[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L6 Reflecting and Evaluating

The Book

A Family Is a Family Is a Family

Written by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng, published by Groundwood Books

This heartwarming book celebrates diverse family structures and the love that binds them together. Through a classroom discussion, children share stories about their families, highlighting the uniqueness of each one while reinforcing the idea that all families are special.

This book provides opportunities for young students to explore concepts of family by recognising and describing family members (AC9HSFK01 – Foundation Year, Humanities and Social Sciences). It also encourages children to develop a sense of self within their family (AC9HPFP01 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education) while practising personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others, particularly in understanding inclusion and acceptance (AC9HPFP02 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education).

With its gentle storytelling and wonderful illustrations, A Family is a Family is a Family fosters empathy, respect, and an appreciation for the many forms that family can take.

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Resource creator

Steven Huynh

Subject

English Language and Literacy,

Level

Foundation,

Description

This is lesson 6 (the last lesson) of the Talk For Reading (T4R) unit of A Family is a Family is a Family. In this final Talk for Reading lesson, students will reflect on and evaluate the story. Through a fluency read-along, guided discussion, and a book review activity, students will express their opinions and consider how the book represents different families.

Learning Intentions

• We are learning to reflect on and evaluate the text.

Successful Criteria

• I can do a book review to share my feelings and thoughts about the story (AC9EFLE02).

Curriculum Alignment

AC9EFLE02 9.0 (English Language and Literacy Foundation): Respond to stories and share feelings and thoughts about their events and characters

• using drawing and beginning forms of writing to express personal responses to stories, poems or films
• discussing events and characters in texts, and connecting them to their own experiences

Materials

The Book: A Family is a Family is a Family.
A book review worksheet.

Instructions

📖 Last Read: Fluency Reading – Read Along

Read the book aloud, encouraging children to read along in small chunks where possible.

💬 Book Review Discussion Questions:

What do you like and dislike about the book?
What is one thing you learned from this book?
Is there any family in the book that looks like yours?
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

📝 Activity: Complete a Book Review Sheet

Children fill in a simple book review worksheet with:
- A rating (e.g., 👍 or 👎)
- Their favourite part of the story.
- One thing they learned.
- If they would recommend the book and why?