Blue - 'Shark Girl' Biographical Writing

Australian curriculum (8.4)content descriptions:

Year 8 English:

• Understand and explain how combinations of words and images in texts are used to represent particular groups in society, and how texts position readers in relation to those groups (ACELT1628).
• Understand how conventions of speech adopted by communities influence the identities of people in those communities (ACELA1541).
• Experiment with text structures and language features to refine and clarify ideas to improve the effectiveness of students’ own texts (ACELY1810).

Syllabus outcomes: EN4-8D, EN4-4B

General capabilities: Literacy, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding, Critical and Creative Thinking, Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Relevant parts of Year 8 English achievement standards: Students understand how the selection of text structures is influenced by the selection of language mode and how this varies for different purposes and audiences. They understand how the selection of language features can be used for particular purposes and effects. Students explain the effectiveness of language choices they make to influence the audience. They create texts for different purposes, selecting language to influence audience response. They take into account intended purposes and the needs and interests of audiences. Students 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
• Biographical Writing Factsheet
• Turtles Factsheet
• Seabirds Factsheet
• Sharks Factsheet
• Fishing Factsheet

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

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

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – lead students in discussion.

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.