English Alive 1

English Alive 1 is the centrepiece of a groundbreaking new program for English in the Middle Years. The program focuses strongly on reading and writing and on associated thinking skills and strategies. Beginning with the premise that Middle Years students need to be engaged and stimulated before they can learn effectively the program recognises that students learn in different ways and draw on multiple intelligences.

English Alive 1 is designed to encourage deep learning: students investigate a knowledge area in many layers, so that they build deep understanding and develop a range of skills. Reading and writing are taught through a thematic workshop approach, using high-interest texts and activities that really teach students the how of literary, everyday and visual texts.

Unit 1: Alive with action
Reading and writing narrative action
Reading action in visual texts
Reading and writing action in everyday texts
Reading and writing action in poetry
Viewing action in films
Compose and create
Key terms

Unit 2: Alive with information
Reading and writing information in narrative text
Information - different forms of presentation
Reading and writing information in reports
Compose and create
Key terms

Unit 3: Alive with humour
Reading and writing jokes
Reading and writing humour in short stories
Humour in visual texts
Reading and writing humour in instructions
Compose and create
Key terms

Unit 4: Alive with sensation
Reading and writing sensation in narratives
Reading and writing sensation in advertising
Reading and writing sensation in poetry
Compose and create
Key terms

Unit 5: Alive with description
Reading and writing description in autobiography
Reading and writing description in poetry
Reading and writing description in real estate advertising
Reading and writing description in instructional texts
Compose and create
Key terms

Unit 6: Alive with mystery
Reading and writing mystery in narrative texts
Reading and writing mystery in visual texts
Reading and writing mystery in everyday texts
Compose and create
Key terms

Unit 7: Alive with drama
Reading and writing drama in narratives
Reading and writing drama in playscripts
Reading drama in visual texts
Drama in a poem: a dramatic monologue
Compose and create
Key terms

Unit 8: Alive with a twist
Thinking about short stories with a twist in the tail
Reading short stories with a twist ending
Oral stories with a twist
Writing stories with a twist ending
Compose and create
Key terms