Learning By Topic KS2: Australia and English

Theme/Spelling words: Australia, Aboriginal, desert,  Uluru, Great Barrier Reef, indigenous, multicultural, continent, Southern Hemisphere, Southern Cross, Commonwealth, territories 

List spellings in alphabetical order; write synonyms and antonyms for words (where appropriate); create a crossword puzzle for your theme words; write your theme words in sentences or use all of them in a short story, include some effective language features e.g. similes, metaphors, alliteration and personification.

Write a poem about Australia in sonnet format. (Genre of writing: Poetry)

After completing the research on Aborigines from your history task. Imagine you are an Aboriginal standing on the coast of Australia watching the tall European ships sailing towards you. Write a diary entry describing the experience. Remember they have never seen ships or white man before and probably think their clothes and hats are quite strange! (Cross Curricular: History, Genre of writing: Recount & Description)

Can you list any Aussie slang words? E.g. G’day.

What is a Dreamtime story? Find a story or YouTube clip online that tells a traditional Dreamtime story. Now write your own Dreamtime story. (Genre of writing: Narrative)

In Australia, Cadbury make and sell a Caramello Koala (it’s like a Freddo Frog but a koala shape with caramel inside). What do you think would be a good animal chocolate to represent England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and what flavours would they be?

Now that you have almost finished your topic learning about Australia, create an A-Z for Australia, e.g. A is for Aboriginal, B is for boomerang, C is for Canberra – Australia’s capital.

What is Anzac Day? Carry out some research and present your findings (you can chose how you would like to present your findings e.g. a PowerPoint Presentation, write a speech, etc.