| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Reading |
| What topic | My Place Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins |
| What length (min) | 20 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 6 |
| Class size | 6 |
| What curriculum | Reading groups |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
My Place by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins
Year 6
Reading
6 Students
The lesson aligns with the Australian Curriculum for Reading, focusing on engaging with literary texts and developing interpretative skills.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to "My Place" | 5 min | Introduce the book and its authors. Discuss the cover and any prior knowledge of the book. |
| 2 | Group Reading | 5 min | Students read a selected excerpt from "My Place" in their groups. |
| 3 | Printable Card Activity | 4 min | Hand out printable cards for students to fill out with their thoughts while reading. |
| 4 | Group Discussion | 3 min | In their groups, students share their insights and discuss their responses from the cards. |
| 5 | Collection of Cards | 2 min | Randomly check or collect the completed cards without presentations by students. |
| 6 | Assigning Homework | 1 min | Briefly explain the homework assignment related to the book's themes or characters. |
Students are to complete a reading reflection based on "My Place" (specifics not included in the plan).
This lesson aims to foster a love of reading and critical thinking while allowing students to connect personally with the text.
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we are going to explore a wonderful book called My Place, written by Nadia Wheatley and illustrated by Donna Rawlins. This book takes us through different times and places in Australia, where we can see how a single location can change through time. Let’s take a look at the cover together. What do you notice? Have any of you heard of this book before or read it?"
Pause for responses.
"Great! Let's think about what we might learn from this story. As we go along, I want you all to consider how the characters in My Place might be similar to us and how the settings can reflect different aspects of Australian history."
"Now, let’s dive into the text. I’m going to distribute a brief excerpt from My Place. You will be divided into small groups, and I want you to read through it together. Remember, as you read, think about the characters and the setting, and keep an eye out for anything that strikes you as interesting or important."
Hand out the excerpts and give students time to read together.
"Alright, everyone! As you finish reading, I’ll pass out some printable cards. On these cards, I would like you to write down your thoughts about what you’ve just read. This could be your feelings about the characters, any questions you have, or connections you make to the themes in the book. You have about four minutes, so let's get started!"
Distribute the cards and monitor the students while they write.
"Time's up! Now let's gather back into our groups for a discussion. I want you to share your thoughts from the cards. What did you write? How do you feel about the characters and the story? Feel free to build off each other’s ideas as you discuss."
Walk around the class to encourage conversation and facilitate as needed.
"Thank you for sharing, everyone! I really enjoyed hearing your insights. Now, I’d like you to pass your printable cards to the front, so I can collect them. I’ll look through them to see what you thought as we continue our exploration of this book."
Collect the cards as students hand them in.
"Before we finish up for today, let’s talk about your homework assignment. I want you to write a reading reflection based on My Place. Think about the themes we've discussed and how you connect to the story. This reflection should include your thoughts on the characters and the setting, as well as any personal experiences that relate to what we've read. We will share some of these reflections in our next class."
Provide any additional instructions if necessary.
"Thank you for your participation today! I’m looking forward to hearing your reflections next class. Have a great day!"
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: Cover of the book My Place} | - Introduction to the book My Place by Nadia Wheatley and illustrated by Donna Rawlins. |
| - Discussion on the cover: Observations and prior knowledge. | ||
| - Exploring themes of change over time in Australia. | ||
| 2 | {Image: Students reading in groups} | - Group reading of an excerpt from My Place. |
| - Focus on characters and setting. | ||
| - Identifying interesting or important elements in the text. | ||
| 3 | {Image: Printable cards and pens} | - Printable card activity: Writing down thoughts about the reading. |
| - Encourage feelings, questions, and theme connections. | ||
| - Time allocated: 4 minutes for writing. | ||
| 4 | {Image: Students discussing in groups} | - Group discussion of thoughts shared from the cards. |
| - Sharing insights about characters and the story. | ||
| - Building off each other’s ideas. | ||
| 5 | {Image: Student writing homework} | - Assigning homework: Reading reflection on My Place. |
| - Reflection should include thoughts on themes, characters, and personal connections. | ||
| - Anticipation of sharing reflections in the next class. |
What is the main theme of the book My Place? Discuss in your own words how this theme is represented through the characters and setting.
Describe one character from My Place. What are their key traits, and how do they relate to the setting of the story?
How does the book illustrate the changes in a single location over time? Provide an example from the text to support your explanation.
Reflect on your personal experiences. Can you think of a place that has changed over time in your life? Write a short paragraph comparing that place to the location in My Place.
Choose an illustration from My Place that stood out to you. What emotions or thoughts does this illustration evoke? Explain your response.
In groups, discuss what you think the author, Nadia Wheatley, wanted readers to learn from My Place. What messages do you think the story conveys about history and identity?
Write a brief summary of the excerpt you read in class. Focus on the main events and characters involved, and how they reflect the overall story.
What questions do you still have after reading My Place? List at least three questions that you would like to explore further.
How does the setting in My Place impact the characters' experiences? Provide specific examples from the text that illustrate this relationship.
Choose a theme from My Place that resonates with you personally. Explain why this theme is significant and how it relates to your own life experiences.
The main theme of My Place is the exploration of identity and history through the lens of a single location, highlighting how places evolve and affect those who inhabit them.
One character from My Place is... (Please provide the name of a character). Their key traits include... (Describe key traits), and they relate to the setting by... (Explain the connection).
The book illustrates changes in a location over time by... (Provide an example from the text).
A place that has changed in my life is... (Answer based on personal experience).
The illustration that stood out to me is... (Describe the illustration). It evokes... (Explain response).
I think the author wanted readers to learn... (Summarize the group's discussion about the author's intent).
The summary of the excerpt includes... (Summarize the main events and characters).
My questions after reading My Place include: (List three questions).
The setting impacts the characters' experiences by... (Provide specific examples).
A theme from My Place that resonates with me is... (State the theme), and it is significant because... (Explain personal relevance).
| Question | Answer |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| What are the main themes you think are presented in *My Place*? | |
| How does the setting of *My Place* change throughout the book? | |
| Can you identify any similarities between the characters in *My Place* and yourself? | |
| What emotions did you feel while reading the excerpt? | |
| How does the author, Nadia Wheatley, depict Australian history through the story? | |
| What specific events or details stood out to you in the reading? | |
| In what ways do the characters’ experiences reflect different aspects of life in Australia? | |
| How does the illustration style impact your understanding of the story? | |
| What questions do you have about the characters or events in the story? | |
| How might your personal experiences connect to the themes explored in *My Place*? | |How do you think the setting of My Place reflects changes in Australian culture over time, and can you think of a similar place in your own life that has changed?
If you were one of the characters in My Place, how would you feel about the events happening around you? Can you describe a specific moment and your feelings about it?
What similarities do you see between the characters in My Place and people you know? Can you share an example from your own life?
Imagine you could add a new character to My Place. Who would they be and how would they influence the story's themes of time and place?
After reading the excerpt, what question do you have about the characters or the setting that might help us understand the story better?