Year 6
The English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of language, literature and literacy. Teaching and learning programs should balance and integrate all three strands. Together, the strands focus on developing students' knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. Learning in English builds on concepts, skills and processes developed in earlier years, and teachers will revisit and strengthen these as needed.
In Years 5 and 6, students communicate with peers and teachers from other classes and schools, community members, and individuals and groups, in a range of face-to-face and online/virtual environments.
Students engage with a variety of texts for enjoyment. They listen to, read, view, interpret and evaluate spoken, written and multimodal texts in which the primary purpose is aesthetic, as well as texts designed to inform and persuade. These include various types of media texts including newspapers, film and digital texts, junior and early adolescent novels, poetry, non-fiction and dramatic performances. Students develop their understanding of how texts, including media texts, are influenced by context, purpose and audience.
The range of literary texts for Foundation to Year 10 comprises Australian literature, including the oral narrative traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, as well as the contemporary literature of these two cultural groups, and classic and contemporary world literature, including texts from and about Asia.
Literary texts that support and extend students in Years 5 and 6 as independent readers describe complex sequences, a range of non-stereotypical characters and elaborated events including flashbacks and shifts in time. These texts explore themes of interpersonal relationships and ethical dilemmas within real-world and fantasy settings. Informative texts supply technical and content information about a wide range of topics of interest as well as topics being studied in other areas of the curriculum. Text structures include chapters, headings and subheadings, tables of contents, indexes and glossaries. Language features include complex sentences, unfamiliar technical vocabulary, figurative language, and information presented in various types of graphics.
Students create a range of imaginative, informative and persuasive types of texts such as narratives, procedures, performances, reports, reviews, explanations and discussions.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
Achievement Standard
Receptive modes (listening, reading and viewing)
By the end of Year 6, students understand how the use of text structures can achieve particular effects. They analyse and explain how language features, images and vocabulary are used by different authors to represent ideas, characters and events.
Students compare and analyse information in different and complex texts, explaining literal and implied meaning. They select and use evidence from a text to explain their response to it. They listen to discussions, clarifying content and challenging others' ideas.
Productive modes (speaking, writing and creating)
Students understand how language features and language patterns can be used for emphasis. They show how specific details can be used to support a point of view. They explain how their choices of language features and images are used.
Students create detailed texts elaborating on key ideas for a range of purposes and audiences. They make presentations and contribute actively to class and group discussions, using a variety of strategies for effect. They demonstrate an understanding of grammar, and make considered vocabulary choices to enhance cohesion and structure in their writing. They use accurate spelling and punctuation for clarity and make and explain editorial choices based on criteria.
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
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Making Connections Grid
A worksheet for students to practise making connections with a piece of text.
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The Wonders of the Human Body – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for an information report from the Year 6 magazine (Issue 2).
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Blast Off with Space Rex 2000 – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a fake advertisement from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 2).
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Welcome to America! – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a country profile from the Year 5 magazine (Issue 2).
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Components of Poetry PowerPoint
An editable PowerPoint to use when teaching the essential components of poetry.
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Sound Devices PowerPoint
An editable PowerPoint to use when teaching sound devices to your students.
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NightyNite Napping Pod – Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a fake advertisement from the Year 6 magazine (Issue 3).
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NAIDOC Week Connection to Country Word Search - Upper Primary
A NAIDOC Week Connection to Country Word Search suitable for upper primary school students.
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Oral Presentation Assessment Rubric
A rubric designed to help teachers to assess students' oral presentations.
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Digital Warriors: Social Footprints – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for a comic about being safe when sharing photos on digital platforms.
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NAPLAN-Style Assessment Rubric – Biographical Texts
Use this NAPLAN-style rubric to assess students’ biography writing as you prepare students for Year 5 tests.
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Explanation Text Writing Task – How Does the Respiratory System Work?
A scaffolded writing task for students to complete when learning about the explanation text type.
- Free Plan
Explanation Text Research Template
A research template for students to use when writing an explanation text.
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Invitation Text Type Poster With Annotations
A poster about invitations, including an annotated example.
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Discussion Text Type Poster With Annotations
A poster about discussions, including an annotated example.
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Finding Word Meaning In Context - Word Meaning Cards
A teaching resource to help teach your students how to find word meaning in context.
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Finding Word Meaning In Context - Word Detective Worksheet
A teaching resource to help teach your students how to find word meaning in context.
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Recalling Facts - Letter to the Editor Activity
A worksheet to use when teaching students how to recall facts and details when reading.
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Recalling Facts - Newspaper Worksheet
A worksheet to use when teaching students how to recall facts and details when reading.
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Cause and Effect - Scenario Worksheet
A worksheet and answer sheet to use when teaching students the cause and effect comprehension strategy.
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Comprehension Task Cards - Compare And Contrast
A set of comprehension task cards to help students compare and contrast when reading.
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Comprehension Task Cards - Distinguishing Between Real And Make-Believe
A set of comprehension task cards to help students distinguish between real and make-believe when reading.
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Perfect Punctuation Worksheet
Sort each punctuation concept using the definitions and examples.
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Editing and Revising Anchor Chart
Use this editing and revising anchor chart to remind your students of the steps involved in revising and editing their writing.
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Comprehension - The Great Wall of China
A comprehension activity about The Great Wall of China.
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Descriptive Writing Poster With Annotations
A poster outlining the main points and structure of a descriptive text.
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Tropical Cyclone Cloze Worksheet
A cloze worksheet about tropical cyclones.
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MP3 Players and Your Hearing Cloze Worksheet
A cloze worksheet about MP3 players and hearing.
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NAPLAN-Style Assessment Rubric - Historical Recounts
A NAPLAN-style rubric designed to help teachers to assess students' historical recounts.
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How to Identify Bias Teaching Slides
Teach your students how to identify bias in writing with this engaging slide deck, designed to help upper primary students develop critical reading skills.
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Using Context Clues Worksheet
Try a ‘Using Context Clues’ Worksheet to help your students determine the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the surrounding text.
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Click or Clunk Strategy Poster and Desk Mat
Explore the click and clunk reading strategy with your students using this poster and desk mat set.