Colin Thiele Festival Teaching Notes (for Primary Students)

The Colin Thiele Festival is being run by the Lu Rees Archives of Australian Children’s Literature to coincide with the production of Storm Boy at the Canberra Theatre. We hope these notes will assist teachers and teacher librarians share Colin Thiele’s books with their classes and perhaps prepare the children for a visit to the exhibition.

Major Exhibition

The exhibition will feature items from the Archives’ research collection relating to Colin Thiele’s books as well as some items from the Thiele family.

When:2-28 June 2015, during the library’s normal opening hours

Monday to Friday 10.00-5.30; Saturday 10.00-4.00; Sunday closed

School Groups Welcome

Where:Civic Library, Mezzanine Floor, Civic Square, London Circuit

Cost:Free

About Colin Thiele

Colin Thiele was awell loved prolific and multi-award winning Australian writer and educator.

He was born in 1920 in South Australia and lived for 85 years. He wrote more than 90 books.

Colin Thiele‘s work demonstrates a considerable sensitivity to humans, animals and the environment. He seemed to understand and respect young humans, especially.

[Children] still rise to praise and encouragement, they wilt before anger and criticism, they cry in their hearts at loneliness and lack of love.Colin Thiele

Colin Thiele’s work offers an opportunity for children and adults to explore important universal themes of friendship, loneliness, loyalty and environment in gentle stories that do not shy away from difficult and real issues.

Facts about Colin Thiele to share with your students

  1. He was born in South Australia almost 100 years ago, in 1920.
  2. Colin didn’t speak English until he went to school, instead, he spoke German due to his Barossa German heritage.
  3. To attendKapunda High School, Colin Thiele had to leave home at 6.00amto ride his bike for 4 km and thencatch atrain.He was back home at 8.30pm after catching the train againand then cycling home. A very long day!
  4. He wrote about the ruraland remote areas where he grew up and lived.
  5. He had a love of interesting words and unusual language.
  6. He won many awards for his books. He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, was awarded the DromkeenMedal to acknowledge his importance as an Australian writer.
  7. People liked his writing so much that they named a libraryat the University of South Australia and a highway after him.
  8. There is a Colin Thiele Scholarship currently worth $12,500, to help young writers become even better writers. [
  9. Colin Thiele died on the same day as Steve Irwin.
  10. There is a Memorial Plaquefor Colin Thiele at Salt Creek SA, and a bronze sculpture of Colin Thiele at Eudunda SA.

Visit colinthiele to find more information about Colin Thiele, including photos.

Books by Colin Thiele

In his own words:

I have published more than 100 books for readers of all kinds, old and young – poetry, history, biography, children’s stories, adult fiction and books on the environment and education. I have always been interested in wildlife, solitude, youth and age, the natural environment, self discovery, inner strength and human relationships in small communities. I guess these interests show up in many of my books.

Celebrate Colin Thiele’s best known and best loved books with your students

His booksmake excellent class serials. The beautiful language and descriptions of landscape and characters improve when read out aloud.

Storm Boyis perhaps his best known book. It has never been out of print. A film was made of the story in 1976 and may still be available on DVD. Storm Boy lives a reclusive life with his father on the Coorong, SA. After a pelican mother is shot Storm Boy rescues three chicks and nurses them back to health. The story is about his relationship with the chicks as they grow and the sense of loss as they become independent. It also looks at the conflict between Storm Boy’s lifestyle and externally imposed social demands.

Magpie Islandis often compared with Storm Boy as it is equally poignant and haunting. It tells the story of a lonely magpie, ‘a castaway, a Robinson Crusoe’. But it is much more than a story about a magpie. It is a story about loneliness and fortitude, joy and tragedy, struggle and failure.

Seashores and Shadowsis a gripping story of danger and courage. Fourteen-year-old Joe had never heard of Wayward Island before he went to live with his cousin Meg and her family a Cockle Bay. He had never heard of Scarface either – the huge and dangerous white pointer shark, a fearless killer an ever-present yet elusive shadow.

Blue Fin Snook was an ugly duckling of a boy, tall, clumsy and ungainly. He just couldn’t do anything right and was often in trouble, especially with his father. When his father was unable to get a crew for his fishing boat, Blue Fin, he was forced to take Snook to help him. Snook’s battle to save Blue Fin and her cargo after tragedy strikes makes an epic read. This book was also made into a film.

February Dragon is a story about the everyday life of the Pine family and their farm. But it is also the story of the fearful February Dragon – the bushfire – and how, when it is unleashed by the stupidity or arrogant carelessness of people it brings tragedy to hundreds of victims every year. This book was recognised by the Bushfire Research Council of SA.

Sun on the Stubbleis semi-autobiographical and tells the story of Bruno Gunther who lives on a farm in SA, where adventures spring up like wheat shoots.He has to cope with his stern Dad, his Mother and family - and trickiest of all is the new teacher in town, who is too alert for comfort. Then there are the local arguments, that all seem to flare up around complicated bits of machinery, like water pumps and cars.

Jodie’s Journeyis a book about childhood illness and disability. It broke new ground when it was published. It was inspired by a letter Colin Thiele received from an 11 year old girl, Sharon Stevens, who suffered from juvenile arthritis. Colin Thiele also suffered from arthritis.

Colin Thiele’s writingcan be grouped into6 categories.

  1. Barossa Books- the area where he grew up. Often these are autobiographical.
  2. Sea Novels- like Storm Boy
  3. Suburban Novels– where girls are often lead characters
  4. Picture books
  5. Poetry
  6. Other - plays and adult books.

