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Browse by Grade: Year 1

Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions

Year 1 English

A comprehensive Year 1 English curriculum focusing on the transition from phonemic awareness to fluent reading and expressive writing. Students explore diverse text types to build meaning and develop their own creative and informative voices.

8 units·48 topics·Ages 6-7

01The Magic of Narrative

8 topics·Term 1

Students explore the structure of stories and how characters are brought to life through descriptive language.

Character Traits and Feelings

Identifying how authors use words and illustrations to show how characters feel and act.

Hot SeatRole Play
Setting the Scene

Examining how the time and place of a story influence the events that occur.

Gallery WalkCarousel Brainstorm
Plot Sequences: Beginning, Middle, End

Understanding the beginning, middle, and end structure of traditional and modern tales.

Stations RotationRole Play
Identifying Story Elements

Students will identify the main characters, setting, problem, and solution in simple narratives.

Think-Pair-ShareConcept Mapping
Retelling Stories with Key Details

Practicing retelling familiar stories in sequence, including important events and character actions.

Role PlayTimeline Challenge
Exploring Different Story Genres

Introducing students to various narrative genres like fairy tales, fables, and adventure stories.

Gallery WalkJigsaw
Author's Purpose in Narrative

Understanding that authors write stories to entertain, teach a lesson, or share an experience.

Four CornersThink-Pair-Share
Visual Storytelling: Picture Books

Analyzing how illustrations and text work together to tell a story in picture books.

Gallery WalkMuseum Exhibit

02Informing Our World

4 topics·Term 1

Focusing on non-fiction texts to understand how information is organized and shared.

Features of Information Texts

Identifying headings, labels, and diagrams in factual books.

Think-Pair-ShareJigsaw
Researching Animals

Gathering facts from multiple sources to create a simple report.

Inquiry CircleJigsaw
Writing Explanations

Learning to write step by step instructions or explanations of natural processes.

Peer TeachingSimulation Game
Understanding Procedural Texts

Identifying and following instructions in simple procedural texts like recipes or craft guides.

Simulation GameExperiential Learning

03The Sounds of Language

7 topics·Term 2

Strengthening phonics, spelling patterns, and the rhythmic beauty of poetry.

Phonemic Patterns: Vowel Digraphs

Exploring vowel digraphs (e.g., 'ai', 'ee', 'oa') to decode and encode words.

Stations RotationTrading Cards
Phonemic Patterns: Consonant Blends

Exploring consonant blends (e.g., 'bl', 'st', 'fr') to decode and encode words.

Stations RotationTrading Cards
Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry

Investigating how poets use sound patterns to create mood and pace.

Carousel BrainstormThink-Pair-Share
Word Choice and Imagery

Using adjectives and verbs to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind.

Chalk TalkGallery Walk
Decoding CVC Words

Practicing reading and spelling consonant-vowel-consonant words.

Stations RotationTrading Cards
Sight Words and High-Frequency Words

Developing automatic recognition of common words to improve reading fluency.

Give One, Get OnePeer Teaching
Exploring Compound Words

Understanding how two smaller words combine to form a new word with a new meaning.

Concept MappingThink-Pair-Share

04Speaking and Listening Skills

5 topics·Term 2

Developing confidence in oral communication through presentation and active listening.

The Art of Presentation

Learning to speak clearly and use eye contact when sharing ideas with a group.

Role PlayThink-Pair-Share
Active Listening

Practicing how to respond to others and ask clarifying questions.

Fishbowl DiscussionRound Robin
Collaborative Discussion

Working in groups to solve problems or share opinions politely.

Think-Pair-ShareFishbowl Discussion
Telling Personal Stories

Practicing sharing personal experiences clearly and engagingly with an audience.

Hot SeatRole Play
Following Oral Instructions

Developing the ability to listen carefully and follow multi-step verbal directions.

Simulation GameExperiential Learning

05Sentence Structures and Grammar

8 topics·Term 3

Building the mechanical foundations of writing through punctuation and sentence variety.

Punctuation Power: Full Stops & Capitals

Mastering full stops and capital letters at the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns.

Chalk TalkPeer Teaching
Punctuation Power: Question Marks & Exclamation Marks

Understanding and using question marks and exclamation marks correctly.

Stations RotationThink-Pair-Share
Connecting Ideas with Conjunctions

Using conjunctions like 'and', 'but', and 'because' to create longer sentences.

Snowball DiscussionThink-Pair-Share
Nouns: People, Places, Things

Identifying common and proper nouns and understanding their role in sentences.

Stations RotationConcept Mapping
Verbs: Action Words

Identifying verbs as action words and understanding how they show what is happening.

Role PlayChalk Talk
Subject-Verb Agreement

Understanding that the verb in a sentence must match its subject in number.

Stations RotationPeer Teaching
Adjectives: Describing Words

Using adjectives to add detail and make writing more interesting.

Chalk TalkGallery Walk
Adverbs: Describing Actions

Introducing adverbs to describe how, when, or where an action takes place.

Think-Pair-ShareStations Rotation

06Persuasion and Opinion

4 topics·Term 3

Exploring how language can be used to influence others and express personal viewpoints.

Expressing an Opinion

Learning to state a preference and provide a supporting reason.

Four CornersHuman Barometer
Persuasive Devices: Strong Words

Identifying words that make an argument stronger, like 'must', 'best', and 'important'.

Gallery WalkTrading Cards
Creating a Campaign

Applying persuasive skills to a real world topic like school recycling or play equipment.

Project-Based LearningGallery Walk
Identifying Persuasive Techniques

Recognizing simple persuasive techniques in advertisements and everyday language.

Think-Pair-ShareGallery Walk

07Reading Comprehension Strategies

6 topics·Term 4

Developing skills to understand and interpret various texts, both fiction and non-fiction.

Making Predictions

Using text and picture clues to guess what might happen next in a story.

Think-Pair-ShareRole Play
Asking and Answering Questions

Formulating and responding to questions about key details in a text.

Think-Pair-ShareFishbowl Discussion
Identifying Main Idea and Details

Distinguishing the central topic of a paragraph or short text from supporting information.

Concept MappingJigsaw
Sequencing Events

Ordering events from a story or informational text in chronological order.

Timeline ChallengeStations Rotation
Comparing and Contrasting Texts

Finding similarities and differences between two related stories or informational pieces.

Think-Pair-ShareConcept Mapping
Visualizing the Text

Developing the ability to create mental images while reading to improve comprehension.

Gallery WalkChalk Talk

08Creative Writing Workshop

6 topics·Term 4

Encouraging imaginative expression through various writing forms and personal narratives.

Writing Personal Narratives

Crafting stories about personal experiences, focusing on a clear sequence of events.

Carousel BrainstormRole Play
Inventing Characters

Developing unique characters with distinct traits, appearances, and motivations.

Trading CardsRole Play
Descriptive Setting Writing

Using descriptive language to create immersive and imaginative settings for stories.

Gallery WalkChalk Talk
Writing Simple Poems

Experimenting with rhyme, rhythm, and imagery to compose short poems.

Carousel BrainstormChalk Talk
Crafting Dialogue

Learning to write simple conversations between characters using quotation marks.

Role PlayPeer Teaching
Writing Fables and Moral Stories

Creating short stories that teach a simple lesson or moral.

Think-Pair-ShareRole Play