What students learn in AC9E3LE03
This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of How an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters.... The goal is not to memorise one answer pattern. Students should be able to explain the idea, recognise it in a new example and apply it in a short practice or worksheet task.
- Start with the main idea: discuss how an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters and settings in texts, and explore how the settings and events influence the mood of the narrative.
- Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
- identifying and discussing how the use of descriptive language creates setting and influences atmosphere, and draws readers into events that follow; for example, “The castle loomed dark and forbidding.” discussing the language used to describe the traits of characters in stories, their actions and motivations; for example, “Claire was so lonely; she desperately wanted a pet, so she hatched a plan to get what she wanted.”
- Finish with mixed questions so students must choose the correct strategy rather than copy the last example.
Curriculum coverage and elaborations
The content description and elaborations below show the curriculum ideas taught in this unit. Items marked as teaching context support lesson planning but may not appear in the initial eight-question activity.
- Content description: discuss how an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters and settings in texts, and explore how the settings and events influence the mood of the narrative
- E1: identifying and discussing how the use of descriptive language creates setting and influences atmosphere, and draws readers into events that follow; for example, “The castle loomed dark and forbidding.”
- E2: discussing the language used to describe the traits of characters in stories, their actions and motivations; for example, “Claire was so lonely; she desperately wanted a pet, so she hatched a plan to get what she wanted.”
How to use this unit
Read the topic guide, use the teacher slide for instruction, then complete the Worksheet, Practice and Test. These three activities use the same eight-question unit bank.
Teacher resource
AC9E3LE03 teacher slide
Use this one-page PDF to introduce the key idea, vocabulary and teaching sequence before students begin the activities.
Open teacher slide (PDF)Common mistakes to watch for
- Answering from memory without using clues from the text, sentence or image.
- Knowing the idea orally but not transferring it into reading, writing or speaking.
- Missing punctuation, word order or vocabulary clues that change meaning.
International curriculum mapping
This table gives closest-topic mapping for search and planning. The Australian Curriculum code is exact; overseas entries are broad equivalents because each jurisdiction structures outcomes differently.
| Region | Curriculum | Closest mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Curriculum v9.0 | AC9E3LE03 — discuss how an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters and settings in texts, and explore how the settings and events influence the mood of the narrative |
| Victoria | Victorian Curriculum F-10 | Year 3 English: closest match in Examining literature. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference. |
| NSW | NSW Curriculum | Stage 2 English: closest content focus for How an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters... and related outcomes. |
| United States | Common Core / NGSS | Grade 3 Common Core Mathematics/ELA closest topic match for How an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters.... |
| England / UK | National Curriculum | Key Stage 2 / Year 3: closest programme-of-study match for How an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters.... |
| Canada | Provincial and territory curricula | Grade 3 closest topic match. Canada varies by province, so use this as a broad Ontario/BC-style learning outcome reference. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Curriculum | Level 2 English: closest achievement-objective topic for How an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters.... |
| India | NCERT / CBSE | Class 3 closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for How an author uses language and illustrations to portray characters.... |