SCBWI

Society of
Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators

Teaching Guides

 

JUNIOR

 

Kylie Howarth’s teacher’s notes and colouring sheets

Ages: 3-10

Teacher’s notes, activity sheets and craft ideas based on Kylie Howarth’s award winning picture books and Fish Kid chapter book series.

Kylie Howarth

 

Nanna’s Button Tin

Ages: 3-7

Teaching ideas for this gentle story about family memories and buttons.

Dianne Wolfer

 

Bedtime, Daddy!

Years: K-2

Bedtime, Daddy! Teaching notes contains: Book sharing ideas, activities linked to the West Australian school curriculum, colouring pages, word searches, mazes and much much more.

Sharon Giltrow

 

Once Upon A Small Rhinoceros

Years: PP-2

Classroom ideas for this beloved tale of a small rhinoceros with big dreams, from award-winning author/illustrator team Meg McKinlay & Leila Rudge. Themes include bravery, adventure, resourcefulness and family.

Meg McKinlay

 

The Hole Story

Years: K-3

Read the book? Publisher Fremantle Press has prepared some fun and interesting ways to talk about what you thought if it.

Kelly Canby

 

Rodney

Years: K-3

Read the book? Publisher Fremantle Press have put together some fun ways to talk about what you learned.

Kelly Canby

 

The Incurable Imagination

Years: K-3

Unleash your imagination with ‘The Incurable Imagination’ teaching notes and activities.

Aśka

 

Ten Tiny Things

Years: 1-3

Classroom ideas and activity suggestions for Ten Tiny Things, by Meg McKinlay & Kyle Hughes-Odgers. Themes include environment, nature, sustainability, mindfulness, slow-living.

Meg McKinlay

 

To The Lighthouse

Ages: 6-10

Ideas for exploring alongside Cristy Burne’s children’s novel, To The Lighthouse. Set on Rottnest Island.

Cristy Burne

 

Off The Track

Ages: 6-10

Ideas for exploring alongside Cristy Burne’s children’s novel, Off The Track. Set on WA’s Bibbulmun Track

Cristy Burne

 

Aussie Kids – Meet Eve in the Outback

Years: 1-3

Perfect for kids who can’t get out and about – learn about the lives of Aussie Kids in all our wonderful Australian States and Territories! But especially our glorious West. Meet Eve in the Outback! Yes, we are going back to Nowhere and this time cousin Will is coming to stay.

Raewyn Caisley

 

Bella and the Wandering House

Years: 2-6

Classroom activities and discussion questions for Meg McKinlay’s whimsical chapter book “Bella and the Wandering House”. Themes include adventure, imagination, family, and houses that like to walk around at night!

Meg McKinlay

 

DUCK!

Years: 3-5

Homonyms ahoy! Teaching resources for Meg McKinlay and Nathaniel Eckstrom’s duckish tale of farmyard misadventure. Stimulus questions, activities and more.

Meg McKinlay

 

MIDDLE

 

The Greatest Liar on Earth

Ages: 6-12

Is this intriguing man who he claims to be? Are his ripping yarns the concoction of a charlatan? Is he, as skeptics claim, the greatest liar on earth? A variety of activities and questions based around the concept of persuasive language in historical narratives.

Mark Greenwood

 

Teaching Notes: Meet Mary MacKillop NEW

Ages: 6+

Teaching ideas for the picture book Meet Mary MacKillop.

Sally Murphy

 

My Storee

Years: 2-6

Just because you can’t spell, doesn’t mean you can’t write! Teaching resources and activities to accompany this fantastic book about dyslexia and creativity. Includes a video about the interesting process with which the illustrations for ‘My Storee’ were made.

Aśka

 

Simpson and His Donkey – ANZAC THEME

Ages: 7-12

Teacher’s guide and activities for the book “Simpson and his Donkey” which traces the story of a man and his donkey and a strange twist of fate that brought two boyhood friends together one last time.

Mark Greenwood

 

Midnight – The Story of a Light Horse – ANZAC THEME

Ages: 7-12

Teacher’s guide and activities based on the book, “Midnight – The Story of a Light Horse”, and one of the last great cavalry charges in history during WW1.

Mark Greenwood

 

History Mysteries

Ages: 7-11

Investigate historical concepts and ideas with critical and creative thinking activities. Links to topics in Australian history and the curriculum in learning areas of English and HASS

Mark Greenwood

 

The Legend of Lasseter’s Reef

Ages: 7-12

Activities and Teacher’s Notes linked to the book’s text and illustrations and highlights points for discussion. Teacher’s Notes for the book about an elusive and mysterious gold reef that holds a significant place in Australian folklore. Contains maps and clues to one of the world’s great mysteries.

Mark Greenwood

 

Alex and the Alpacas Save the World

Years: 3-5

Teaching guide for middle grade fantasy adventure novel, Alex and the Alpacas Save the World

Kathryn Lefroy

 

Drawn Onward

Years: 3-6

Discussion questions and classroom activities for the palindromic picture book “Drawn Onward” by Meg McKinlay & Andrew Frazer. Themes include emotional well-being and intelligence, optimism, resilience.

