Lesson Ideas - All Things Fantasy

I begin my planning by choosing a theme and making lists of activities/lessons that I could implement in my classroom. I have been asked to concentrate on narratives and I know this might be a bit of a struggle for my particular cohort of learners. I wanted to choose a theme that would really help to get them excited and enthusiastic about writing. I have selected 'All Things Fantasy'.

I spend a long time thinking about where each lesson will fit into the curriculum and whether or not they are able to be integrated between several learning areas. I also find ideas online, in books and consult with colleagues. 

• Brainstorm a list of type of fantasy creatures
• Create a collage of fantasy creatures
• Cut and paste different parts of fantasy creatures together to invent a new creature
• Write questions that could be used to interview a fantasy character
• Make fantasy masks
• Read a fictional story that has a fantasy theme. Books about animals works particularly well. Sort the information in the book into fact or fiction. This also works well with placing events in the book into the categories of likely or unlikely. e.g. A fact is that ducks have feathers. It is fiction that a duck wears pants. 
• Write a profile for a fantasy character e.g. Name, Where it lives, What it eats, Size, Gender and so on
• Make a list of story starters
• Design a lost poster for a fantasy character
• Make lists of adjectives and character traits that describe something fantasy 
• Compare two characters e.g. giants and dragons
• Make a boardgame related to fantasy

Bilby Moon

Written by Margaret Spurling Illustrated by Danny Snell 

I was given this book by my Supervising Teacher during one of my Uni Practicums. It is a beautifully illustrated book with an adorable story. The story centres around little bilby seeing the moon for the very first time. The problems begin when the moon begins to change and Bilby becomes very frantic that the moon has disappeared. Bilby is under the impression that a part of the moon has gone missing, so asks all the other Australian animals to look for it. It is a cute story that has proven to be loved by many children.

Teaching Points

Australian Animals - Animal Study

Learn and illustrate the phases of the moon

Make a model of a bilby

Research and discuss nocturnal animals

Hire a classroom pet and learn how to take care of it e.g. a lizard

Cut out coloured pictures of Australian animals and have children draw their habitat around them

Make a list of all the animals that live in the school environment or in the backyard