The Nature of Writing is an approx. 1.5 hr Literacy incursion using environmental themes to focus on a number of English objectives focusing on narrative and factual language forms and features.
Students will be introduced to narrative and factual texts through an investigation of quality literature. Students will also be supported to create an eBook based on an investigation of a selected invertebrate.
Key syllabus outcomes
A student:
- identifies and uses language forms and features in their own writing appropriate to a range of purposes, audiences and contexts EN2‑7B
- uses effective and accurate sentence structure, grammatical features, punctuation conventions and vocabulary relevant to the type of text when responding to and composing texts EN2‑9B
- responds to and composes a range of texts that express viewpoints of the world similar to and different from their own EN2‑11D
- uses effective handwriting and publishes texts using digital technologies EN2‑3A
Skills Outcomes
During the program, students will:
- identify and analyse the purpose and audience of imaginative, informative and persuasive texts
- describe how audience and purpose impact on language forms and features in imaginative and informative texts
- use images in imaginative, informative and persuasive texts to enhance meaning
- discuss how texts, including their own, are adjusted to appeal to different audiences, how texts develop the subject matter and how they serve a wide variety of purposes
- compare and review written and visual texts for different purposes and audiences
The Cross Curriculum Priorities area of ‘Sustainability’ is also a feature of this program.
On the day activities
During the incursion, students will:
- Listen to the story, Searching for Cicadas’ by Leslie Gibbes and Judy Watson, to understand and appreciate narrative and factual texts;
- Learn about the life cycles of earth worms and/or stick insects as a souce for planning composing and reviewing simple imaginative, informative and persuasive texts on familiar topics;
- Be guided through the writing process by an experienced English teacher;
- Construct an eBook about Worms and/or Phasmids (stick Insects).
Pre visit and follow up resources
Pre visit activities
Activities prior to the delivery of the program will help prepare students for the day as well as link the program to the class program.
These could include:
- Visit MyLearning Minibeasts (on the whiteboard) and learn more about invertebrates.
- Share eBook Text Phasmids.
Follow up activities
- Create models of either worms or phasmids showing features and adaptations of these creatures.
- View the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre Multi Touch e-book called Invertebrate Explorer to learn more about classifying invertebrates.
Pre and Post visit Resources PDF 91KB
Incursion program downloads
Download these documents to help with your incursion planning:
- Program and teachers checklist (DOCX 1MB)
- Risk assessment plan (DOC 64KB)
- The nature of writing (PDF 433 KB)