Objective:
To provide access for teachers to a range of resources that support Second Suite Rich Task #2: Narrative Text: Away with Words. Four major topics have been identified:
Description:
This list provides a starting point for resources to support Second Suite Year 4-6 Rich Task #2: Narrative Text: Away with Words. Resources have been grouped under the following headings:
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Professional associations, community members or organisations able to provide expert information and advice on topics related to the Rich Task.
Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE)
http://www.aate.org.au/ 
AATE is the national arm of Australian state/territory associations for the teaching of English - all members of these organisations pay an affiliation fee to AATE, and are automatically members of it. AATE members are part of an international network of teachers with a commitment to teaching and learning in the field of language and literacy. Services provided to members include: subscription to the quarterly journal English in Australia; quality resources for teacher and student use; and funds to assist teachers with research and special projects.
Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)
http://www.cbc.org.au/
This official site for the Children's Book of the Year Awards includes lists of the winners and commended books for selected years from 1946 to 2004, the Short Lists for 2005 (under Children's book awards ), and access to some information on authors and illustrators. This site is a very useful resource for teachers and teacher-librarians seeking quality Australian books for children. Teachers will find it helpful for selecting books suitable for younger students.
Primary English Teaching Association (PETA)
http://www.peta.edu.au/
This teaching organisation is 'committed to promoting awareness of the importance of children's language development'. Through Literature circle , members can access book reviews, a guide to books short-listed by the Children's Book Council of Australia, links to publishers' websites with their book databases (many have helpful book analyses) and suggestions for Internet reading activities in Catching literature in the 'Net .
Carol Hurst's children's literature site
http://www.carolhurst.com/
The site contains reviews of hundreds of children's fiction and non-fiction books to Year 9 level accessible in alphabetical order of title or author, in subjects and in year levels from pre-k to 9. Books are also allocated to curriculum levels and the thematic approach would be of special value to teachers. There are also professional sections for educators and news on recent happenings such as the Newbery and Caldecott awards.
Database of award-winning children's literature
http://www.dawcl.com
This database enables the generation of simply annotated reading lists of award-winning books. Users can request lists by age, genre, historical period, year of publication, multicultural emphasis, language or gender. Most major awards are consulted, including the CBCA 'Children's Book of the Year Awards'.
Classroom Resource Reviews (CRR)
http://crr.qed.qld.gov.au/reviews/afwiinq.dll
Classroom Resource Reviews (CRR) is an extensive searchable database of reviews for a variety of resources in formats including print, Internet sites and computer software. Some of the reviewed items are available in the AccessEd Curriculum Library collection . (All teachers located at Queensland schools are eligible to register and borrow resources from this library.)
Classroom Resource Reviews (CRR) criteria
http://crr.qed.qld.gov.au/crrwelcome/criteria.htm
This page is a listing of core criteria applicable to all resources evaluated for CRR in addition to the specific criteria for each of the following formats: audio-visual, fiction, Internet sites, non-fiction, series, and software. Useful for teachers as background knowledge but would need to be modified for students' use.
Education World: Better book reports - 25 ideas
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson109.shtml
This site presents twenty-five interesting ideas for writing book reports for teachers to use or adapt. Also includes ideas and links for cyber book reports.
Using picture books
http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/00594.htm 
This TIPS (Teaching Ideas and Practices) unit provides a brief listing of ways picture books can be explored to develop student's understanding and enjoyment of visual communication.
World of reading! Where kids and books come together
http://www.worldreading.org/
Children are able to submit their book reviews for inclusion on this site, which provides an extensive database of reviews about numerous children's books. These reviews are easy to search by title, subject (under numerous categories), or location (by country/region).
Establishing procedures for writing for a younger audience
http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/00626.htm
This TIPS (Teaching Ideas and Practices) item outlines a step-by-step procedure to encourage older students to write for younger students.
Literacy and making children's books
http://www.gate.net/~labooks/literacy.html
This site contains a list of suggested resources, with brief descriptions, for teachers about children writing and making their own books.
Making an environmental picture book
http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/01513.htm
This TIPS (Teaching Ideas and Practices) unit is designed for Year 4 and Year 5. Children examine a wide range of picture books with an environmental theme, and make a detailed study of Colin Theile's Pinquo, compiling a Story Grammar and classifying the factual information in the book.
Write on reader
http://library.thinkquest.org/J001156/
This site includes favourite books, authors and illustrators. Reading and writing links include the writing process, forms of writing, and a glossary of writing and literary terms. Explore how a book is made and how to make a book.
is an amusing story, available with illustrations or as text only, about Fred the frog who hitches a ride on a turtle to look for a new home. is a series of five stories about magic, including The magic fire truck and The magic atlas. uses clever illustrations to show different aspects of the cyber-world, e.g. a mouse is depicted both as a small, squeaky, furry rodent and as a way of telling the computer what to do without using the keyboard. are stories available in text and audio, comprising: Three little kittens, Old Mother Hubbard and Little Red Riding Hood. is an adaptation featuring an ultra-competitive hare and Slow Moe, the tortoise. is available as an illustrated adaptation of the folk tale or as a downloadable animated version for Macintosh computers. is a rather amateurishly illustrated story of a six-year-old child and her toy mouse. is an old English fairytale in the style of Jack and the beanstalk. is an adaptation of a Japanese fairytale.Most stories are available as text only or with illustrations, and should be popular with children from preschool to Year 3 as well as middle primary.
