Course Plan: Exploring Narrative Texts - "Storm Boy" by Colin Thiele
Course Introduction
Welcome to the Year 5 English course on "Storm Boy," a captivating narrative text written by Colin Thiele. This course aims to immerse students in the world of literature, particularly focusing on storytelling elements, themes, and character development. "Storm Boy" offers rich opportunities to explore friendship, nature, and resilience, making it an ideal text for comprehension and critical discussion.
The course is designed to cater to all learners, including those from EALD (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) backgrounds. We aim to enhance language skills through reading, speaking, writing, and listening activities focused on the narrative genre. By the end of this course, students will have a deeper understanding of narrative texts and will be able to express their thoughts and analyses effectively.
Course Goals and Aims
Goals
- Develop an understanding of narrative text structure and elements.
- Enhance reading comprehension skills through individual and group discussions.
- Foster creative writing skills by encouraging students to produce their own narrative texts.
- Strengthen vocabulary and language proficiency, especially for EALD learners.
Aims
- To introduce students to the key themes and concepts in "Storm Boy."
- To enable students to analyse characters and settings in the narrative.
- To assist EALD learners in overcoming language barriers through tailored support and productive classroom practices.
- To encourage personal connection to the material through reflective writing activities.
Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to "Storm Boy"
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Narrative Genre
- Define narrative texts and their key elements (characters, setting, plot).
- Introduce "Storm Boy" and its author, Colin Thiele.
- Discuss the importance of narrative in culture and education.
Lesson 2: Exploring Themes and Setting
- Identify the main themes such as nature, friendship, and loss.
- Discuss the setting of "Storm Boy" and its significance.
- Group activity: Illustrate the setting of the story and share with the class.
Module 2: Characters and Plot Development
Lesson 3: Character Analysis
- Examination of main characters: Storm Boy, Fingerbone Bill, and the pelicans.
- Discuss characters’ motivations and relationships.
- Use graphic organizers to compare characters.
Lesson 4: Plot Structure
- Teach the structure of narrative plots (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution).
- Identify these elements within "Storm Boy."
- Create a storyboard summarizing the plot.
Module 3: Critical Thinking and Discussion
Lesson 5: Discussion and Reflection
- Group discussions on key events in the story.
- Encourage students to share personal reflections and opinions about the characters and themes.
- Use guided questions to facilitate discussion.
Lesson 6: Language and Vocabulary Building
- Focus on vocabulary from "Storm Boy" and narrative style.
- Engage in activities such as vocabulary games and sentence creation based on context.
- Tailor exercises to support EALD learners in acquiring new vocabulary.
Module 4: Creative Expression and Assessment
Lesson 7: Creative Writing Project
- Students create their own short narrative inspired by "Storm Boy."
- Emphasize including key elements of narrative writing.
- Peer review sessions to provide constructive feedback.
- Final assessment: Share narratives with the class and reflect on the writing process.
References
This interactive and comprehensive course aims to cultivate a love for literature among Year 5 students while also providing valuable opportunities for EALD learners to flourish in their English language development.