Sharing Our Places

Curriculum Area

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
Foundation Level – Australian Curriculum V9

Relevant Content Descriptor:

AC9HSFK02 – Identify familiar features of places and recognise why some places are special to people.

General Capabilities:

• Personal and Social Capability – Collaborating and communicating
• Intercultural Understanding – Understanding diversity of places and cultures in Australia
• Literacy – Communicating effectively using spoken and visual texts

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Lesson 15 of 16: Celebrating Our Special Places

Unit Title: Exploring Our Special Places
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 20 students
Resources Needed:

• Student-created storybooks (completed in previous lessons)
• A storytelling seat/cushion
• Floor mat for listeners
• ‘Celebration Cloud’ feedback templates (see below)
• Stickers or star stamps for feedback
• Music player (for celebration music during transitions)
• Teacher iPad or camera for recording presentations (optional)

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Learning Intentions

• I am learning to share what I know about a special place.
• I am learning to listen carefully and kindly respond to others.
• I am learning to celebrate our class community’s special places.

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Success Criteria

• I can clearly tell others about my special place using my storybook.
• I can listen respectfully to my classmates.
• I can give kind and thoughtful feedback to celebrate others’ work.

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Preparation Notes for the Teacher (Quick Setup)

• Select a prominent ‘storytelling spot’ (a chair or cushion in front of the group).
• Display a small, soft celebration bell or chime to transition between presenters.
• Have "Celebration Clouds" ready – simple cut-outs where students can draw or write one thing they liked about the story shared.
• Set a timer for 2 minutes per presenter to keep the session within time limits.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Welcome and Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher-Led Circle Time Discussion

• Gather students on the mat. Invite a few deep breaths to focus attention.
• Ask: “What made your special place so special to you?”
• Share a short teacher example (e.g., "My favourite place is the beach because I feel peaceful there.")
• Link to the Christian values of gratitude and community by saying:
  “God gave us so many beautiful and important places – today we’ll celebrate them just like we celebrate each other.”

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2. Presentation of Storybooks (30 minutes)

How It Works:

• Presentations are run as a mini 'class showcase'.
• Students share their storybooks, one at a time, from the storytelling spot.
• Only 10 students present today; the remaining 10 will share in Lesson 16.

During Each Presentation (Approx. 2 minutes per presenter):

1. Presenting student sits in the storytelling spot and uses their book to tell the story of their place.
2. The class listens quietly and respectfully.
3. After the student shares, the teacher rings a soft chime and invites two students (teacher-selected) to give positive, specific feedback using the sentence stem:
   “I liked the part when…” or “Your special place made me feel…”
4. All students complete a ‘Celebration Cloud’ drawing or sentence about the presenter’s special place (e.g., drawing a beach, writing “The zoo is fun!”)
5. The presenter receives a sticker/star stamp on their book.

🎉 Optional Enrichment – Recorded Storybook Moments:
Use an iPad to record 20-second clips of each child sharing. These can be used in the final lesson or emailed home as a treasured keepsake.

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3. Movement Celebration Break (5 minutes)

Transition Movement Game: 'Pass the Cloud'

• Students pass a soft cloud toy or cushion in a circle while gentle music plays (relaxing celebration vibe).
• When the music stops, the student holding the cloud shares one word about their special place with the group.

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4. Reflect and Pray (5 minutes)

Closing Reflection

• Gather quietly on the mat. Sing or recite a simple prayer of thankfulness together:

“Thank you God for our special places –
places we play, and places with faces.
Thank you for the people we love,
and all the precious places from above.”

• Ask: “How do you feel knowing that we all have different yet special places?”

• Remind students that we’ll hear the rest of the class share in the next lesson and then we’ll create a whole-class display of ‘Our Special Places’.

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Differentiation Support

To assist learners with varied needs:

• Visual Scaffolding: Students may use picture cues from their books if reluctant to speak.
• Peer Buddying: Invite a confident classmate to ‘co-present’ for shy students.
• Pre-Writing Alternatives: For students not fully writing, allow oral dictation or drawing-only ‘Celebration Clouds’.
• Inclusive Praise: Make sure every student's efforts are praised genuinely, regardless of expressive language level.

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Teacher Reflection Prompts (after class)

• Did each child feel heard and celebrated?
• Which students may need extra support or encouragement before the next session?
• Did the format support cooperative and respectful listening?

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Notes for Next Lesson (Lesson 16 Preview)

• Celebrate the remaining 10 students presenting.
• Whole-class collaborative art piece: Our Classroom Map of Special Places, linking to mapping and community in final reflection.
• Family and Faith integration: prepare prayer cards featuring each child’s special place to take home.

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🕊️ "Wherever our hearts rest, that's our most special place."
– Extension of Catholic values into everyday place-based learning.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Anecdotal Notes during presentations (confidence, communication, listening).
• Collection of ‘Celebration Clouds’ as formative evidence of engagement and understanding of diversity of place.
• Observation of participation, respectful listening, and response skills.

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Wow Factor + Teacher Time Saver Tips ✨

• Use the student presentations as a formative oral language assessment.
• Think long-term: these books become keepsakes that encourage parents’ pride and school engagement.
• You’ve just built a mini public-speaking showcase without any complicated prep or separate activities – big win!

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A Final Thought for the Teacher 💛

You are nurturing their first experiences of sharing their voice in community. You’re building the foundations of what it means to value each other and the lands we call home. That is powerful teaching.