Where the Forest Meets the Sea: 1

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Beautiful collage illustrations take the reader on an extraordinary visual journey to a primeval wilderness, which like so many others is now threatened. The creator of Where the Forest Meets the Sea offers another warning about the environment--somewhat didactically--in this wordless picture book. Each spread features the window of Sam's room, from Continue reading »

The reader is allowed to follow the child on his wonderful journey, exploring nature with his senses: “I sit very still and watch and listen.” Invite the children to look closely at the pictures: What can they spot? Are all the creatures there at the same time as the boy? How can you tell which animals are long gone? What can you spot when you look around in your environment? What do you think was there in the past or will be there in the future? Aural, Visual, Bodily-kinesthetic, Intrapersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, Multiple ways to demonstrate learning. Opening this expertly designed picture book reveals two parallel wordless tales: one to be read left to right, the other right to left. The stories follow a day in the family life of two boys, who Continue reading » Using a variety of non-fiction texts, brochures (collected prior to the start of this unit) and the Internet, direct students to research the Daintree Rainforest in groups of three. Each group will have their own graffiti board to record interesting facts, post pictures and pose questions that arise during their research. Brainstorm different ways students can contribute to the conservation of the Daintree Rainforest. In groups, students are to plan a presentation of a persuasive piece to raise awareness of the plight of the rainforest. Students can use any format they wish, such as a multimedia project, a play, a persuasive letter, a speech, a poster, etc.

Hands-on engagement Students create a poster with the message “Save the forests” (words are on the word wall and IWB) A boy and his father spend the day in the rainforest of northern Australia and the boy imagines both the primeval past and the possible future for the area. The striking illustrations, which are collages made largely from natural materials, combine with a spare but thought-provoking text.

Discuss other types of narratives that are passed down through generations to help people learn, i.e. fables, Dreaming stories, campfire yarns. Read a variety of Dreaming stories or invite a local Aboriginal Elder to share some of their own stories. Discuss the difference between an oral narrative and one that is written down. Good link between English and Geography. Love the idea of children using their imagination and their geographical knowledge to write their own version of the journey. The boy in Where the Forest Meets the Sea imagines all kinds of things through the trunks of the trees and leaves of the forest. Children imagine what they might have seen before writing their own story. Go outside into the school grounds and categorise a variety of objects as eitherman made or natural.

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Read Jeannie Baker’s book Window. Discuss both books and how they are similar and different. Have students complete a table (template below) comparing the two books. As an alternative, groups of students could each take a Jeannie Baker book and do their own comparison. Interacting with others – Listen to and respond orally to texts and to the communication of others (ACELY1646)