Exploring Tiddalick's Story

Overview

This 60-minute lesson introduces Year 4 students to Tiddalick the Greedy Frog, a traditional Aboriginal story. Pupils will engage with the text to identify key narrative features and explore the moral message, linking to cultural understanding and narrative techniques such as dialogue and description.

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National Curriculum Links (English - Key Stage 2)

Reading:

• Comprehension
  • Understand what they read, in books they can read independently, by:
    • Identifying main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph and summarising these (Year 4 - English Programme of Study).
    • Discussing words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination.
• Vocabulary, Grammar, and Punctuation
  • Identify how language, structure and presentation contribute to meaning.

Writing:

• Composition
  • Plan their writing by: discussing and recording ideas (linking to story elements).
• Spoken Language
  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.

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Learning Objectives and Success Criteria

WALT (We Are Learning To)	Success Criteria
Understand the story of Tiddalick and identify its key features	- I can summarise the story in my own words.
Identify characters and settings within the story	- I can list the main characters and describe the setting.
Discuss the moral of the story and its cultural significance	- I can explain the message or lesson of the story.

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Resources

• Copies of Tiddalick the Greedy Frog (print and audio version).
• Story maps and graphic organisers.
• Visual aids: character images and setting illustrations.
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Paper and colouring materials for extension activities.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Starter discussion: Ask students if they know any traditional stories that teach lessons or morals (e.g., fables). Briefly introduce Aboriginal stories as important cultural narratives from Australia.
• Set context: Explain that Tiddalick the Greedy Frog is a traditional Aboriginal story that teaches a lesson about greed and sharing.

Teacher models: Briefly explain what to listen for when the story is read (characters, setting, plot, and moral).

2. Story Reading (15 minutes)

• Read Tiddalick the Greedy Frog aloud with the class, using the audiobook or a clear expressive read for all learners to access the story.
• Show visual aids of characters and setting as the story unfolds.

Differentiation:

• EAL students receive story maps to follow alongside the reading.
• Dyslexic learners use the audiobook version with the print copy.

3. Group Discussion (15 minutes)

• Break the class into small groups (4-5 pupils) to discuss:
  a) Who are the characters? What can we say about them?
  b) Where does the story take place? Describe the setting.
  c) What happens first, next, and last? (Plot summarisation)
  d) What do you think is the moral or lesson of the story?

• Each group shares one point from each question. Teacher records key answers on the whiteboard.

4. Narrative Elements Focus (10 minutes)

• Briefly explore key narrative features found in the story:

  • Dialogue: Identify examples of characters speaking, emphasising how it helps tell the story.
  • Description: Look at how the setting and characters are described to create imagery.

• Model how to use this understanding to talk about a story clearly.

5. Plenary and Reflection (10 minutes)

• Using a graphic organiser (story map), pupils complete a summary of the story, listing: characters, setting, main events, and the moral.

• Volunteers can share their summaries.

• Reinforce WALT and revisit success criteria with the class.

• Home/Extension Activity:

  • Create a character profile for Tiddalick, including his traits and actions.
  • Illustrate a scene from the story that stood out to them.

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Differentiation Strategies

Learner Need	Strategy
EAL learners	Story maps with visuals; key vocabulary pre-teaching; use of bilingual peers if possible.
Dyslexic learners	Access to audiobook; dyslexia-friendly fonts; paired reading.
Less confident writers/speakers	Group discussions; sentence starters for responses; visual prompts.
Advanced learners (Greater Depth)	Extension activities; writing character profiles with descriptive vocabulary.

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Assessment for Learning

• Formative assessment through group discussions and class sharing to check understanding of story features.
• Review student story maps and summaries for comprehension and ability to extract key points.
• Oral questioning on the moral and cultural relevance encourages deeper thinking.

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Additional Notes

• Emphasise respect and curiosity about Aboriginal culture, encouraging students to reflect on why stories like Tiddalick are shared across generations.
• Incorporate paired talk for discussion to build confidence and scaffold learning.
• Use visuals strategically to support all learners and keep engagement high.

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By thoughtfully combining reading, talking, and creative activities, this lesson empowers Year 4 pupils to not only understand a traditional story but also appreciate its cultural and moral dimensions—laying a rich foundation for their narrative writing in lesson 2.