Using the mentor texts Our Island by Alison Lester and Under the Southern Cross by Frane Lesac, this 5-week unit empowers students to connect their own world with the world of texts.

Introduce the concept of Context and Representation with this multistage, cross-curricular unit designed for NSW DET K-2 students.

Aligned with NSW DET's Unit 1 Component B, this resource delivers a rich, interactive learning experience that promotes critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness.

What’s Inside?

• Editable PowerPoint and Google Slides Presentations – Interactive, animated, and ready to click and go! Tailored to meet the needs of all learners.
• Print-Friendly PDF – Perfect for workbooks, hands-on activities, and home learning.
• Step-by-Step Teaching Notes – Detailed guidance for smooth, stress-free implementation.

Unit Overview

This unit explores how texts are influenced by the world of their creators and audiences. Students will analyse how context is represented through imagery, symbolism, and cultural perspectives.

Drawing on Our Island and Under the Southern Cross, students will identify the connections between texts and their personal world. Through fun, creative tasks, students will plan, create, and share their own visual and written representations of a "special place" in their lives.

hey will build narrative writing skills through the use of noun groups, prepositional phrases, and descriptive language.

Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

Students will:

• Make Connections – Relate their personal experiences to themes in the mentor texts.
• Explore Context – Understand how an author’s world influences the meaning of a text.
• Develop Vocabulary – Use noun groups and prepositional phrases to create vivid descriptions.
• Build Artistic Skills – Use drawing, colour, and imagery to represent context in a visual form.
• Create Multimodal Texts – Incorporate words, images, and symbols in their projects.

Differentiation for K-2 Learners

This unit is designed for multistage learning, meaning it caters to students across Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2. Differentiation is built into every step, ensuring all learners are supported to succeed. Whether students are developing simple descriptive language or creating more complex visual representations, every student is met at their level.

Cross-Curricular Outcomes

This unit achieves cross-curricular outcomes across multiple learning areas, including:

• Visual Arts – Students create personalized visual artworks of a "special place" to reflect their own context.
• Civics and Citizenship – Students explore the idea of "place" and personal identity in relation to the mentor texts.
• English – Students develop skills in descriptive writing, grammar (noun groups and prepositional phrases), and multimodal text creation.

Why Teachers Love This Unit

• Click-and-Go Simplicity – Ready-to-use PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF make it simple for teachers to hit the ground running.
• Differentiated for All Learners – The unit is adaptable to K-2 classrooms with resources that meet the needs of all students.
• Teacher-Friendly Design – Thoughtfully crafted to save you time with ready-to-go lessons, hands-on activities, and clear teaching notes.
• Engaging Graphics and Stunning Visuals – Beautiful, eye-catching images, animations, and interactive slides ensure students stay engaged and excited.
• Integrated Learning – Combines Visual Arts, Civics, and English outcomes for a rich, holistic learning experience.

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