Meg McKinlay

 

Norman Jorgensen’s Picture Books and Novels

Ages: 8-14

The Teaching Guides for Norman Jorgensen’s picture books and novels are included in his website have been created by practicing professionals. They have been used successfully by many teachers to increase the reading pleasure and provide vital background to the historical times he writes about.

Norman Jorgensen

 

The Cosmic Adventures of Alice and Bob

Ages: 8-12

Dedication, daring and discovery! Ever wanted to find the answer to BIG questions? Or dreamed of inventing the Next Big Thing? Well now you can download the FREE 32 page comic book, and teaching notes, for some super fun science times!

Aśka

 

The Dog with Seven Names

Ages: 8-13

Teaching ideas for this heart-warming story of a golden-eyed dog set in war-time Western Australia.

Dianne Wolfer

 

Light Horse Boy

Years: 3-9

Teaching resources for exploring WWI, Anzac Day, soldiers, animal mascots and the Light Horse Regiment

Dianne Wolfer

 

The Book of Stone

Years: 3-5

Study guide and activities for “The Book of stone”. Themes of geological wonder, solitude, special memories and places.

Mark Greenwood

 

Classroom Ideas: Roses are Blue NEW

Ages: 8-12

Activities related to the verse novel, Roses are Blue, by Sally Murphy

Sally Murphy

 

Classroom Ideas: Pearl Verses the World NEW

Ages: 8-12

Teaching ideas for Pearl Verses the World, by Sally Murphy

Sally Murphy

 

Classroom Ideas: Do Not Forget Australia NEW

Ages: 8+

Teaching ideas for the picture book Do Not Forget Australia.

Sally Murphy

 

Teaching Notes: Looking Up NEW

Ages: 8-12

Classroom ideas for the children’s novel, Looking Up.

Sally Murphy

 

Unit of Work: Pearl Verses the World NEW

Years: 3+

An extensive set of activities for the verse novel, Pearl Verses the World, linked to the year 3 curriculum, but adaptable to other year levels.

Sally Murphy

 

Read Along With Sally

Years: 4-8

Sally Murphy will share learning ideas, blog posts, Facebook live, Skype and more through her website for four weeks in April and May.

Sally Murphy

 

Catch A Falling Star

Ages: 9-13

Teaching notes for guided discussion around Meg McKinlay’s middle-grade novel “Catch A Falling Star”, a coming-of-age story about hope, science and falling spaceships.

Meg McKinlay

 

Surface Tension

Ages: 9-14

Teaching resources and discussion questions for Meg McKinlay’s middle-grade novel “Surface Tension”, an atmospheric mystery/adventure set near a drowned town and evoking questions around history, family and place.

Meg McKinlay

 

Lighthouse Girl

Years: 4-8

Teaching resources for exploring WWI, soldier stories and family members who remained, behind as well as lighthouses and local history

Dianne Wolfer

 

The Shark Caller

Ages: 9-14

Teaching resources for an exciting quest novel set in Papua New Guinea, linking to the ancient practice of ‘shark-calling’.

Dianne Wolfer

 

Photographs in the Mud

Years: 4-9

Teaching resource for a WWII picture book exploring Australian war history, differing viewpoints and common humanity along the Kokoda Track in 1942.

Dianne Wolfer

 

In the Lamplight

Years: 5-9

Teaching resources for exploring WWI, Spanish Influenza, suffragettes, nursing, WWI hospitals and Anzac Day

Dianne Wolfer

 

Teaching notes: Toppling NEW

Ages: 10+

Learning ideas based on the verse novel Toppling, by Sally Murphy.

Sally Murphy

 

Classroom Ideas for the novel Australia’s Great War: 1915 NEW

Ages: 10+

Ideas for teaching 1915. Linked to the year 6 curriculum, but adaptable to other year levels.

Sally Murphy

 

A Single Stone

Ages: 11+

Teaching resources and discussion questions for Meg McKinlay’s multi-award-winning novel “A Single Stone”, a challenging and thought provoking story raising questions around gender, power and conformity.

Meg McKinlay

 

UPPER

 

Boomerang and Bat

Ages: 8-14

Study Guide with Language and Literacy activities for “Boomerang and Bat”. Relevant in curriculum areas: Arts (Language and Literacy, Visual Literacy, Creative Arts); and Studies of Society & Environment (Themes, and Values).

Mark Greenwood

 

Jandamarra

Ages: 8-16

Notes and activities which capture both the adventure and the mythical nature of the life of Jandamarra. Linked to the book with relevance in areas of Language and Literacy, Visual Literacy, Creative Arts and Indigenous History and Culture.

Mark Greenwood

 

The Happiness Box

Years: 7-12

Activities and Study Notes exploring topics relevant to the Australian National Curriculum. Teacher’s notes about a book that became a National Treasure and contained the “secrets to happiness” such as the importance of friendship, kindness, compassion, generosity, loyalty, faith, courage and hard work.

Mark Greenwood

 

Moonwalkers – Study Notes and Activities

Years: 8-12

Moonwalkers. Dream astronaut dreams, and celebrate Australia’s role in one of humanity’s greatest achievements

Mark Greenwood

 

Empathy & Cyberbullying

Ages: 14+

Teen / Young Adult Teaching about empathy and cyberbullying, based on Nadia L King’s novel “Jenna’s Truth”.

Nadia L King