Kangaroo Story

Directions

1. Take out a sheet of notebook paper.
   
   
2. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines. Title your paper How the Kangaroo Got Its Pouch.
   
   
3. Write and illustrate a story explaining how the kangaroo got its pouch, use the video on the right as inspiration.

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Illustrated Dictionary

Directions

1. For this activity you may need several sheets of notebook paper.
   
   
2. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines of each paper.
   
   Create an illustrated dictionary using the following words unique to Australia.
   
   

   Australian Word	English Word
   arvo	afternoon
   barbie	barbecue
   esky	cooler or ice chest
   mozzie	mosquito
   servo	gas station
   ta	thank you
   ute	an suv or truck
   togs	swim suit
   roo	kangaroo
   grommet	young surfer

   
   
   
3. First, put all of the Australian words in alphabetical order.
   
   
4. Next, write the first word. Write the English word next to the Australian word and separate them by a slash mark.
   
   
5. In the space below the word, draw an illustration to represent it.
   
   
6. One the line below, write a sentence using the new Australian word.
   
   
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for each of the Australian words.
   
   
8. Take out another blank sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines.
   
   
9. Use your Australian words in a story. 

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Wombat Stew

Watch the following video to read the book Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan.

Directions

Several animals appear in the book: dingo, wombat, platypus, emu, blue tongue lizard, echidna and koala.

1. Take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines. Title your paper Wombat Stew.
   
   
2. Choose one of the animals and gather some information such as a detailed description, characteristics, movement, habitat and diet. Write the information down on your paper.
   
   
3. When you are finished gathering up the information and have written it all down, create an illustration to accompany your work and present it to someone.

Wombat Stew Recipe

Directions

1. Take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines. Title your paper Wombat Stew Recipe.
   
   
2. Create a recipe for Wombat Stew. Remember to include equipment, ingredients and detailed instructions. Try using the format of a real recipe to help you. Below you will find a recipe example for beef stew.
   • http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/the-best-browned-beef-stew-ever-36984

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Creepy Crawlers

Directions

1. Using materials from around the house (toilet paper roll, foil, tape, straws, etc.) create a colorful Creepy Crawly like the ones the dingo added to the stew.
   
   
2. After you create your creepy crawler, take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines of your paper.
   
   
3. Give you creepy crawler a name and use that as your title.
   
   
4. Next, draw a picture of your creepy crawler.
   
   
5. Then underneath your drawing, write an artist statement about your insect, discuss how you made it and why you chose the design, colors, etc. Use the following link to help you with your artist statement.
   • http://youngartists.blogs.sd73.bc.ca/sample-page/artist-statements/

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Close Call for Wombat

Directions

1. Take out two sheets of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines of each sheet and title your paper Close Call for Wombat.
   
   
2. Write a news story explaining how the day’s events played out for the wombat. Don’t forget to include information on who caught him, what he plans were and how he was saved.
   
   
3. Watch the video for help on writing a news report.

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Are We There Yet

Watch the video to read the book "Are We There Yet?" By Alison Lester.

Directions

1. Take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines. Make a text to self-connection and write a short story describing a trip you may have gone on. Then answer the following question. Was it easy for you to relate to Billy who was constantly asking, “Are we there yet?”.
   
   
2. This book is full of figurative language, especially similes and metaphors.
   
   
3. Take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines.
   
   
4. Go on a hunt through the book, slowly revisit the pages to generate and write down a list of similes and metaphors that you find.
   
   
5. Next, choose your favorite one and illustrate it. Use the following link to help you identify similes and metaphors.
   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoSBVNUO2LU

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The Imaginary Patient

The book mentioned a flying doctor and how the kids passed time by making up imaginary patients for the doctor.

Directions

1. Take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines.
   
   
2. Turn on your imagination and use what you’ve learned about Australia to come up with an imaginary patient of your own.
   
   
3. Write down everything about your patient. What is the patient’s name? How did they get hurt? What is the flying doctor going to do about it? Be as detailed as possible.
   
   
4. Remember, a patient is anyone receiving medical treatment. Every time you go to the doctor, YOU are the patient.

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Unfamiliar Words

This book is full of unfamiliar words that are native to Australia.

Directions

1. Take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines.
   
   
2. Go back through the book and make a list of ten words that stumped you. Write them down on your paper.
   
   
3. Then, go back and look at the context clues to see if you can figure out the word meanings.
   
   
4. Now re-write the sentences with the unfamiliar words in them using a word that makes more sense to you.
   Ex: “Heading south on the Tanami Track, the sand was so deep our car got bogged.
   Rewrite: Heading south on the Tanami Track, the sand was so deep our car got stuck.

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Rock Art

The family in the book visits a site where there is 20,000-year-old rock art, including some art that has been created using handprints.

Use the link below to take a virtual trip to see the Nourlangie Rock Art

Directions

1. Now create a piece of “rock” art in a similar style. You will need brown or manila construction paper, and colors or marker. Consider making your art on a wrinkled up brown paper bag for a more authentic look.
   
   
2. Once you have finished your artwork, take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines.
   
   
3. Write a story to explain your piece. Is it a warning to others to stay away? Does it tell of plentiful food in the area?

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Meet Captain Cook

After reading Meet Captain Cook by Rae Murdie

Directions

1. Watch this video to take a virtual field trip to a replica of the HMS Endeavour, the ship that Captain Cook used on his voyage to discover Australia.
   
   
2. After viewing the video, take out a sheet of notebook paper. Write your name, date, and grade on the first three lines.
   
   
3. Pretend you are Captain Cook and write a letter home to your loved ones. Be sure to include information about the ship and the crew and your feelings about being at sea for several months.

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A New Discovery

Captain Cook brought Joseph Banks along on the voyage. Banks was a botanist, someone who is an expert in the scientific study of plants.

Directions

1. Take out a sheet of blank paper. Write your name, date, and grade at the top.
   
   
2. Pretend you are Joseph Banks and you have just discovered a new and amazing flower in Australia. Draw and color the flower, name it and describe the environment where it grows.
   
   
3. Use the following link to help in your description of the environment or ecosystem.
   • http://eschooltoday.com/ecosystems/what-is-a-biome.html

Don’t forget to place this completed activity/product into the pocket of your white Journey into Reading envelope.

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