Inspired by: The Rabbits - Week 4

Inspired by "The Rabbits" by John Marsden and Shaun Tan, a thought-provoking activity is designed to explore the themes of arrival and announcement. The task prompts learners to consider the motives and methods of the rabbits, who arrive in a grand fashion aboard galleons, ready to proclaim their purpose. Students are encouraged to reflect on the reasons behind the rabbits' journey, the duration of their mission, and their reactions to any obstacles encountered. By delving into the day the rabbits arrived, with a particular focus on the image of one carrying a bugle, learners are tasked with imagining the announcement to the inhabitants. This exercise challenges them to craft a speech that would convey the rabbits' intentions, considering the impact of vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar (specifically the subjunctive form), and the format of a formal speech to convey a sense of authority and power.

The narrative of "The Rabbits" takes a darker turn as the plot develops, revealing the struggles of the native inhabitants in the face of the new arrivals. The activity transitions into a journalistic challenge, asking learners to step into the shoes of a war reporter tasked with covering the unfolding conflict. Presented with powerful images of battles, students must decide on the medium through which they will report the events, be it a newspaper, television news channel, or local radio station. They must navigate the ethical considerations of journalistic bias, the inclusion of interviews and observer comments, and the crafting of headlines that could potentially shape public perception. Learners are prompted to critically evaluate the influence of headlines such as "Invaders Inflict Terror on Local Inhabitants" and "Locals Shun New Neighbours", questioning the bias and point of view represented in each. This exercise not only hones writing skills but also fosters critical thinking about media representation and its effects on public opinion.