Theme: Living in a Community

This unit includes stories and activities about different aspects of the local community such as schools, libraries, emergency services, shops and businesses, community services/programs, sporting clubs and more.

It is vital for teachers to understand the Ziptales 10 stage Reading Scheme, which governs how reading groups can be formed in a way which matches children’s abilities to the appropriate texts. To check on this essential resource - click here.

The 10 Zip Stages cover all levels of reading ability, from Foundation/Prep/Kindergarten through to Year 6. This scheme underpins the whole Themes module.

Learning Components

Focus Stories Comprehension Conventions Writing Speaking & Listening Extension
Zip Stage 3
The Magic Paint Brush
(Stories from Long Ago –
Junior Readers) 		Worksheet #2:
Story Focus 		Worksheet #1:
Grammar/Spelling Focus 		Write about why it is important to help others in our community. In pairs, research a community organisation that helps those in need e.g. the Red Cross. Paint or draw a picture of something that could help people in your local community.
Zip Stage 3
Wheels of Speed
(Imaginary Worlds –
Junior Readers) 		Worksheet #2:
What’s the Order? 		Worksheet #1:
Wonderword 		Imagine you found something special in an old junk shop. Write a story about it. Role play the wrong and right way to behave when you are inside a shop. What kinds of shops are in our community? Make one by decorating a cereal or shoe box.
Zip Stage 4
The Exterminator
(Comedy) 		General Worksheet #2:
There’s More Than One Way to Kill a Mouse 		List occupations that end in or and er (e.g. plumber, actor) Write a narrative about a different funny experience for an exterminator. Use old phone books to discuss the best ads and why they stand out. General Worksheet #1:
One Problem Leads to Another!
Zip Stage 4
Who Will Save Fluffy?
(Animal) 		General Worksheet #1:
Who Tried What? 		Complete General Worksheet #2 then put each word into an interesting sentence. Write a recount about a time when you needed help from someone in the community. Talk about the ways you can help your neighbours and how they can help you. Design a poster about calling 000 in an emergency.
Zip Stage 5
Starkers
(Comedy) 		Create a cause/effect chart for the events in the story. Study silent b words (as in climb). General Worksheet #2:
It Gets Worse 		Role play situations that require emergency services. General Worksheet #1:
View From a Tree
Zip Stage 5
Time to Own Up
(Mystery) 		General Worksheet #1:
You Need an Alibi 		Explore the rule for plural nouns ending in f e.g. thief – thieves. Imagine you are a private detective. Write an advertisement for your services. Present an oral report about the Neighbourhood Watch program. General Worksheet #2:
Stolen Goods
Zip Stage 6
Crash
(People) 		General Worksheet #2:
Before and After 		General Worksheet #1:
Pronoun Hunt 		General Worksheet #3:
Retell the Story 		In pairs, complete
General Worksheet #4:
First Aid Kit 		Research the types of emergency services in the community.
Zip Stage 6
Subway Hero
(True Tales) 		Describe why and how Everett Sanderson saved the little girl. General Worksheet #1:
Exclamation Marks 		General Worksheet #4:
Positive Impressions 		General Worksheet #2:
Who is Your Hero?
Present answers to Activity 5 to an audience. 		General Worksheet #3:
Design a Medal
Zip Stage 7
The Caped Crusader
(Comedy) 		General Worksheet #1:
Heroic Mishaps 		Study the comparative and superlative form of adjectives e.g. brave/braver/bravest. Complete General Worksheet #2 then write a story about your life as a superhero. In a small group, brainstorm a list of real life ‘caped crusaders’ in the community. Interview someone in the community who helps others e.g. nurse, police officer.
Zip Stage 7
Jamie’s Secret
(People) 		General Worksheet #2:
Recalling Words 		General Worksheet #1:
The Right Words 		General Worksheet #4:
Great Teachers 		Role play situations where an adult in the community helps a child/children. General Worksheet #3:
Keeping Secrets
Zip Stage 8
Two Hours From Town
(People) 		General Worksheet #1:
Meddling with Metaphors 		Locate homophonous words in the story e.g. drawer (pg 2) - draw. General Worksheet #3:
Outback Emergency 		Work together to complete General Worksheet #2. Research the community services available to people in remote areas.
Zip Stage 8
Meg’s Mum Can’t Fly
(People) 		General Worksheet #1:
Attempts to Fly 		General Worksheet #3:
Vocabulary Building 		What is a marathon? Write an information report about it. Present an oral report about a sporting event in your local community. General Worksheet #2:
Different Ways to Fly
Zip Stage 9
The Magic Shop
(Fantasy and Sci Fi –
Advanced Library) 		Describe the positive and negative events Gip’s father experiences in the Magic Shop. Worksheet #1:
Powerful Prefixes 		Worksheet #2:
The Magic Sword 		In pairs, design a business plan for an unusual type of shop to be built in the local shopping center. Worksheets #1 or #2
Extension Activities.
Zip Stage 9
The White Mouse
(Biography –
Advanced Library) 		Use evidence from the text to explain why Nancy Wake was called the ‘White Mouse’. Worksheet #1:
Know Your ‘-isms’
Task 1 and Challenge Activities 		Worksheet #2:
The Women of WW1 		Present responses to the Extension Activity from Worksheet #2 to an audience. Worksheet #1
Task 2 and/or Extension Activity
Zip Stage 10
The Missing Angel
(Mystery –
Advanced Library) 		Write a brief synopsis of what is happening for each sub-heading used in the story. Worksheet #1:
Identify the Missing Letter 		Worksheets #1 & #2
Extension Activities 		Worksheet #1
Task 3 		Worksheet #2:
Profile of an Artist


Assessment Ideas

Spelling/Grammar
  • Generate a spelling list of names of buildings that provide community services such as: fire station, library, town hall, hospital, police station, school, church, kindergarten, medical center and post office.
  • Use the Word Work and Spelling and Vocabulary Worksheets for the Reading Library stories to improve students’ spelling skills.
  • Identify an example of each of the buildings from the spelling list as a proper noun e.g. St John’s Hospital.
  • Select a passage from one of the on-line stories as dictation assessing sentence structure.
Reading
  • Complete the Fill the Gaps and Multiple Choice questions at the end of the story (available for the Junior Readers, Reading Library and Advanced Library genre stories).
  • Use the Learning Support Worksheets for the Reading Library stories to practise a range of reading skills.
  • Design a certificate of appreciation for one of the characters from the on-line stories.
  • Create a chart that displays a timeline of events from one of the on-line stories.
Writing
  • Write narratives using the following topics:
    Police Emergency!
    My Life as a Fire Fighter
    The Day the Ambulance came to School
  • Complete the statement: When I grow up, I would like to help the community by...
  • Make a list of interview questions for a member of the emergency services.
Oral Language
  • Perform a song/play/poetry reading for a local hospital /aged care facility/kindergarten.
  • Present an oral report about the importance of a chosen community service.
  • Invite a member of the emergency services to speak to the class. Prepare relevant questions in advance.
Related Ziptales Activities:

Copyright 2024 Ziptales. Check out our Privacy Policy

Don't have an account? Click here for a free trial...

Welcome to Ziptales!

Action Required: As this is the first time logging in and because this account is for your ENTIRE school, we ask that you add your fellow teachers and staff to your account here.

s