Koala Lou- Olympics

Early Stage 1 | English, Technology

Duration
Term 3- 6 weeks
Detail: 1 lesson a week

Unit overview
In this Unit of Work, students will investigate Koala Lou written by Mem Fox. After reading the text, students will be given the
opportunity to discuss what they think of the text and how it relates to their own feelings and emotions about familiar experiences
and memories. Students will also participate in discovering different ways in which they can express their ideas and interpretations
of a text.

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Outcomes
English K-10

ENe-2A composes simple texts to convey an idea or message

ENe-11D responds to and composes simple texts about familiar aspects of the world and their own experiences

Knowledge What students will know

How to identify the similarities and differences between different texts
How to present learning in different contexts
How to ask questions relating to different aspects of a text
How to present factual information in a poster form

Discipline Based Skills Students will be able to

Create personalised learning experiences through participating in class activities
Reread a text and use new knowledge to improve understanding and comprehension of the text
Demonstrate their ability to work with the whole class and small groups to complete a structured task
Listen and form questions based on their prior knowledge and new found knowledge

Interdisciplinary Skills Students will be able to

Monitor and evaluate their involvement in all activities, based on teacher input and individual student reflection
Use ICT to organise thoughts and ideas
Socialise and behave appropriately in group and whole class situations
Show their learning in different contexts
Share knowledge with others
Collaboratively work with others to achieve a common goal

Exhibit critical thinking skills through effective feedback and thinking creatively

Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW - Program Builder - pb.bos.nsw.edu.au
Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is
protected by Crown copyright. 2

Topic: Koala Lou

Learning Intention: To learn about Koalas through reading an online text.
Success Criteria: Participation in class activities and completion of poster detailing factual information relating to Koalas.
Key Vocabulary: Koala Lou, brainstorm, Koala, characteristics, Bush Olympics, incorporate, key, environment.
Lesson One- Week 3
Read through text (Can use the IWB if you want to make it bigger)
Before reading, discuss predictions for the story. After reading, have students retell the story using sequencing. Complete a
character brainstorm for Koala Lou.
http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/book-of-the-month-2-koala-lou/
Lesson Two- week 4
Brainstorm everything that students know about Koalas. What do they look like, feel like, sounds like, etc. Use Inspiration to
display learning. Using the IWB, display images of Koalas and have students discuss the different characteristics. Use factual books
on Koalas too
Koala crafts activity:
Have students create as A3 size poster advertising for the Bush Olympics incorporating key text information.
Discuss Olympics coming up in Rio
Lesson Three Koala poster- week 5
As a class, watch the following YouTube clip relating to Koalas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-4oPJiqnSE
Have students watch and discuss the different ways that Koalas interact with other Koalas and what environments they live in.
Have students create a poster about a Koala ensuring that they include information about their habitat, food and general
characteristics.
Book Fair- Week 6. Touring Book Fair- looking at books on display. Creating wish list. Read Aaron Blabey book- dont call me a bear.

Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW - Program Builder - pb.bos.nsw.edu.au
Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is
protected by Crown copyright. 3

Lesson Four What do I see? What do I think? What do I wonder?- week 7

Discuss the different emotions that are observed throughout the book. What do these emotions look like? Have students think
about the different emotions that they see and use throughout the day.
Divide students into three groups. Each group of students will look at selected pages to answer the following questions: What do I
see? What do I think? What do I wonder? Group One: How does Koala Lou feel now new siblings have arrived?
Group Two: Did Koala Klaws climb high? How do you know?
Group Three: How does Koala Lou feel? How do you know?

Students will need to think about the characters facial expressions, how they are positioned on the page, what time of day the action
is taking place and the setting.
Have students label pictures with the different emotions that are shown.
Lesson Five Bush Olympics- week 8
http://www.funmusicforlittlekids.com/publicfiles/FunMusic_Teaching_Ideas_-_Koala_Lou__the_Bush_Olympics_.pdf
Have students create medals to awards to the game winners. (Done in week 4)
Week 9- Visit to the town library, looking at books.
Lesson Six- Week 10
Recreate the Bush Olympics as displayed in the text Koala Lou. Using iMovie to create trailers of the events. Use green screen to
recreate the background.

Evaluation

Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW - Program Builder - pb.bos.nsw.edu.au
Program Builder contains NSW syllabus content prepared by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales which is
protected by Crown copyright. 4