AC9E6LY04 • Year 6 English

AC9E6LY04: Select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadings

select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadings

What students learn in AC9E6LY04

Students learn to select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadings. They move from recognising the feature to explaining how it works in context, then applying it deliberately in their own reading, speaking, writing or multimodal creation.

Core idea: In English, choices in language, structure, literature and mode create meaning for a particular audience and purpose. A strong answer names the choice, gives evidence and explains the effect.

Success looks like

  • identify the relevant feature, strategy or text choice
  • use precise English metalanguage
  • support the answer with specific evidence
  • explain the effect in context
  • apply or revise the choice for a new audience and purpose
Key vocabulary
mode
a channel of meaning such as words, image, sound, gesture, layout or movement
salience
how strongly an element attracts attention
sequence
the order in which ideas or images are presented

Use these terms only when they help explain the actual example. Avoid dropping metalanguage into an answer without showing the evidence.

Concept model and worked thinking

Use the evidence-to-effect routine

What to noticeHow to test itEvidence of mastery
select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadingsselect, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadingsstudent explains the effect or reason
second contextapply the same idea in a new textstudent transfers the idea
checkexplain the effect with evidencestudent justifies with precise evidence
  1. Name the feature, strategy or choice.
  2. Quote, describe or point to the exact evidence.
  3. Explain what the evidence does for meaning, clarity, representation, relationship or audience response.
  4. Check the explanation against the purpose of the whole text or task.

Worked transfer

Take an unseen example linked to this outcome. First identify the relevant choice, then rewrite, annotate, compare or present it in a second context so the idea is not only memorised.

Teacher prompt: What changed, what stayed the same, and how do you know the new version still suits the audience and purpose?

Curriculum coverage and elaborations

Content description: select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadings

  • Descriptor focus: select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadings
Common misconceptions
  • Visuals are decoration — Images, layout, sound and sequence can carry essential meaning.
  • One feature has one fixed effect — Explain the effect in this context and with the surrounding text.
  • Modes analysed separately only — Show how words, images and sound reinforce, extend or challenge each other.
  • Accessibility ignored — Captions, labels and clear layout help audiences access meaning.
Guided learning activities

1. Annotate a model example

Students highlight the exact words, sentence parts, text features, visual choices or spoken moves connected to the descriptor.

2. Compare two versions

Students compare a weaker and stronger version, then explain which choices improve meaning, clarity, credibility, cohesion or audience effect.

3. Create, justify and revise

Students create a short response or text using the focus skill, justify the key choice and revise one part after feedback.

Revision Notes

Exam routine: feature or strategy → evidence → effect → context → check.

Important questions

  • Identify the exact feature or strategy in select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadings. Answer with precise evidence and a short explanation.
  • Point to the evidence that supports the answer. Answer with precise evidence and a short explanation.
  • Explain how the choice changes meaning, effect, clarity or audience response. Answer with precise evidence and a short explanation.
  • Apply the idea in a fresh sentence, text extract, discussion or multimodal example. Answer with precise evidence and a short explanation.
  • Revise one answer or created text using the success criteria. Answer with precise evidence and a short explanation.
Support, core and extend
  • Support: provide a short model, limited choices and sentence stems such as “The feature is …”, “The evidence is …”, and “This affects meaning by …”.
  • Core: use an unseen example and require evidence plus a context-specific explanation.
  • Extend: compare two texts, modes, audiences or drafts and evaluate which choices are most effective.
AC9E6LY04 Teacher Slides

Project the fixed branded slide deck one slide at a time. Use it with the same evidence-to-effect routine taught in this topic guide.

Open Classroom View
How to use this unit

Learn from the Topic Guide and fixed Teacher Slides, complete the Worksheet, use Practice for supported feedback, then take the Test when ready.

🎥 Optional Video Lesson

The SkillrHub lesson remains the primary learning resource. This optional video reinforces the explanation; you can complete the lesson and practice without watching.

Back to the lesson

Before you watch:

  • Pause after each worked example.
  • Try the examples yourself.
  • Return to the SkillrHub lesson before continuing.
Recommended: Using Text Features to Locate Information

Khan Academy — Use headings and other text features to locate information efficiently; this is a strategy refresher.

As you watch: Which feature would you use first to answer a particular question?

