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Young children have a natural curiosity about their
physical, social and technological world. They have a
strong desire to make sense of their world...
They construct and review their understandings through
interaction with others, direct and vicarious experiences...
It is important that learning experiences build upon each
child's understandings, skills, values and experiences
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Children have frequent opportunities
to listen to, view and read a wide variety of stories,
poems, films and other texts for enjoyment.
Teachers read a wide range of texts to students to develop
an understanding of story, conventions of print, imagination
and critical literacy skills. |
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| The family as a key social group is
a focus for investigation. Children investigate what it
is like growing up in different kinds of families and
become aware of the effects of changing roles and relationships
in the family and other important social groups. |
Young children can be introduced to the metaphor
of books as Doorways by using literature to investigate
the lifestyles of different families.
Stimulate children's thinking, listening, speaking, writing,
viewing and artistic skills, and expand their literary experiences
through the sharing of a wide variety of stories and poems that
provide a glimpse into family life in Australia. Incorporate
stories that reflect the diversity of families in your classroom
and in the wider community to enable children to relate to their
own experiences and also challenge and broaden their understanding
of families.
Click on the approaches listed below
for learning ideas and fiction titles to get you started.
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| Students respond to texts
in many different ways. These provide the
means through which students can demonstrate
understanding and interpretation of texts. |
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Students could reflect on their own experiences
of family life and compare them to those in the
texts through talking, drawing, role-play, dramatising
and writing thus developing their reading, viewing,
speaking, listening, writing and thinking skills.
For example, students could:
- Develop a questionnaire
to find out the country of origin of immediate
family members after reading The
Wishing Cupboard.
- Draw and label a simple family
tree.
- Collate the countries of origin
of family members represented in the class and
present results on simple bar graphs. Mark the
countries on a wall map.
- Paint a family portrait
of their family after reading This
is Me Clarice Bean or A
Year on Our Farm.
- Discuss the different family
lifestyles depicted in a range of family stories.
In groups list the similarities and differences
between the families.
- Dramatise an incident from
one of the Hannah
stories.
- Make a class book including
words and pictures to describe local family
activities and backyards after reading Ernie
Dances to the Didgeridoo,
In
My Backyard and A
Year on Our farm
- Present a short talk about
a special family ritual or celebration as in
Let's
Eat
- Write a poem or story about their
family
- List all the words that
describe sounds heard in In
My Backyard. Brainstorm
a similar list of sounds heard in the neighbourhood
where students live. Write a class poem incorporating
these sound words.
- Write a letter to a grandparent
or family member retelling a significant family
event.
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BINCH, Caroline. Since
Dad Left
Scholastic, 1998
Picture Book. When Sid's parents separate he has great
difficulty coming to terms with it. There are many conflicting
emotions that he now has to cope with and he is hurt and angry.
However, with the love and support of his parents he is gradually
able to adapt to the change. Realistic illustrations portray
the depth of emotion and enhance the readability of the text.
Separation, divorce, custody and access visits are very delicate
topics and they impact heavily on many children's lives. This
book deals with them sensitively, providing positive outcomes
and enables children to relate to Sid and his feelings and reactions.
CHILD,
Lauren. This
is Me Clarice Bean
Picture Book. Full of warmth and humour, this is the story
of Clarice Bean who lives with her extended family, in a situation
where peace and quiet is a sought-after luxury. Busy, colourful
illustrations and humorous, easy-to-read, interesting text provide
a realistic insight into family life.
DUMBLETON, Mike. Downsized
Random House, 1999
Illustrated by Tom Jellett
Picture Book. When Dad comes home from work one day and
announces he has been downsized, Mum has to explain that it
doesn't mean losing weight, it means losing his job. This book
explores the problems the family has to deal with when Dad is
unemployed. In an effort to raise Dad from his despondency,
his young daughter involves him in the creation of a new garden.
Sensitively written, with a touch of humour this story can be
appreciated on several levels.
CBCA Notable Picture Book 2002
GLEESON, Libby. Skating
on Sand
Illustrated by Ann James.
Penguin, 1995
Early Novel. Hannah's determination to roller-skate properly
is the feature of this gentle family story. Despite being told
not to, Hannah takes her skates when the family go camping by
the sea. Although there are no smooth surfaces, Hannah puts
on her skates and refuses to take them off regardless of the
inconvenience. At 87 pages it is a ' just right' length for
good Year 3 and Middle Childhood readers, mainly girls. Younger
readers will enjoy having it read aloud.
SEQUELS:
Hannah
Plus One
Penguin 1998
Early Novel. Another engaging and highly recommended family
story about Hannah. Hannah's mother is expecting a baby and
since Hannah already has older twin sisters she is worried that
this baby will turn out to be twins too, making her yet again
the odd one out. Libby Gleeson's ability to capture accurately,
the thoughts and emotions of children and the dynamics of family
life is evident once more, in this funny and touching story.
The short chapters and interesting storyline, interspersed with
appropriate drawings, make this a perfect story to read aloud
to younger students to develop their listening skills. It is
a good reading book for Year fours and a challenging read for
Year threes.
CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers, 1997
Hannah
and the Tomorrow Room
Penguin, 1999
Hannah is very excited, because at long last her parents have
nearly finished painting the 'tomorrow room', a new bedroom
that has been built on for Hannah and the baby to share. However,
all the plans are thrown awry when grandad becomes ill and moves
into the new room.
CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers, 2000 Shortlist
HATHORN, Libby.
The
Wishing Cupboard
Lothian, 2002
Picture Book. As Tran anxiously waits for his mother to
bring his small cousin Lan back from Vietnam, his grandmother
introduces him to the wishing cupboard. The inviting cover and
highly textured, richly coloured illustrations are evocative
and appealing. Text colour varies and can be a little difficult
for younger children to read. This is a great book to read as
a lead up to looking at family trees and genealogy and for introducing
the issue of different cultural beliefs and diversity.
HILTON, Nette. In
My Backyard
Illustrated by Anne Spudvilas.
Lothian, 2001
Picture Book. Even the cover of this intriguing book challenges
the reader to make sense of the way the illustration is at odds
with the title. 'In my backyard' implies grass, trees, a sand
pit, clothesline. What the picture shows is a city skyline seen
from the vantage point of a fire escape stair on what you guess
might be a multi-story apartment block.
The lyrical text deliberately maintains this incongruity with
the vibrantly coloured illustrations and, through this incongruity,
both complement and extend each other to provide a rich reading
experience.
Prosaically, this is a simple story that tells of a day in the
life of three city children as they explore their 'backyard'
of streets, which are full of life and movement and noise. The
small boy describes the city in jungle metaphors where freeways
are 'metal streams'; tall buildings are 'mountains'; cars and
buses are 'dinosaurs' that swallow people whole; and the gangs
of children are 'tribes'.
Younger children will relate to the urban Australian scenes
depicted in the representational oil on canvas paintings and
the poetic and original language capture city life. There is
a pulsating sense of rhythm in the written text, as action,
noises and emotions are conveyed. Excellent use of colour depicts
the city by day in bright sunshine and by night in subtle twilight
shades decorated with bright streetlights and neon signs.
CBCA Picture Book of the Year, 2001 Shortlist
KLEIN, Robin. Barney's
Blues
Penguin, 1998
Linked Stories. Poor Barney, with parents who are busy
musicians and a brother and sister four years older than him,
it's no wonder he feels ignored and mostly mistreated. However,
using his imagination and with some help from Nan, Barney finally
has his revenge. Children will relate to the sibling rivalry
and enjoy the humour in this family story. Ideal for reading
aloud to Year 3s and for independent reading by older students.
CBCA Notable Book
LESTER,
Alison. Ernie
Dances to the Didgeridoo
Hodder headline, Australia, 2000
Picture Book. When Ernie spends a year in Arnhem Land he writes
to his friends at the beginning of each of the six Arnhem
Land seasons. Striking, colourful illustrations accompany
Ernie's letters, providing a wonderful insight into the culture
of the Aboriginal people who live in this region.
CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year, Shortlist 2001
MATTHEWS, Penny
& McLEAN, Andrew. A
Year on Our Farm.
Omnibus Books, 2002
Picture Book. An account of the lifestyle and work on
a typical Australian sheep farm, as seen through the eyes of
the young children who live there. McLean's distinctive, soft
watercolour illustrations are appealing and enrich the minimal,
easy-to-read text. A four-page handout of Teacher's notes is
also available
CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year 2003
CBCA Picture Book of the Year, 2003 Honour Book
NORMAN, Lilith and YOUNG, Noela. Grandpa
Margaret Hamilton Books, 1998
Picture Book. This is a beautiful book with exquisite,
old-fashioned illustrations. Blake can appreciate Grandpa while
being driven up the wall by him; the parents, too, are tormented
to distraction by the contrary old man, but there's a level
of compassion and understanding ,which is lovely. This is not
an idealised view of families. It could be said that this is
the true nature of relationships across the generations.
CBCA Picture Book of the Year, 1999, Honour Book
Kids Best: Australian Books
for Children and Young Adults, 1996 - 2000. Primary English
Teaching Association, 2000. p. 148
RIPPIN, Sally. Speak
Chinese, Fang Fang!
Omnibus Books, 1996
Picture Book. Fang Fang is a young girl who migrated to
Australia from China with her parents when she was little. Her
desire to be as Australian as her classmates brings her into
conflict with her mother, who is anxious that Fang Fang does
not lose her cultural heritage. However, when Fang Fang's cousin
Lily visits from China, Fang Fang is delighted to find that
Lily speaks perfect English and is interested in the same music
and singers. Colourful, striking illustrations ably depict the
attitudes and emotions of the characters.
SYME, Marguerite Hann. Chickpea
Early Novel. Its realistic portrayal of an Iranian refugee family
adds depth to this simple story about a boy and his pet chicken.
Employing an economical writing style, the author shows respect
for her young readers, and achieves a range of emotions.
CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers, 1998 Shortlist
Excerpt from CBCA Judges review
in Kids Best:
Australian Books for Children and Young Adults 1996-2000.
Primary English Teaching Association, 2000. p 107.
ZAMORANO, Ana.
Let's
Eat
Illustrated by Julie Vivas
Picture Book. A young boy tells of his family's lunchtime
ritual in this story about a Spanish family.
CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers, 1996 Honour Book
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