Blue - 'Lucas Handley' Biographical Writing

Australian curriculum (8.4) content descriptions:

Year 8 English:

• Create imaginative, informative and persuasive texts that raise issues, report events and advance opinions, using deliberate language and textual choices, and including digital elements as appropriate (ACELY1736).
• Experiment with particular language features drawn from different types of texts, including combinations of language and visual choices to create new texts (ACELT1768).

Syllabus outcomes: EN4-4B

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.7, OI.9

Relevant parts of Year 8 English achievement standards: Students explain how language features, images and vocabulary are used to represent different ideas and issues in texts. They listen for and identify different emphases in texts, using that understanding to elaborate on discussions. Students understand how the selection of language features can be used for particular purposes and effects. They explain the effectiveness of language choices they make to influence the audience. They create texts for different purposes, selecting language to influence audience response. Students take into account intended purposes and the needs and interests of audiences. They demonstrate understanding of grammar, select vocabulary for effect and use accurate spelling and punctuation.

Unit of work: Blue The Film: Our Oceans and Our Future

Time required: 90 mins.

• Student Worksheet – one per student
• Device capable of presenting a website, clip and digital worksheet to the class
• Marine Sanctuaries Factsheet
• Ocean and Coral Stimulus Images
• Biographical Writing Factsheet
• Reflective Writing Factsheet
• Lucas Handley Biography
• Valerie Taylor Biography
• Editing Checklist

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Digital literacy
• Global citizenship

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – facilitate class discussion and assess student work.

Blue is a feature documentary film charting the drastic decline in the health of our oceans. With more than half of all marine life lost and the expansion of the industrialization of the seas, the film sets out the challenges we are facing and the opportunities for positive change. Blue changes the way we think about our liquid world and inspires the audience to action. Find out how to screen or download the film here. Along with the film is an ambitious global campaign to create advocacy and behaviour change through the #oceanguardian movement. To become an ocean guardian, see the website.