Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs

Learning Areas

English

In this unit

In this unit, students will analyse films, conduct online research, and engage in creative writing to explore biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Inspired by the stories of Ballardong Noongar Elders, they will learn about life in 1960s Western Australia. Students will then write and publish their own biography, autobiography, or memoir, focusing on themselves or someone they value, deepening their sense of identity and understanding of others.

This unit includes:

Video

Unit

Teacher Resource

Cultural Protocols

Teacher Resource

Learning Areas

Year 5 English

AC9E5LA01
Understand that language is selected for social contexts and that it helps to signal social roles and relationships
AC9E5LE02
Present an opinion on a literary text using specific terms about literary devices, text structures and language features, and reflect on the viewpoints of others
AC9E5LE03
Recognise that the point of view in a literary text influences how readers interpret and respond to events and characters
AC9E5LE04
Examine the effects of imagery, including simile, metaphor and personification, and sound devices in narratives, poetry and songs
AC9E5LE05
Create and edit literary texts, experimenting with figurative language, storylines, characters and settings from texts students have experienced
AC9E5LY01
Describe the ways in which a text reflects the time and place in which it was created
AC9E5LY02
Use appropriate interaction skills including paraphrasing and questioning to clarify meaning, make connections to own experience, and present and justify an opinion or idea
AC9E5LY03
Explain characteristic features used in imaginative, informative and persuasive texts to meet the purpose of the text
AC9E5LY05
Use comprehension strategies such as visualising, predicting, connecting, summarising, monitoring and questioning to build literal and inferred meaning to evaluate information and ideas
AC9E5LY06
Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, developing ideas using visual features, text structure appropriate to the topic and purpose, text connectives, expanded noun groups, specialist and technical vocabulary, and punctuation including dialogue punctuation

Year 6 English

AC9E6LA01
Understand that language varies as levels of formality and social distance increase
AC9E6LA03
Explain how texts across the curriculum are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases depending on purposes, recognising how authors often adapt text structures and language features
AC9E6LA07
Identify and explain how images, figures, tables, diagrams, maps and graphs contribute to meaning
AC9E6LA08
Identify authors’ use of vivid, emotive vocabulary, such as metaphors, similes, personification, idioms, imagery and hyperbole
AC9E6LE01
Identify responses to characters and events in literary texts, drawn from historical, social or cultural contexts, by First Nations Australian, and wide-ranging Australian and world authors
AC9E6LE02
Identify similarities and differences in literary texts on similar topics, themes or plots
AC9E6LE03
Identify and explain characteristics that define an author's individual style
AC9E6LE04
Explain the way authors use sound and imagery to create meaning and effect in poetry
AC9E6LE05
Create and edit literary texts that adapt plot structure, characters, settings and/or ideas from texts students have experienced, and experiment with literary devices
AC9E6LY01
Examine texts including media texts that represent ideas and events, and identify how they reflect the context in which they were created
AC9E6LY02
Use interaction skills and awareness of formality when paraphrasing, questioning, clarifying and interrogating ideas, developing and supporting arguments, and sharing and evaluating information, experiences and opinions
AC9E6LY03
Analyse how text structures and language features work together to meet the purpose of a text, and engage and influence audiences
AC9E6LY05
Use comprehension strategies such as visualising, predicting, connecting, summarising, monitoring and questioning to build literal and inferred meaning, and to connect and compare content from a variety of sources
AC9E6LY06
Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, using paragraphs, a variety of complex sentences, expanded verb groups, tense, topic-specific and vivid vocabulary, punctuation, spelling and visual features
AC9E6LE05
Create and edit literary texts that adapt plot structure, characters, settings and/or ideas from texts students have experienced, and experiment with literary devices

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

Culture

A_TSIC1
First Nations Australian societies are diverse and have distinct cultural expressions such as language, customs and beliefs. As First Nations Peoples of Australia, they have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural expressions, while also maintaining the right to control, protect and develop culture as Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.
A_TSIC2
First Nations Australians’ ways of life reflect unique ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing.
A_TSIC3
The First Peoples of Australia (Aboriginal Peoples) belong to the world’s oldest continuous cultures. First Nations Australians demonstrate resilience in the maintenance, practice and revitalisation of culture despite the many historic and enduring impacts of colonisation, and continue to celebrate and share the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures.

People

A_TSIP3
The significant and ongoing contributions of First Nations Australians and their histories and cultures are acknowledged locally, nationally and globally.
A_TSIP1
Australia has 2 distinct First Nations Peoples; each encompasses a diversity of nations across Australia. Aboriginal Peoples are the first peoples of Australia and have occupied the Australian continent for more than 60,000 years. Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the First Nations Peoples of the Torres Strait and have occupied the region for over 4,000 years.

Work in Western Australia

Year levels: 9 4 lessons

In this unit, students will explore the history and current issues of Aboriginal labour in Australia. Through personal stories, films, and activities, they will learn about key industries, the exploitation of Aboriginal workers, and the impact of stolen wages policies. Students will also study the contributions of First Nations activists who fought for their rights.

View Unit

Rebels and Trailblazers

Year levels: 10 3 lessons

n this unit, students will analyse films, conduct online research, and engage in creative writing to explore biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Inspired by the stories of Ballardong Noongar Elders, they will learn about life in 1960s Western Australia. Students will then write and publish their own biography, autobiography, or memoir, focusing on themselves or someone they value, deepening their sense of identity and understanding of others.

View Unit

Life on the Reserve

Year levels: 9 3 lessons

This unit explores the distinctions between Missions, Reserves, and Stations. Students will engage in research activities and creative writing, investigating the impact of government policies on First Nations communities and life on York Reserve.

View Unit

Unit Content

Expand All

Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs 3 Lessons

Focus Area Content

0% Complete 0/3 Steps

Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs – Lesson 1

Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs – Lesson 2

Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs – Lesson 3

+648 potential users

Not Enrolled

Ballardong Noongar Community

Years 5-6

English

3 x 60 minutes

105

Unit Includes

1 Focus Area
3 Lessons

Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs

Learning Areas

In this unit

This unit includes:

Video

Video

Video

Video

Unit

Teacher Resource

Teacher Resource

Teacher Resource

Cultural Protocols

Teacher Resource

Learning Areas

Year 5 English

Year 6 English

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

Culture

People

Unit Content

Ballardong Noongar Community

Years 5-6

English

3 x 60 minutes

Unit Includes

Explore

Login or Subscribe

Contact us

Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs

Learning Areas

In this unit

This unit includes:

Video

Video

Video

Video

Unit

Teacher Resource

Teacher Resource

Teacher Resource

Cultural Protocols

Teacher Resource

Learning Areas

Year 5 English

Year 6 English

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

Culture

People

Related Units

Unit Content

Ballardong Noongar Community

Years 5-6

English

3 x 60 minutes

Unit Includes

Explore

Login or Subscribe

Contact us