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Vocabulary expansion

Books, Activities and Lessons to Grow Word Knowledge
  • This section highlights books, activities, and lessons that support the development of rich and meaningful vocabulary for children in Foundation (age 5), Year 1 (age 6), and Year 2 (age 7).
  • Books tagged in this section are worth exploring for their notable vocabulary, which may include:
    – Learning area-specific words related to Science, Mathematics, HaSS, or other subjects
    – Words from First Nations Australians’ languages, relevant to the topic or setting
    – Descriptive and expressive words used to bring characters, actions or settings to life. For example, a phrase like “stomping, kicking, roaring, I ran to the Zen corner” is rich with vivid, purposeful language.
  • Activities and lessons in this section are tagged when vocabulary is the main focus, helping children build word knowledge through playful exploration, word mapping, sentence-building, or oral language games.
  • These resources align with the Australian Curriculum and are offered as references to support educators and families in expanding children’s language skills across contexts.
Resource Type
Level
  • The Shouting Girl: L5 Building Vocabulary
    ✎ 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.

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

    The Shouting Girl

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

    The poem 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.

    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)
  • Plants Can’t Sit Still
    📔 Book

    Plants Can’t Sit Still

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

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

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

    Shapes of Australia

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

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

    Stay For Dinner

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

    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)