AC9E4LE04 • Year 4 English

Examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play...: Year 4 English topic guide

examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play in literary texts, including poetry, to shape meaning

What students learn in AC9E4LE04

This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play.... 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: examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play in literary texts, including poetry, to shape meaning.
  • Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
  • defining neologisms and puns, and identifying how they are used by authors to create a sense of freshness, originality and playfulness discussing poetic language, including adjectives that engage readers emotionally and bring the poet’s subject matter to life
  • 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: examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play in literary texts, including poetry, to shape meaning
  • E1: defining neologisms and puns, and identifying how they are used by authors to create a sense of freshness, originality and playfulness
  • E2: discussing poetic language, including adjectives that engage readers emotionally and bring the poet’s subject matter to life
  • E3: exploring emotive language in texts by First Nations Australian poets and authors (teaching context)

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

AC9E4LE04 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.

RegionCurriculumClosest mapping
AustraliaAustralian Curriculum v9.0AC9E4LE04 — examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play in literary texts, including poetry, to shape meaning
VictoriaVictorian Curriculum F-10Year 4 English: closest match in Examining literature. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference.
NSWNSW CurriculumStage 2 English: closest content focus for Examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play... and related outcomes.
United StatesCommon Core / NGSSGrade 4 Common Core Mathematics/ELA closest topic match for Examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play....
England / UKNational CurriculumKey Stage 2 / Year 4: closest programme-of-study match for Examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play....
CanadaProvincial and territory curriculaGrade 4 closest topic match. Canada varies by province, so use this as a broad Ontario/BC-style learning outcome reference.
New ZealandNew Zealand CurriculumLevel 2 English: closest achievement-objective topic for Examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play....
IndiaNCERT / CBSEClass 4 closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for Examine the use of literary devices and deliberate word play....

Related Year 4 English topics

Official curriculum references