Earthquake - Jackie French - Shared Reading Unit - Stage 3 - Natural Disasters

This is a 56-page unit I created for Stage 3 classroom on the text “Earthquake” by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley. It was designed to be integrated with the Stage 3 Science unit “Earth and Space”, specifically the strand which focuses on natural disasters and their impact.

This is an Australian text, however the content of the unit is not Australian specific. It examines earthquakes throughout the world and how governments and engineers “earthquake proof” their cities. The text itself explores the aftermath of earthquakes and clean up efforts, as well as the resilience and solidarity of people. It also teaches an understanding and respect for our shifting earth.

The unit contains:

• Australian Curriculum descriptors

• A background to the unit

• Learning Intentions

• “Tune-in” activities for before the book

• Activating Prior Knowledge task whereby students learn what causes earthquakes

• A comprehensive, page-by-page shared reading guide to “Earthquake”, featuring literal and inferential questions, as well as questions focusing on elements of visual literacy

• A factual guide to the Newcastle earthquake of 1989 (the event on which the text is based)

• An interactive guide to earthquake proof cities, and how engineers design earthquake-proof buildings

• A vocabulary guide, using complex words from the text

• Ten literacy centre activities to consolidate student understanding of the text and topic.

Please note: none of my literature units are generic. I don’t use a standard template and simply shift the title of the text. My units are specifically designed, built and created around the focus text. You won’t find crosswords, find-a-words or colouring-in amongst my resources! I believe in keeping literature at the heart of literacy - all of my tasks will contain elements of either reading, writing or speaking and listening.

Happy reading!