loose Undies
(Comedy) 		Think of ways Anna can prevent this situation from happening again. Use ‘undies’ as an example to explore other common abbreviations used in Australia. General Worksheet #1:
Uncontrollable Clothes 		Complete General Worksheet #2 then share answers in a small group. Explain the rules of popular sport played in Australia.
Zip Stage 6
The Rainbow Serpent
(Myths and Legends) 		Create a cause and effect chart for the serpent’s actions in the story. General Worksheet #1:
Building on Base Words 		General Worksheet #4:
Write Your Own Legend 		Work collaboratively in a small group to complete General Worksheet #2. Worksheet #3:
Recreating the Scene
Zip Stage 7
Capsize!
(True Tales) 		Use 5 words to describe Tony Bullimore using evidence from the text to support your choices. General Worksheet #1:
Abbreviations 		Write an information report about the HMAS Adelaide. Group Activity – General Worksheet #3:
Survival of the Fittest 		General Worksheet #2:
Design a Glossary
Zip Stage 7
Kay Cottee’s Adventures
(True Tales) 		General Worksheet #2:
Dear Diary 		General Worksheet #1:
A Dash of this and a Dash of that 		Write an adventure story using an Australian landmark as the setting. Present an oral report about the special features of Sydney Harbour. General Worksheet #3:
Australians of the Year
Zip Stage 7
No Second Chances
(True Tales) 		Locate details from the text which tell us the trapped men needed to be rescued quickly. General Worksheet #1:
Proper Nouns 		General Worksheet #3:
The Great Divide 		Partner Activity - General Worksheet #2:
Adventure Sports 		Create a fact file about the State Emergency Services.
Zip Stage 7
The Bell and the Bushrangers
(Children in History) 		Worksheet #2:
Let’s Look at James 		Worksheet #3:
Eureka Wordsearch 		Worksheet #1:
Writing a letter about life on the Goldfields 		Worksheet #4:
Gold Rush & Eureka Stockade 		Use the Model Sheets to make the Paper Dolls.
Zip Stage 7
Secret Journey
(Children in History) 		Worksheet #1:
Character feelings grid 		Worksheet #3:
Cloze Activity 		Worksheet #2:
Design a travel poster 		Worksheet #4:
Paddle steamers & Riverboat Era 		Use the Model Sheets to make Steaming Sally and the Stage Coach.
Zip Stage 7
Runaway
(Children in History) 		Worksheet #2:
Journal Writing 		Worksheet #3:
Acrostic Poem 		Worksheet #1:
Write a newspaper report about the runaway train 		Worksheet #4:
Life in Australia in 1915 		Use the Model Sheets to make Chuffing Charlie.
Zip Stage 8
Two Hours From Town
(People) 		General Worksheet #1:
Meddling with Metaphors 		Classify examples of apostrophe use in the text as contractions or apostrophes of possession. General Worksheet #3:
Outback Emergency 		Collaboratively complete General Worksheet #2:
A Different Kind of School 		Design a poster warning tourists of the dangers of the Australian outback.
Zip Stage 9
Get Away!
(Comedy –
Advanced Library) 		Worksheet #1:
Cause and Effect 		Select 10 - 15 unknown words to create a glossary for the story e.g. calico, mongrel, kerosene Worksheet #2:
Extension Activities – Write a report or compose a ballad 		Worksheet #2:
Recite a ballad aloud 		Worksheet #1:
Extension Activity – Design a comic strip or digital animation
Zip Stage 9
The White Mouse
(Biography –
Advanced Library) 		Use the date references to create a timeline of events in the text. Worksheet #1:
Know your ‘-isms’ 		Worksheet #1:
Extension Activities – Write a report or argument 		Present responses to the Extension Activity from Worksheet #2 to an audience. Worksheet #2:
The Women of World War 2
Zip Stage 9
The Drifter
(People & Values –
Advanced Library) 		Worksheet #1:
Main Character Analysis 		Find the origin of these affixes: pre-, en-, dis-, un-, -ful, -less & -ness. Locate examples in the story. Worksheet #2:
Poetry Study 		Recite the World War 1 inspired poem In Flanders Field by John McCrae to an audience. Worksheet #2:
Extension activities -Poem study and composition
Zip Stage 10
Mayday
(True Tales -
Advanced Library) 		Explain briefly the sequence of events that led up to the Cookie Cutter being located. Worksheet #1:
Dot, Dot, Dot...
(ellipsis study) 		Worksheet #1:
Extension Activities – Information report or brochure 		Worksheet #2:
Extension Activities – Present chosen task to an audience 		Worksheet #2:
Measuring the Elements


Assessment Ideas

Spelling/Grammar
  • Generate spelling lists related to Australian themes e.g. native animals, aboriginal studies or specific historical events.
  • Use the Word Work and Spelling and Vocabulary Worksheets for the Reading Library genre stories to improve students’ spelling skills.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of capital letters by identifying states, territories, capital cities and major landmarks on a map of Australia.
  • Select a passage from one of the on-line stories as dictation assessing use of capital letters.
Reading
  • Complete the Fill the Gaps and Multiple Choice questions at the end of the story (available for the Junior Readers, Reading Library and Advanced Library genre stories).
  • Use the Learning Support Worksheets for the Reading Library genre stories to practise a range of reading skills.
  • Use one or more of the on-line stories to write descriptions of the characters in the format of a ‘Who Am I?’
  • Design a dust cover for one of the on-line stories including a detailed blurb on the back cover.
Writing
  • Visit a local Australian landmark or historical site. Write a recount about the day including a description of the significance of the site of the excursion.
  • Design an information booklet/brochure about an aspect of the Australian Outback e.g. Overland Telegraph, Mining Towns, Great Outback Explorers.
  • Write a reflective piece about what it means to be an Australian.
Oral Language
  • Hold an ‘Australiana’ day where student bring items to school that are specifically Australian. Each student presents his/her item to the class detailing its significance.
  • Recite Australian poetry such as ‘Mulga Bill’s Bicycle’ aloud using voice projection and intonation.
  • Create a slide show presentation about a topic based on an Australian theme e.g. Historical Events such as the Gold Rush, the arrival of the First Fleet, Gallipoli and Federation; Aboriginal Cultural Heritage such as Kinship, Sacred Sites, Ceremonies, Bush Tucker, Bush Medicine, Language, Traditional Clothing and Tribal Customs. Orally present slide show to the class.
Related Ziptales Activities:
  • Children in History Digital documentaries – Study background notes about important stages of Australian history including the Gold Rush, Eureka Stockade, riverboats and the Murray River system, the era of steam trains and events from World War 1.
  • Children in History - Hold a dress up day where children come to school dressed as a child from one of the stories.
  • Puppet Plays Worksheets: Script Ideas for Puppet Plays – Puppet play #1 – A Script for Australian Animal Characters.

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