This comprehensive, 5-week unit, crafted for NSW DET Stage 2 teachers, invites students to explore the fundamental concept of narrative, narrative features, planning to write, editing etc

Using the mentor texts THE KINDNESS PROJECT by Pamela Abela , this 420+ page resource empowers students to examine how narrative texts are created. This delightful story is written in an informal poetry style which encourages students to use imagery and all the narrative features.

What’s Inside This Unit:

This resource is meticulously designed to support teachers with every element needed to deliver a robust, insightful unit. It includes:

• Editable PowerPoint Presentation: A flexible, interactive presentation that reinforces each lesson and allows for teacher customizations to cater to individual class needs.
• Google Slides Link: Easily accessible, perfect for remote learning or digital integration in the classroom.
• Printable PDF: For quick reference and easy printing of lesson plans, handouts, and activities.
• Detailed Teaching Notes: Comprehensive notes guiding teachers on how to present each concept, facilitate discussions, and support students in achieving each learning intention.

Learning Intentions & Success Criteria

Each lesson is structured to deepen understanding and ensure clarity on key learning goals. Students will:

• Categorize and identify genres based on purpose and structure, honing their ability to discern informative texts across different modes and mediums.
• Analyze text features and understand how they support genre, from vocabulary choices to structural elements.
• Develop perspective by examining the viewpoints and contexts that shape texts, creating opportunities to discuss audience, language choices, and narrative voice.
• Create and revise informative texts, applying note-taking techniques, crafting opening statements and conclusions, and structuring content for clarity and engagement.
• Experiment with multimodal elements such as timelines and graphics to enhance meaning, developing skills to create genre-consistent multimodal texts.

Success Criteria Highlights

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

• Categorize informative texts and recognize the features that define them.
• Use genre-specific vocabulary effectively, understanding its role in supporting the text’s purpose.
• Explain different perspectives within texts and use a second-person narrative voice to explore new viewpoints.
• Summarize ideas efficiently during the planning phase, organizing thoughts in ways that support informative purposes.
• Identify language choices and explain how they reinforce genre, incorporating peer feedback to refine their creations.
• Experiment with multimodal features like timelines, exploring how each supports the reader’s comprehension of genre.

Important Information on this unit. This unit has been written to replace the mentor text "The thing about Oliver" Please read the following guide which is mentioned within the presentation

In this 5-week unit, students are taught the concepts ‘narrative’ and ‘characterisation’ through the mentor text The Kindness Project by Deborah Abela. Students will analyse how authors use conventions such as character, setting, plot, style, point of view and theme to engage a reader. Students will make inferences, record gist statements, and write cohesive paragraphs that highlight the interplay of plot, character and setting. They will also experiment with narrative structure and conventions to plan and compose their own narrative that includes an orientation, complication and resolution.

This unit contains representations of mental health which may be distressing or confronting for some students, including those with personal or cultural connections to the content. Before using this unit, please carefully consider your students’ backgrounds and whether the content and imagery might negatively affect them. If you choose to use this text, consult with students and their families to explain your decision and invite their perspectives.

When discussing mental health, reinforce that ‘respectful relationships’ mean treating people with empathy and understanding, regardless of their circumstances. Stereotypes that suggest mental illness makes someone less capable or less worthy should be challenged.

When teaching, focus on positive themes and experiences, and being mindful of close examination of potentially upsetting topics such as anxiety, bullying, dementia and schizophrenia. Students should never feel pressured to share personal experiences, but if they choose to, ensure it is appropriate and they feel comfortable. Provide access to wellbeing support as needed.

Perfect for Comprehensive, Flexible Learning

Ideal for diverse classroom settings, this unit is adaptable for both in-person and digital learning environments. Teachers can access everything they need—from teaching notes to interactive slides—ensuring a seamless, engaging experience for students eager to explore the world of genre through science and space.

Attribution is given to: © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2025.