Vocabulary expansion

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Planning a T4R Unit for Let’s Build a Boat For Years 1/2

Plan a T4R unit for Let’s Build a Boat. Blend literacy, design, testing, and engineering with collaborative benefits in fun Year 1/2 classroom lessons.
✎ Activity

The Shouting Girl: L5 Building Vocabulary
📔 The Shouting Girl by Steven Huynh
• We are learning to understand the meaning of unknown words in the text.

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AC9E2LA08 (English Language and Literacy – Year 2) AC9E2LA09 (English Language and Literacy – Year 2)
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The Shouting Girl

Written by Steven Huynh
Illustrated by Gehenna Pham
Published by Steven De GC
Theme/topic: Emotion recognition, Emotional regulation, Inclusion, Recount, Rhyme, Vocabulary expansion,

The story follows a young girl who struggles to express herself calmly, often shouting when she feels frustrated or unheard. Through her journey, she learns to recognise and understand her emotions (AC9HPFP03, AC9HP2P03 – Foundation to Year 2, Health and Physical Education) and works to develop positive strategies for expressing her thoughts and feelings in respectful ways (AC9HPFP02, AC9HP2P02 – Foundation to Year 2, Health and Physical Education).

The story also encourages children to explore characters’ perspectives and emotional responses, fostering empathy (AC9HP2P01 – Health and Physical Education, Years 1 and 2). It helps them define safe and unsafe environments, such as calm corners, through interactions with friends in a classroom, establishing help-seeking strategies in such situations (AC9HP2P05 – Health and Physical Education, Years 1 and 2).

With its poetic language and engaging illustrations, The Shouting Girl helps students understand how rhyme and rhythm create cohesion in a text. It also explores how words and images shape settings and characters, along with other literary features such as lists of three and similes.

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AC9E1LA04 (English Language and Literacy – Year 1) AC9E2LE03 (English Language and Literacy – Year 2) AC9E2LE04 (English Language and Literacy – Year 2) AC9HP2P01 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1, Year 2) AC9HP2P02 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1, Year 2) AC9HP2P03 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1, Year 2) AC9HP2P05 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1, Year 2) AC9HPFP02 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation) AC9HPFP03 (Health and Physical Education – Foundation)
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Plants Can’t Sit Still

Written by Rebecca Hirsh
Illustrated by Mia Posada
Published by Millbrook Picture Books
Theme/topic: Basic needs, External features, Vocabulary expansion,

Plants Can’t Sit Still is a fascinating and poetic exploration of the many ways plants move, grow, and respond to their environment. Through engaging text and vivid illustrations, the book challenges the common perception that plants are motionless, showcasing how they creep, climb, curl, and reach toward the sun. It helps young readers observe and understand the external features of plants and how they help them survive (AC9SFU01 – Foundation Year, Science). The book also supports learning about how plants, like other living things, have basic needs, such as water, sunshine, and room to grow (AC9S1U01 – Year 1, Science). With its dynamic storytelling and rich scientific concepts, Plants Can’t Sit Still encourages curiosity about the natural world and inspires children to observe plants in action.

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AC9S1U01 (Science – Year 1) AC9SFU01 (Science – Foundation)
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The Rainy Day

Written by Anna Milbourne
Illustrated by Sarah Gill
Published by Usborne Picture Books
Theme/topic: Vocabulary expansion, 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.

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AC9S1U02 (Science – Year 1) ACSSU004 (Science – Foundation)
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Shapes of Australia

Written & illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft
Published by Little Hare Books
Theme/topic: Culture, First Nations, Shapes, Visual Arts, Vocabulary expansion,

The book is an artistic exploration of Australia’s diverse landscapes through the lens of geometric shapes. The book introduces young readers to the natural world by identifying and describing various shapes found in the environment, such as circles in the treetops, triangles in the mountains, and spirals in shells. This aligns with the learning objective AC9MFSP01, ACMMG006 (Mathematics, Foundation Year), which focuses on identifying and describing familiar two-dimensional shapes in the environment. Additionally, the book supports AC9AVAFD01, ACAVAM106 (Visual Arts, Foundation Year) by encouraging young readers to explore how visual arts express ideas about the world. Through Bancroft’s detailed and culturally rich illustrations, children learn to interpret and appreciate the unique beauty of Country through the use of shapes and patterns in visual storytelling. This beautifully illustrated book not only enhances children’s geometric understanding but also deepens their appreciation for the visual arts, making it a valuable resource for integrated learning in mathematics and art.

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AC9AVAFD01 (Visual Arts – Foundation) AC9MFSP01 (Mathematics – Foundation) ACAVAM106 (Visual Arts – Foundation, Year 1, Year 2) ACMMG009 (Mathematics – Foundation)
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Stay For Dinner

Written by Sandhya Parappukkaran
Illustrated by Michelle Pereira
Published by Bright Light
Theme/topic: Culture, Diversity, Emotion recognition, Identity, Narrative, Vocabulary expansion,

Stay for Dinner by Sandhya Parappukkaran is a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity and the connections made through shared meals. The story centres on a family preparing a special dinner for their child’s friends, offering a glimpse into various mealtime customs and table manners (AC9HP2P01 – Years 1 and 2, Health and Physical Education). Through the lens of this dinner, the book explores the emotional responses and questions that arise from cultural traditions (AC9HP2P03 – Years 1 and 2, Health and Physical Education), encouraging children to embrace diversity and appreciate the richness of different cultural backgrounds (AC9HP2P02 – Years 1 and 2, Health and Physical Education).

The narrative is brought to life with vivid sound and imagery words such as “squish,” “splash,” “slice,” and “prong,” capturing the sensory experience of the meal. Culinary terms like “papadum,” “sadhya,” and “dumpling” add authenticity and depth, inviting readers into the world of diverse cuisines. As the main character reflects on her and her friends’ mealtime experiences, the story underscores the importance of understanding and respecting different customs, fostering a sense of togetherness and mutual respect.

With its rich illustrations and heartwarming themes, Stay for Dinner inspires children to find joy in sharing meals and traditions, highlighting the value of friendship and cultural appreciation.

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AC9HP2P01 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1, Year 2) AC9HP2P02 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1, Year 2) AC9HP2P03 (Health and Physical Education – Year 1, Year 2)

Books, Activities and Lessons to Grow Word Knowledge

Planning a T4R Unit for Let’s Build a Boat For Years 1/2

The Shouting Girl: L5 Building Vocabulary

The Shouting Girl

Plants Can’t Sit Still

The Rainy Day

Shapes of Australia

Stay For Dinner