Inventing Invertebrates - English and Science

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Foundation English:

• read and write some high-frequency words and other familiar words (AC9EFLY14)
• explore the contribution of images and words to meaning in stories and informative texts (AC9EFLA07)

Foundation Science:

• explore the ways people make and use observations and questions to learn about the natural world (AC9SFH01)
• engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses (AC9SFI02)
• represent observations in provided templates and identify patterns with guidance (AC9SFI03)

Year 1 English:

• understand that words can represent people, places and things (nouns, including pronouns), happenings and states (verbs), qualities (adjectives) and details such as when, where and how (adverbs) (AC9E1LA07)
• read and write an increasing number of high frequency words (AC9E1LY14)

Year 1 Science:

• identify the basic needs of plants and animals, including air, water, food or shelter and how the places they live meet those needs (AC9S1U01)
• sort and order data and information and represent patterns, including with provided tables and visual or physical models (AC9S1I04)
• write and create texts to communicate observations, findings and ideas, using everyday and scientific vocabulary (AC9S1I06)

Syllabus outcomes: ENe-8B, EN1-9B, EN1-4A, STe-8NE, STe-4WS, ST1-10LW, ST1-4WS

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Literacy

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Relevant parts of Foundation English achievement standards: Students read high-frequency words and blend sounds orally to read consonant-vowel-consonant words

Relevant parts of Year 1 English achievement standards: When reading, students use knowledge of the relationship between sounds and letters, high-frequency words, sentence boundary punctuation and directionality to make meaning

Relevant parts of Foundation Science achievement standards: Students suggest how the environment affects them and other living things

Relevant parts of Year 1 Science achievement standards: Students describe how different places meet the needs of living things


This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: Investigating Invertebrates – Lower Primary

• Drawing materials
• Invertebrate Adjectives
• Invertebrate Adjectives – To Cut Out
• Invertebrate Flashcards
• Materials for creating 3D models (such as modelling clay, playdough or art materials)
• Whiteboard

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

• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Collaboration

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – lead students in class discussion, assist students in reading words and applying words to inventing invertebrates

This is an original Cool+ lesson.