Unit overview

Unit plan title

Creative Writing
Unit summary
Students will learn what makes a story. They will practice techniques to enhance their writing and
understand and use the narrative structure. Students will practice creating different narratives and use
different techniques in preparation for school Common Test.
Year level
8
Curriculum-framing questions
Why are stories important?
Unit questions
What is a story?
Why do we tell stories?
Content questions
What makes a good story?
What ways can we tell stories?
Standards / Curriculum Outcome
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 text structures and language features to refine and clarify ideas to improve the effectiveness
of students own texts (ACELY1810)
Use a range of software, including word processing programs, to create, edit and publish texts imaginatively
(ACELY1738)

Teaching and learning

Strategies
Focus on short activities of 5 to 10 minutes. Use a wide range of prompts about a range of different topics to
incite creativity. Use visual stimuli in presentations and lots of handouts so the focus is on students creating
their own work instead of copying rote from the board. Use mini quizzes often as class can be competitive
and like playing. Keep handle on time and noise level as certain students can get off task easily and cause a
snowball effect. Encourage sharing stories to create a shared level of confidence in their abilities and
springboard ideas of each other.

Activities
Individual writing
Small group work
Class discussion
Quizzes
Student assessment
500 word creative writing piece as per school Common Test using a selection of prompts. Common Test set
by the school and to be completed by all classes in Year 8.
Higher achieving students can use techniques learnt through unit in order to craft a stronger story especially
focusing on using the narrative structure.
Lower achieving students will still be able to pass by creating a form of story.

Accommodations for diverse needs

Student T: On NEP, has the assistance of an SSO once English lesson a week and has access to the Learning
Support Room all day. Buddied up with Student B to maximise SSOs time and so they can assist each other.
Student C: On NEP, has the assistance of an SSO once English lesson a week and has access to the Learning
Support Room all day. Buddied up with Student B to maximise SSOs time and so they can assist each other.
Differentiated Learning: School preferences differentiating in marking over in lessons.
Students A and B will be monitored and will be allowed to leave for Learning Support Room if required. Will
be allowed to take Test with them to complete during rest of day if required. In group work make sure they
are grouped together and with one of the helpful higher achieving students (Student Z, K or A if possible).
Learning preparation
Students prior knowledge
Basic writing tools (grammar, basic sentence structure, punctuation etc.)
What a story looks like (previous unit was on Holes by Louis Sachar)

Materials and resources

Technology - hardware
Camera

Printer

Video camera

Computer(s)

Data show projector

Video conferencing equipment

Digital camera

Scanner

Interactive white board

DVD player

Television

Mp3 player

Internet connection

VCR

PDA/mobile technologies

Other:
Technology - software
CD-roms

Editing software

Webpage development

Database/spreadsheet

Internet web browser

Word processing

Desktop publishing

Multimedia

Digital learning objects

Email software

Animation software

Other

Supplies
PowerPoint Presentations
Handouts and worksheets
Whiteboard markers
Lolly prizes

Lesson Breakdown
Week1

Topic

Lesson 1(Monday 11.35)

Creative Thinking

Lesson 2(Tuesday 12.20)

Narrative Structure

Lesson 3 (Wednesday 9.45

double)

Writing Toolbox

Lesson4(Friday 10.30)

Character

Brief
Use prompts and short
activities to get students
thinking creatively
Breakdown basic narrative
structure
Small activities on tools and
tricks students can use to
strengthen their writing
Break down what makes a
good character

Week 2
Lesson 1

Setting

Lesson 2

Quiz

Lesson 3

Common Test

Lesson 4

New Unit

Break down how to create an

interesting setting
Practice techniques for
Common Test
Common Test