Stage 1 Unit of Work – Narrative
Mentor Texts: A Bag and a Bird by Pamela Allen, The Great Rabbit Chase by Freya Blackwood, A Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

This meticulously designed 140+ slide resource is your ultimate tool for teaching the Narrative concept to NSW DET Stage 1 students.

Using mentor texts that centre around engaging journeys, this unit explores the art of storytelling while incorporating the concepts of Narrative.

Perfectly aligned with Component B objectives, this resource provides everything you need to captivate your students and deepen their understanding of narrative structures and character development.

What’s Inside:

• Editable PowerPoint Presentation: Fully customizable to adapt to your class’s unique needs.
• Google Slides Version: Perfect for seamless digital use in modern classrooms.
• Learning Intentions and Success Criteria: Clearly defined for transparent teaching and learning outcomes.
• Integrated Cross-Curriculum Links: Creative Arts and Geography outcomes are embedded throughout.

Key Concepts and Focus Areas:

Narrative:

Students will explore narrative elements, including structure, characters, and setting, through texts that involve journeys.

Narratives are defined as accounts of events or related experiences that help us make sense of our lives. This unit emphasizes the role of journeys in engaging responders and promoting a deeper understanding of story elements.

Supporting Concept – Character:
Characters are analysed within the journey context, exploring how their traits and actions enhance the narrative.

Learning Intentions:

Students will:

• Understand narrative elements, including character, setting, and story structure, through texts that depict journeys.
• Develop narratives using planning tools, prepositional phrases, and story maps.

Success Criteria:

By the end of this unit, students will:

• Identify the sequence of events in a narrative.
• Use planning tools to map out their own narratives.
• Create mental images from text using descriptive vocabulary.
• Write prepositional phrases to add detail to their stories.
• Retell a sequence of events in order using time connectives.
• Transform verbs from present to past tense and use them correctly in sentences.
• Retell and plan narratives using story maps, incorporating narrative elements effectively.

1. Engaging Mentor Texts:
   Each selected text (A Bag and a Bird, The Great Rabbit Chase, and A Duck on a Bike) is rich in narrative journey elements, making them relatable and enjoyable for young learners. These texts provide vivid examples of how imagery, symbol, and connotation enhance storytelling.
2. Interactive and Scaffolded Learning:
   Guided by the Gradual Release of Responsibility framework, students progress from observing modelled strategies to applying them independently.
3. Integrated Arts Component:
   The unit includes optional Creative Arts activities, such as creating illustrations and story maps, to help students visualize and deepen their understanding of narrative settings.
4. Cross-Curricular Potential:
   Links to Geography and Creative Arts ensure that this unit supports broader syllabus outcomes.
5. Professional Support:
   Additional resources and professional learning links (e.g., vocabulary development) ensure teachers feel confident delivering the unit.

Make Every Lesson Memorable:

With its blend of high-quality slides, practical activities, and thoughtfully selected mentor texts, this resource empowers students to create, anale, and enjoy narratives that resonate with them. By focusing on journeys, students not only learn about storytelling but also gain insights into the world around them.
This comprehensive unit is your secret weapon for bringing narratives to life in your classroom. Whether through story maps, descriptive writing, or engaging with beautifully crafted mentor texts, your students will develop a love for storytelling and build foundational literacy skills to last a lifetime.

Attribution is given to: © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2023.