I have, in the process of writting the K to 10 Auslan curriculum teaching guides curated a number of visual stories, and written teaching notes on these stories.
This page is a temporay page that is collecting them all in one verified place. A trust worthy source of stories you know are signed by accredited and trust worthy sources.
Over time I will database these better so you can search them, but for now it is a semi sorted list based on difficulty/complexity of the story narritive and Auslan language used.
Please note: most teaching notes require subscriber access
Koalas like to ...
A funny story about dad who claims Koalas like to do human things, and a child who clears up the truth. Lots of people descriptors and ends with a true description of a Koala, where he lives and what he eats.
Language benefits
These teaching notes explore the use of :
The Coloured Echidna
A lovely story about an echidna that changes colour to match his environment. The story starts describing the echidna group and where they live. . . but one echidna changes colour with his environment. . no one knows why so he travels to ask other animals.
Language benefits: Lots of descriptive, describing places animals live and excellent examples of role shifting. These teaching notes explore the use of :
My People
By Billie-Jean Taylorand Auslan performance by Tegan for Queensland state library.
Shayla introduces her family with interesting little bits of info about each member as you go along.
Language benefits: We use this story to look at introductions to family within the Auslan teaching guides. These teaching notes explore the use of :
The Very Crancky Bear
Based on Auslan performance by Michelle Goodison for Communication Republic
This bear just wants to sleep and gets ever more cranky with the animals until one shines out as having empathy and understanding.
Language benefits: The teaching notes focus on highlighting sign modifiers, classifiers and linguistics. With a focus on non-direct English word translation but meaning. With particular focus on:
Who is at the zoo?
From an Auslan perspective this is a complext story involving a broad range of uncommon animals and descriptors.
Teaching notes for advanced learners and focus on linguistic concepts with focus on :
Come Over To My Place
This Australian story is a great book to help reinforce vocabulary based around the house and also family signs. The Auslan presenter is only small in the corner unfortunately, so you need a large screen.
The story visits different families, where family members may be Deaf, blind, very short, amputees.
The story incorporates references to flashing door bells, feeling (rather than listening) to music, braille books, guide dogs, prosthetic and more.
I want to be a sports star
Watch your sport sign's in action in this delightful Australian children's book presented in Auslan with voice over for Richmond Tweed Regional Library story Time
In this story the children want to be a surfer, fencer, football star and mores. They name their heroes of the sports and features of the sport.
The Hungry Caterpillar
This book includes
Comprehension questions
Can you children name fruit in the story?
Do your children remember how to sign 1 to 5?
Do they remember how many apples the caterpillar ate (1), Pears (2), strawberries (4) , oranges (5)
For advanced students
Can they name other foods in the story?
What sign did they use for hungry in the story? Do you know a different sign for hungry?
Once I Munched A Mango
If you are looking for something to occupy more advanced young ones or test your Australian Animal + fruit signs this Australian story book is delightful.
This story introduces a different Australian animal and fruit on each page.
Comprehension questions
Who was in the creek ? what were they doing?
Who did they find behind the pineapple?
Where was the tree frog?
How did they sign the butterfly darting around trees?
What made them shake with fear?
Do you remember any of the animals chasing the turtle?
How many fruits do you remember from the story?
Where do they live?