THE WILD ROBOT Unit 1 Term 1 Year A Component B

Elevate your teaching of narrative with this 280+ page powerhouse resource, designed specifically for NSW DET Stage 3 teachers. Using the much-loved mentor text The Wild Robot by Peter Brown and the thought-provoking animation Origins, this 5-week unit will immerse your students in the art of storytelling while empowering them to create their own science-fiction narratives.

Why This Unit Stands Out:

• Mentor and Supporting Concepts at its Core: Centred on the mentor concept of ‘narrative’ and supported by ‘characterisation’, this resource helps students explore how stories communicate ideas, values, and emotions while analysing how characters are brought to life through narrative conventions.
• Deeper Learning through Textual Analysis: Students will identify patterns in narratives, discuss when those patterns are subverted, and unpack how authors use conventions and characterisation to engage readers.
• Real-World Application: By applying their learning, students will construct their own science-fiction narratives, honing skills in verb groups, adverbial clauses, and narrative structure.
• Connection to English Textual Concepts: Built on the 2016 English Textual Concepts and Learning Processes, this unit explores narrative as a tool for understanding human actions, interactions, and motivations.

What's Inside This Resource?

• Comprehensive Teaching Materials: Over 280 pages of structured lessons, worksheets, and activities to guide students through the unit.

• Editable Formats for Flexibility: Includes an editable PowerPoint and a link to a Google Slides version so you can tailor lessons to your classroom needs.

• Printable PDFs: Ready-to-print versions make preparation effortless.

• Teaching Notes: In-depth notes provide clear guidance to maximize the impact of each lesson.

Learning Intentions
Students will learn to:

• Analyse and describe representations of ideas through narrative.
• Apply narrative conventions when creating texts.

Success Criteria
By the end of the unit, students will:

• Explore and identify narrative conventions and patterns.
• Recognize and classify science fiction as a narrative genre.
• Notice and discuss how authors subvert narrative patterns.
• Analyse and craft compelling narrative orientations using verb groups.
• Write engaging, original story orientations that captivate readers.

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