Microsoft Education: Online tutorials
http://www.microsoft.com/education/default.asp?ID=OnlineTutorials
Online tutorials for teachers on various Microsoft Office software packages, such as PowerPoint, Front Page, etc. which could be used to electronically publish children's narratives.
The Animal Kingdom
http://kidport.com/RefLib/Science/Animals/Animals.htm
On this site, animals are presented in two columns and organised under groups using common names with the scientific name in brackets. Each group or individual is described in about 100 words and accompanied by excellent, large colour photos followed by links to a few websites relevant to the specific animal.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
This website of the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service provides information for prospective visitors. Other sections of the site include useful information about biodiversity, threatened species and heritage sites, both Aboriginal and European.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife: Cyber Rangers
http://www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/park/cyberrangers/
This site contains much of interest and of value to schoolchildren. Students can become members of the Cyber Rangers club individually or as part of a 'squad', accepting the challenge to get to know and protect their natural surroundings. The site links to excellent photos of animals, such as frogs, and students will be able to find out about elements of their environment through the activities and online resources.
Sea and Sky: The Sea
http://www.seasky.org/sea.html
This attractive, easily navigated oceanographic site contains a wealth of data on marine animals, reef life, aquariums and ocean exploration.
site, its main menu contains: Stories of the Dreaming
http://www.dreamtime.net.au/dreaming/index.htm
This site contains twenty stories in text, audio, high-quality or low quality video formats. The stories are told by Aboriginal people, either the traditional owner of the story or someone deputed to tell it.
Virtual wildlife
http://www.panda.org/kids/wildlife/
Developed as a link from the World Wildlife Fund site, this comprehensive and attractive program looks at earth's regions (polar regions, coniferous forests, temperate forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains, tropical forests, oceanic islands, oceans and freshwater wetlands) and their creatures (classification and habitat). Information on location, climate and vegetation is followed by conservation concerns.
Comprising non-website resources available from a variety of sources.
DOONAN, Jane 1993, Looking at pictures in picture books, Stroud: Thimble.
This book is an invaluable resource for any teacher involved in genre-based literacy program. It puts into words the value of picture books and illustrations supported by minimum text. For teachers in early childhood classes, it helps focus discussions on illustrations and supports picture interpretation. Teachers of upper primary who involve their students in writing and illustrating books for young children will find this book indispensable.
MICHAELS, Wendy & WALSH, Maureen 1990, Up & away: Using picture books, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Aimed expressly at upper primary and secondary English teachers, this excellent support material for whole language programs examines various types of picture books suitable for this age level, and explores reader response extensively. A series of analytical activities is based on specific picture books arranged in generic groups or themes. Many of the titles examined are perfect examples of text that challenge gender role stereotypes but unfortunately this aspect is not emphasised. The section on 'Aboriginal stories' should be approached with caution as it includes Percy Trezise's The peopling of Australia of which the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee (QATSICC) does not approve. (See Rev. 52: 6, 68). Despite these minor criticisms this is a useful, up-to-date resource for Language education. Review endorsed by QATSICC.
NILLSON, Eleanor 1992, Writing for children, Ringwood, Victoria: Penguin.
This is indeed 'a comprehensive and inspiring guide', and more. Anyone involved with children's books and also teachers working with young 'authors' will find stimulating material here. The warmly encouraging text employs vivid analogies to fix key points firmly in the mind and each chapter includes a few lively exercises entitled 'try this!' The author analyses her own work extensively as well as that of others in demonstrating just how text works to particular purposes. From tackling the first tentative draft to marketing the finished manuscript, (and even to handling rejection slips!) Nilsson has shared her insights and experience most generously.
denotes sites available to AccessClub
users only.
Other resources for Second Suite Rich Task #2: Narrative Text: Away with Words may be found by searching the Curriculum
Exchange collections
, the Library Services collections
or the Internet. The following criteria listed under Keywords and/or Subject are
suggested search terms:
Curriculum level:
Middle Primary; Upper Primary
Audience:
Student; Teacher
Keywords:
Children's books; Nature
Subject:
Children's literature; Book reviewing; Student developed materials; Student publications; Writing (Composition); Critical reading; Book reviews; Electronic publishing; Picture books; Illustrations; Environment; Curriculum materials
Dewey number:
808.06
Source:
New Basics Project, Education Queensland
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