Little J feels lucky when he wears a new pair of yellow undies. After Old Dog destroys them, he loses his confidence. Big Cuz saves the day with the remnants of the undies made into a sweat band, and Little J finds confidence to play the basketball game and win the day.

Elaborate - Create short texts to explore, record and report ideas and events using familiar words and beginning writing knowledge

Theme - MYTHS & FABLES

After viewing Little J & Big Cuz, episode 1, ‘Lucky Undies’, engage students with the following activities to support their understanding of Little J’s sense of luck and superstition.

Show students a clip of one of Richard Attenborough’s wildlife documentaries, such as:

• Amazing! Bird sounds from the lyre bird 

Discuss how David Attenborough narrates his documentary, providing information about the bird he is filming. Ask students to take note of the sounds the lyrebird makes and the type of images used to provide meaning to the audience.

Divide the class into smaller groups, and ask each group to imagine that they are wildlife adventurers producing a documentary on a very rare bird called the Golden Magpie.

Each member of the group should contribute some information about the bird for the narration, e.g. a description (colour, size, and shape), the sound it makes, where the bird lives, what the bird eats. Each group can develop their own story about the bird and how it represents an omen of good or bad luck.

The group coordinates how they will tell the story of their Golden Magpie to the rest of the class. Suggestions include:

• a role play with each member of the group playing a part
• a slide show of images with a narration overlay
• a filmed video clip where a narrator shows the audience a 3-D model of the bird in situ.
• a digital puppet show

Suggested resource:

• Lipa Theater

Share the group work with the class and upload to share with the school community.