In this unit, students will explore diverse themes from selected texts, including Koala Ark and Sophie Scott Goes South, while developing their artistic skills in drawing, painting, and collage. Through hands-on activities, students will create artworks that reflect their understanding of colour theory, cultural symbolism, and environmental awareness. They will engage with the Visual Arts syllabus outcomes (VAS1.1, VAS1.2, VAS1.3, VAS1.4) by making artworks about their experiences, using various forms and techniques, appreciating the work of artists, and interpreting the meanings of their creations. This unit fosters creativity, fine motor skills, and a deeper connection to the natural world.
The drama unit based on the book "Fox" by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks aims to develop students' literacy and English skills while exploring complex characters and human emotions. The unit focuses on confidence in oracy, descriptive language, and inferential comprehension. Throughout the unit, various drama activities are employed to engage students and deepen their understanding of the key themes present in the text. Activities include Freeze Frames depicting emotions and themes, sculpting to explore character physicality, role-playing scenes to delve into character motivations, and Hot Seat sessions to explore characters' decisions and perspectives. The unit encourages students to think critically about the characters' roles, relationships, and attitudes, as well as their own interpretations of the story's events. Students explore themes of friendship, power, vulnerability, risk, temptation, and betrayal. The drama unit not only facilitates creative expression but also promotes empathy and deeper comprehension of the story's human context, despite the characters being animals. It encourages students to reflect on emotions, relationships, and difficult choices, providing a sensitive exploration of life's complexities.