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Foundation

Children’s Picture Books and Activities Aligned with the Australian Curriculum for Foundation Year

This section brings together children’s books, learning activities, and lessons suitable for Foundation year students (age 5), aligned with the Australian Curriculum. Resources span key learning areas including English, Mathematics, Science, Design and Technologies, Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS), and Health and Physical Education.

Whether you’re a teacher planning your week or a parent supporting learning at home, you’ll find age-appropriate content to engage early learners through stories, hands-on exploration, and creative play.

If you’re looking for specific themes or topics across multiple year levels (such as for a split class), we recommend browsing through our Subject section for more targeted results.

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✎ Activity

How Rain Affects Our Environment
📔 The Rainy Day by Anna Milbourne
• We are learning how rainy weather affects plants, animals, and people.

FREE

AC9S1I01 (Science – Year 1) AC9S1U02 (Science – Year 1) ACSIS014 (Science – Foundation) ACSSU004 (Science – Foundation)
✎ Activity

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L4 Connecting to a Similar Text
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• We are learning to extend our connections to a similar text.

BUY ~~$2.99~~ $1.29 FREE

AC9AVAFC01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9EFLY01 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HSFS03 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) AC9HSFS05 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
✎ Activity

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L3 Making Personal Connections
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• We are learning to make personal connections with the text.

BUY ~~$2.99~~ $1.29 FREE

AC9AVAFC01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9EFLE02 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HSFS03 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) AC9HSFS05 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
✎ Activity

Little Cloud Adventure
📔 Little Cloud by Eric Carle
• We are learning to observe how clouds change shape and move in the sky.

AC9AVA2C01 (Visual Arts – Year 1, Year 2) AC9AVAFC01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9S1I01 (Science – Year 1) AC9S1U02 (Science – Year 1) ACAVAM106 (Visual Arts – Foundation, Year 1, Year 2) ACAVAM107 (Visual Arts – Foundation, Year 1, Year 2) ACSHE013 (Science – Foundation) ACSIS011 (Science – Foundation) ACSIS014 (Science – Foundation) ACSSU004 (Science – Foundation)
✎ Activity

Finding Your Voice
📔 The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
• We are learning to explore ways to include ourselves in play.

AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HPFP04 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
✎ Activity

What Friends Do – Exploring Inclusion
📔 Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
• We are learning to recognise how it feels to be excluded and to think of ways to make sure everyone feels welcome in our classroom.

AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
✎ Activity

Fair is Fair
📔 Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
• We are learning to understand how it feels to be excluded and to think of ways to include others in play.

AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
📑 Article

What is Talk For Reading and Why Talk For Reading?

Discover how Talk For Reading enhances early childhood literacy through storytelling, discussion, and hands-on learning in Foundation to Year 2 Australian classrooms.
✎ Activity

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L2 Making Predictions
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• We are learning to make predictions about the text.

BUY ~~$4.99~~ $1.99 FREE

AC9EFLA07 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9EFLE02 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9EFLY02 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9EFLY05 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HPFP01 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
✎ Activity

[T4R] A Family is a Family is a Family: L1 Background Knowledge
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• We are learning to build our background knowledge to help us comprehend a text.

BUY ~~$2.99~~ $1.29 FREE

AC9EFLY05 (English Language and Literacy – Foundation) AC9HSFK01 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation) AC9HSFS04 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
✎ Activity

My Family Tree
📔 A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary
• I am learning to identify and represent the members of my family.

FREE

AC9HSFK01 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
📔 Book

A Family Is a Family Is a Family

Written by Sara O’Leary
Illustrated by Qin Leng
Published by Groundwood Books
Theme/topic: Diversity, Family history, Identity, and Recount

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.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9HPFP01 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HSFK01 (Humanities and Social Sciences – Foundation)
📑 Article

Teaching Emotions in Foundation Class with Engaging Books & Activities

Help foundation class teachers teach emotions effectively with three engaging books and activities. Perfect for Health & PE lessons!
✎ Activity

What Makes You Feel Happy?
📔 I Have Feelings by Jana Hunter
• Students are learning about different feelings and what makes them feel that way.

AC9HPFP03 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) ACPPS005 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
📔 Book

I Have Feelings

Written by Jana Hunter
Illustrated by Sue Porter
Published by Mondo Pub
Theme/topic: Emotion recognition and Emotional regulation

I Have Feelings by Jana Hunter is a sweet story that explores the wide range of emotions children experience. Through relatable scenarios and simple text, the book helps young readers recognise and understand their own feelings, such as happiness, sadness, and anger, and what triggers those feelings. This book serves as an excellent resource to support children in describing and express emotions they experience in an appropriate way (AC9HPFP03 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education).

