Writing Activity– 

The book tells the Anh's story in detail since it’s told from his perspective, but his bother also has an interesting experience to share. 

Students tell the serpent’s story based on what they read in the book.   Objective: Students will practice creative writing. 

Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.8 (Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.) 

Google Earth lets us see the world from our computer, with topographical maps and satellite images, which it has been doing for ten years. As a tool for exploration, Google Earth has been a useful addition to classrooms for taking students on a virtual journey to places they may never visit in reality. Google recently unveiled an updated version of Google Earth with a feature called Voyager, which is a showcase of guided tours, intended to curate your experience with the platform. It was created with the help of “some of the world’s leading storytellers, scientists and nonprofits,” Google says in its announcement ⇲ of the launch. 

Learning activity example

Explore these schools from around the world. ⇲

• Choose 1 school and describe 2 things that are different to your school

• Choose 2 schools to compare and contrast using a VENN diagram 

Stories from the Billabong

Written by James Vance Marshall and Illustrated by Francis Firebrace

From the author of Walkabout come ten of Australia's ancient aboriginal legends, authentically and elegantly retold. Here you can discover how Great Mother Snake created and peopled the world with plants and creatures, what makes Frogs croak, why Kangaroo has a pouch, and just what it is that makes Platypus so special. The illustrations are by the aboriginal artist and storyteller Francis Firebrace, whose distinctive, colourful work is known throughout Australia and beyond.

Folktale Background

According to the authors, the tales featured in Stories from the Billabong are some of the oldest stories in the

world. They were shared by word of mouth around campfires and waterholes in the Australian desert tens of

thousands of years before Tutankhamen was buried in his pyramid. This collection resulted from a group of

Aboriginal storytellers collecting the myths and legends of their people and “translating” them into the written

word for readers of all ages to enjoy.

Pre-reading

• Ask students if they have heard any stories set in Australia. Call on volunteers to share the titles of the

stories they have heard and to provide an overview of what happens and to whom in each. Note the

names of the stories and the characters involved on the whiteboard.

• Walk students through the Australia Google Voyager Experience. Students will learn about where the

stories are set.

Vocabulary

Uncoil – To straighten or cause to straighten from a curled position.

Billabong – A branch of river forming a backwater of stagnant pool, made by water flowing from the

main stream during a flood.

Bush – Wild country (especially in Australia).

Lore – Traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, particularly spread by word

of mouth.

Cross – Annoyed.

Distraught – Deeply upset and agitated.

Conceited – Excessively proud of oneself.

Bare – Not clothed or covered.

Drab – Lacking brightness or interest

Crevice – A narrow opening, especially in a rock or wall.

Amber – Hard, translucent, fossilized resin produced by extinct coniferous trees of the Tertiary period,

typically yellowish in color.

Sinew – A piece of tough, fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone.

Bunyip – A mythical amphibious monster inhabiting inland waterways.

Feat – An achievement that requires great courage, skill or strength.

Theory – A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on

principles independent of the thing to be explained.

Stories from the Billabong: Word Search (Medium)⇲

Look for vocabulary words from Stories from the Billabong. Circle or click on words across, down, or...

Stories from the Billabong: Word Search (Hard)⇲

Look for vocabulary words from Stories from the Billabong. Circle or click on words across, down, or...

Lesson Extensions and Activities

Here are some ways to further explore the story:

Primary Standard for all activities: RL.K.10 (Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and

understanding.)

• Arts – As Stories from the Billabong suggests, the Aboriginal people have a rich art that is full of

meaningful symbols. Have students create their own artwork using the symbols shared on pages 60-61

in the book.

Objective: Students will create artwork inspired by a certain style.

Standards: National Core Arts Standards, Anchor Standard #3 (Refine and complete artistic

work.)

Materials:

• Markers

• Backboards

• Poster boards

• Colored pencils

• Construction paper

• Pencils

• Magazines that can be cut

• Scissors

• Science – “Why Frogs Can Only Croak” tells the story of how frogs came to make the croaking sound

that they make today. Have students explore how sound is made with this head harp experiment from exploratorium.com.

Objective: Students will learn about how vibrations produce sound.

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