Useful Teaching Resources

English Lesson Plans for Storm Boy

Click on the link and scroll down for the lesson plans for Storm Boy.

This unit of nine lesson plans is focused around the book Storm Boy. Activities have been designed around the themes covered from reading the required pages in each lesson. Multiple activities have been provided to engage learners of mixed learning abilities and learning styles. The activities have been explicitly designed for the Year 4 Australian Curriculum outcomes, but can be easily adapted to suit other year levels.The unit includes a workbook that students will use to complete activities.Student workbooks can also be collected and marked for text understanding. Links to additional resources are also provided.

Ideas for Other Subject Areas

Geography/Science

Colin Thiele, in his book called Coorong, emphasised the importance of this special ‘natural or wild area’.Hethought that this area had anthe wave-beaten shore and windswept sandhills of the Coorong in South Australia ‘inestimable value to South Australia and the whole of humanity’. It is now aNational Park and its wetland are recognised as having international significance and important archaeological sites.

Research the Coorong

  • Explore a map of the Coorong.
  • See the attached Question and Answer sheet about the Coorong.
  • Part of the Coorong is the mouth of the Murray River.Research the Murray Darling River system and considerhow the Coorong environmentmay have changed since Colin Thiele wrote his book in 1963? Why?
  • Make a collage of the Coorong area and include important facts and issues.

Research the Australian Pelican(Pelecanusconspicillatus)

This large waterbird of the family Pelecanidae is widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea. It is also found in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant in New Zealand.

  • Study the lifecycle and habitat of this pelican
  • See the Questions and Answer sheet for more information about this pelican.
  • Find out about other species of pelican.
  • Make a collage of the Coorong and include important information about the extensive bird life in the Coorong and its importance to migratory birds.

English/Visual Arts

Students:

  • Make an origami boat and name it after a favourite Colin Thiele book.
  • Fold sails for the boat and write information on them such as the names of Colin Thiele books that they have read or would like to read.
  • Draw or cut out Mr Percival and add him to their boat.
  • Draw other characters from Storm Boy.Add them to the boat. Think of words to describe the characters. These could be written on the sail.
  • Think about the Coorongand its environment.
  • Draw or make a background for the boat and the characters.
  • Add anything else from the story that they think is interesting.

A useful line drawing of a pelican is included with the Storm Boylesson plan booklet.

The Coorong - Questions and Answers

What is the Coorong?

  • It is where Storm Boy and his dad lived in the story, Storm Boy by Colin Thiele.
  • The Coorong is about one and a half hours drive south of Adelaide.
  • It is anational park and coastal lagoon in South Australia. The western end of the Coorong lagoon is at the mouth of the Murray River and it then extends about 130 kilometres to the southeast.
  • The 467 square kilometres (180sqmi) also supports coastal dune systems, lagoons and coastal vegetation.
  • The park was formed in 1966 as a sanctuary for many species of birds, animals and fish. It attracts many migratory species. There are many species of birds, giant pelicans, wild duck, shags, ibis and terns. Also there are other animals and fish.
  • One of the unique things about the Coorong is the interaction of water along its length, with seawater and Murray River water meeting with rainfall and groundwater. The freshwater supports the fauna of the area while the seawater is the habitat for much of the birdlife.
  • It is important for many bird species. It has supported the chestnut teal, Australian shelduck, sharp-tailed sandpiper, red-necked stint, banded stilt, red-necked avocet, pied oystercatcher and red-capped plover. Australasian bitterns have been recorded. It has also supported significant numbers of orange-bellied parrots, fairy terns and hooded plovers, although their usage of the site has declined from reduced freshwater inflows.
  • People like to visit this special and beautiful area to camp, togo along the walking trails, to paddle along waterways by kayak, or to four-wheel driving along designated tracks and the beach.
  • The area can be treacherous. In 1840, the brigantine Maria was shipwrecked near Cape Jaffa.

Why is this area called Coorong?

The Aboriginal wordCoorang, means "sand dune", a reference to the sand dunes that form the Younghusband Peninsula. The name is thought to be a corruption of the local Aboriginal people's wordkurangh, meaning "long neck"; a reference to the shape of the lagoon system. The Coorong is very important to the Ngarrindjeri people. There are with ancient mounds of discarded shells revealing archaeological evidence of Aboriginal campsites over thousands of years. The Ngarrindjeri people are now involved with the management of the park.

For further information visit: SearchCoorong_National_Park

PelicanusConspicillatus – Questions and Answers

  • Can you name all three pelican in the book Storm Boy? The names of all start with a P.(Mr Proud, Mr Ponder and Mr Percival)
  • What kind of pelican is Mr Percival from Storm Boy?

The Australian pelican (Pelecanusconspicillatus) is a large waterbird of the family Pelecanidae, widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant in New Zealand.

  • What do these pelicans look like?

It is a predominantly white bird with black wings and a pink bill. It has been recorded as having the longest bill of any living bird. Why?

  • What do they like to eat?

It mainly eats fish, but will also consume birds and scavenges for scraps .It regularly feeds on insects and many aquatic crustaceans, especially the common yabby and the shrimps.

  • When do young pelicans leave the nest?

Usually there are two chalky-white eggs in a nest. After 32 to 35 days the eggs hatch. The chicks are naked when they hatch, though quickly grow grey down feathers. The young pelicans fledge at around three months of age.

  • What happened to Mr Percival after the filming of Storm Boy?

Mr Percival, the bird that was used in the film Storm Boy lived at the Adelaide Zoo after the film was made in 1976.

These notes were prepared by Helen Modrak for the Lu Rees Archives’ Colin Thiele Festival

May, 2015