With its vibrant illustrations and engaging narrative, I Have Feelings encourages children to express their emotions in a healthy and constructive way. It provides a perfect opportunity to discuss emotional literacy, social skills, and respectful interactions with peers.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9HPFP03 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
📔 Book

Little Cloud

Written & illustrated by Eric Carle
Published by World of Eric Carle
Theme/topic: Weather changes

Little Cloud by Eric Carle is a beautifully illustrated story that follows a small cloud as it drifts across the sky, changing into different shapes before joining other clouds to bring rain. The book encourages young readers to observe and explore daily changes in weather patterns through clouds and understand clouds are part of the water cycle (ACSSU004 – Foundation Year, Science; AC9S1U02 – Year 1, Science).

Through Carle’s signature collage-style illustrations and simple yet engaging text, Little Cloud inspires children to use their imagination while learning about the natural world. The book also provides opportunities for discussions about how clouds form, change, and contribute to the environment, making it a wonderful resource for early science learning.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9S1U02 (Science – Year 1) ACSSU004 (Science – Foundation)
📔 Book

The Rainy Day

Written by Anna Milbourne
Illustrated by Sarah Gill
Published by Usborne Picture Books
Theme/topic: Vocabulary expansion and Weather impacts

The book explores weather patterns and the daily changes in the environment during a rainy day. As the characters observe the sky darkening, raindrops falling, and puddles forming, students are encouraged to describe daily changes in the environment and explore how these changes affect everyday life (ACSSU004 – Foundation Year; AC9S1U02 – Year 1, Science).

Teachers can explore these suggested learning points with children: investigating how changes in the weather affect plants and animals, including humans; exploring how people make clothing choices using predictions of weather; and investigating how rain or clouds are formed.

With engaging language and vivid imagery, The Rainy Day supports early scientific thinking by prompting discussions about the water cycle, seasonal changes, and the role of rain in nature. This book is an excellent resource for developing curiosity and appreciation for the natural world.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9S1U02 (Science – Year 1) ACSSU004 (Science – Foundation)
📔 Book

The Invisible Boy

Written by Trudy Ludwig
Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Published by Rhus Children’s Books
Theme/topic: Friendship and Inclusion

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig is a touching story that highlights the importance of kindness, inclusion, and empathy. Brian, a quiet and overlooked boy, often feels invisible among his classmates—until a new student, Justin, arrives and helps him find his voice. Through expressive illustrations and a heartfelt narrative, the story encourages children to recognise the impact of their actions and words in making others feel valued.

This book provides an opportunity for children to practise personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others (AC9HPFP02 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education). By identifying characters who have been excluded, exploring the reasons behind their exclusion, and discussing how others could have been more inclusive, The Invisible Boy fosters discussions on empathy and belonging. A powerful resource for developing emotional intelligence, this story encourages young readers to build inclusive and compassionate relationships.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
📔 Book

Can I Play Too?

Written & illustrated by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
Theme/topic: Friendship, Inclusion, and Persistence

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems is a heartwarming and humorous story about friendship, inclusion, and problem-solving. When a new friend, Snake, wants to join Elephant and Piggie’s game of catch, the duo faces a challenge—how can someone without arms play? Through their creativity and determination, the friends work together to find a way for everyone to be included.

This engaging story provides an opportunity for children to practise personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others (AC9HPFP02 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education). Teachers and students can explore how characters experience exclusion, discuss why it happens, and consider ways to make activities more inclusive. With its simple yet expressive illustrations and playful dialogue, Can I Play Too? fosters inclusion, empathy, problem-solving, and cooperation, making it a valuable resource for early childhood social-emotional learning.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
📔 Book

Strictly No Elephants

Written by Lisa Mantchev
Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Theme/topic: Friendship, Inclusion, and Persistence

This heartwarming book talks about friendship, inclusion, and embracing differences. The book follows a young boy and his tiny pet elephant as they excitedly approach a pet club meeting, only to be turned away by a sign that reads “Strictly No Elephants.” Undeterred, the boy and his elephant set out to create their own inclusive club, welcoming all kinds of pets and friends.

This uplifting story encourages children to practise personal and social skills to interact respectfully with others (AC9HPFP02 – Foundation Year, Health and Physical Education). Through the experiences of the main character and his elephant, young readers can identify characters who have been excluded, explore the reasons behind their exclusion, and discuss how others could have acted more inclusively. The book’s gentle message, paired with its expressive illustrations, reinforces the value of belonging and the power of creating welcoming spaces for everyone. Strictly No Elephants is an inspiring read that fosters empathy, emotional intelligence, and social awareness in young readers.

RESOURCES BUY

AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)