Blue - 'Lucas Handley' Biographical Writing

Blue - 'Lucas Handley' Biographical Writing

Lesson 8 of 10 in this unit

  • Year 7 - 8
  • English
  • Creative writing
  • Learning through film
  • Environmental
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Oceans
  • Water
  • ...

Lesson summary

This lesson incorporates clips from Blue The Film as learning inspiration. In this finding out lesson, students will examine biographical and reflective language and text structures. They will consider the experiences of marine biologist, Lucas Handley and how he has worked to make a difference to the environment. Using a selection of thinking, planning and writing tools, students will analyse the role of biographical and reflective language in communicating with audiences to inspire them to take action. Students will then produce a short biographic text, featuring Lucas Handley and his achievements/work with marine ecosystems, ocean health and marine science.

Learning intentions:

Students will...

  • understand how biographical texts can be used to communicate individual stories and inspire action among audiences.
  • comprehend and apply their understanding of how combinations of written language and visual features can shape meaning and position audiences in relation to individual stories and experiences that can inspire action among audiences.

Success criteria:

Students can...

  • describe and explain the language and structural features of biographies, including visual information, providing examples of how they can communicate important information about individuals and their achievements.
  • use biographical language and text structures to write and edit their own biography of Lucas Handley, demonstrating their use of language to communicate information about Lucas Handley, his work and achievements in marine ecosystems, ocean health and marine science.

Lesson guides and printables

Teacher Content Info
Lesson Plan
Student Worksheet

Lesson details

Curriculum mapping

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.

Resources required

Skills

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

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

Additional info

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.

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