Load video player Loads YouTube in this lesson. See the video notice below.

Try it: Find an answer in an age-appropriate information text using its contents, headings or glossary. Explain your route and whether the source suits your task.

Video unavailable, inaccurate or unsuitable for this year? Report a video problem to SkillrHub by email. You can continue with the written lesson and practice resources.

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Curriculum equivalents: Victoria, NSW and international

Curriculum equivalents for Select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes...

Mapped skill: select, navigate and read texts for a range of purposes, monitoring meaning and evaluating the use of structural features; for example, table of contents, glossary, chapters, headings and subheadings

These references identify matching or closely related learning. Curriculum sequence, terminology and depth vary, so teachers should use the mapped skill and lesson difficulty to confirm suitability.

RegionCurriculum frameworkClosest level or code
AustraliaAustralian Curriculum v9.0AC9E6LY04 · Year 6
VictoriaVictorian Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0 — EnglishVC2E6LY04 · Level 6
New South WalesNSW English K–10 Syllabus (2022)EN3-RECOM-01 · Stage 3
United States (USA)Common Core State Standards for English Language ArtsGrade 6
Canada (Ontario)Ontario Curriculum — EnglishGrade 6
United Kingdom (England)National Curriculum in England — EnglishYear 7, Key Stage 3
IndiaNCERT / CBSE — EnglishClass 6

Australian Curriculum v9.0 is the canonical source for this SkillrHub lesson. Victoria and NSW entries name the closest published state codes or outcomes; international entries are planning references rather than claims of identical curricula.

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Official curriculum references
Related Year 6 English topics

Learn: Selecting, navigating and monitoring texts

Learning intention: Choose texts for a clear purpose, use contents pages, headings, chapters, glossaries, indexes, links and search tools to navigate, and monitor whether the selected information remains relevant and understandable.

How to think

  1. Name the precise strategy or choice.
  2. Point to exact evidence.
  3. Explain how it serves meaning, audience or purpose.
  4. Check the claim against the whole task.
  5. Apply or revise deliberately.
StrategyOriginal exampleWhy it works
reading purposeTo check one scientific term, Priya chooses a glossary instead of reading the whole chapter.Her purpose determines the most efficient text feature and reading path.
table of contentsThe contents page places “Coastal erosion” in Chapter 4 on page 62.It gives a broad map of major sections and their order.
indexThe index lists “erosion: coastal 62–67; wind 89; prevention 104”.Alphabetical entries and page references locate specific mentions across a book.
glossaryThe glossary defines “sediment” in the way the science book uses it.It supports domain-specific vocabulary without interrupting the main explanation.
headings and subheadingsUnder “Causes”, the subheadings separate wind, water and human activity.The hierarchy predicts how information is grouped and helps targeted scanning.
chapter structureA biography chapter titled “The First Expedition” contains orientation, events and reflection.Chapter boundaries organise a major period while internal phases develop it.
hyperlink navigationA webpage link labelled “Download rainfall data” leads to a table rather than another explanation.Descriptive link text helps readers predict destination and choose purposefully.
search within pageSearching “habitat loss” finds three occurrences in a long report.The tool locates candidates quickly, but surrounding paragraphs must still be read.
skimmingLeo reads the title, introduction, headings, captions and conclusion before choosing the report.Skimming establishes scope, organisation and likely usefulness.
monitoring meaningAfter two dense paragraphs, Mei pauses and summarises the cause in her own words.The summary checks whether the explanation has been understood.
source suitabilityA children’s encyclopedia explains the basics; a government dataset supplies current measurements.Different sources can meet background and evidence purposes.
navigation synthesisFor a question on cyclone safety, Arlo uses contents, headings, glossary and index, then records relevant pages.Several structural features work together as a deliberate navigation plan.

Common mistakes

  • Skimming means guessing without reading. Replace the absolute rule with an evidence-based explanation.
  • Successful readers never need to reread. Replace the absolute rule with an evidence-based explanation.
  • The first search result is usually the best source. Replace the absolute rule with an evidence-based explanation.
  • Using a feature once guarantees complete understanding. Replace the absolute rule with an evidence-based explanation.

Check your understanding

Apply the strategy to an unfamiliar text or communication task. Name the choice, cite evidence, explain its effect and justify one improvement.