Produced by Geraldine Norris: by Geraldine Norris:

Readyto Read,Steadyas you Read,Goto the Finish Line!

Ready to Read: Look at the title and illustrations and thenskim and scan the whole text(that’s the writing in black type).

Now answer these questions:

  • Predict:What type of text do you think this will be?
  • Predict:What do you think this text is going to be about?
  • Question:Have you ever read this type of text before?Give at least one example if you have.
  • Steady as you Read: Now read the first part:

Heroes or Villains?

Cap’n Moonlite, Thunderbolt, Ned Kelly on the run

Heroes or villains, you decide which one

Stories of their exploitsstill liven up our day

They’re a part of Aussie history – whichever way

Horses on the track way, there’s firing in the night

Coachman and passengers crying out in fright

“Bail up hands up;surrender all your gold.”

Words that made a traveller’s blood run cold

Now answer these questions:

  • Confirm:Have your predictions been confirmed? Explain why.
  • Check:What do you think these words mean in this context?

●heroes● villains●exploits●bail up

  • Visualise:Write twothings that have been described in theseverses.

Steady as you Read: Now read the second part:

Cap’n Starlight, Steve Hart, Jackey-Jackey on the runHeroes or villains, you decide which one

Stories of their exploits still liven up our day

They’re a part of Aussie history – whichever way

The digger on the goldfields out at Ballarat

The shearer with his month’s pay on the dusty outback track

Squatters and their ladies riding Cobb and Co

All fair game to the bushranger-no mercy will he show

Now answer these questions:

  • Check:What do you think these words mean in this context?

●shearer●squatters●fair game● mercy

  • Check:Who are Cap’n Starlight, Steve Hart and Jackey-Jackey?
  • Visualise:Write two things that have been described in these verses.

Steady as you Read: Now read the third part:

Mad Dog Morgan, Frank Gardiner, Ben Hall on the run

Heroes or villains, you decide which one

Stories of their exploits still liven up our day

They’re a part of Aussie history – whichever way

Troopers and trackers searching high and low

But no one sees him coming and no one sees him go

To some he is a hero of all the tales that’s told

To others he’s the villain – let the devil take his soul

Cap’n Melville, Matt Brady, Dan Kelly on the run

Heroes or villains, you decide which one

Stories of their exploits still liven up our day

They’re a part of Aussie history – whichever way

Now answer these questions:

  • Check:What do you think these words mean in this context?

● trackers●high and low● let the devil take his soul

  • Check:Why do the names keep changing?
  • Visualise:Write two things that have been described in these verses.

Go to the Finish Line:

Now answer these questions:

  • Evaluate:What is the rhyming pattern used here? Does it help in your reading? Explain why.
  • Reflect:Heroes or villains? -what is your opinion about Bushrangers? Explain why.
  • Use:Draw an illustration for this text and give it a caption.