Animal Force - Teacher's Notes
Animal Force addresses important themes such as bullying, neurodiversity, adoption, resilience, and environmental sustainability. It offers rich opportunities for teaching across a variety of subjects, including English, Science, Geography, Civics, and Health and Physical Education.
The book supports curriculum outcomes by exploring concepts like environmental stewardship, social responsibility, inclusion, identity, and courage. The magical animal transformations symbolise inner strengths, demonstrating how qualities like bravery, empathy, and advocacy emerge when standing up for others and protecting the
environment.
This resource provides a range of tools to support your teaching of Animal Force. It includes:
General and subject-specific whole-text discussion questions to guide classroom conversations and deepen student understanding of the text.
Tier 1, 2, and 3 Vocabulary Lists to help students engage with key language concepts at different levels.
Tier 1, 2, 3 table with suggested activities, designed to reinforce learning across multiple subjects, along with links to curriculum outcomes and codes for easy reference.
These resources are designed to support diverse learners and enhance your teaching experience, promoting engagement with the book’s themes and educational content.
Key Themes in Animal Force
Belonging and Identity
Leo and Kelly’s experience as adopted twins sits at the emotional heart of the story. Their different responses to adoption, curiosity versus avoidance, allow students to explore identity as something that can be layered: birth family, adoptive family, culture, place and personal choice. The revelation that both families share the animal force reinforces the idea that belonging is built through love, care and shared values rather than biology alone.
Courage and Standing Up for What Is Right
The story charts Leo’s growth from avoiding conflict to finding his voice. Courage is shown not as fearlessness, but as acting despite fear, especially when protecting others, animals or the environment. Kelly’s fierceness contrasts with Leo’s caution, allowing discussion of different types of bravery and leadership.
Bullying, Power and Responsibility
Bullying is portrayed through exclusion, name-calling and reckless behaviour that endangers others and the environment. Importantly, the bullies are also rescued, opening discussion about accountability, empathy and consequences without revenge.
Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
The island setting becomes a living classroom. Mangroves, wetlands, rock pools and marine ecosystems are shown as fragile and interconnected. Fire, pollution and reckless human behaviour threaten wildlife, while the children’s actions demonstrate advocacy, education and care. The animal force operates as a metaphor for environmental responsibility: when humans protect nature, nature protects back.
Neurodiversity and Inclusion
Characters with autism, physical impairments and different communication needs are represented as capable, valued and powerful. Key Word Sign and sensory awareness are normalised, supporting inclusive classroom discussion about accessibility and understanding difference.
Animal Force Glossary and Educational Resources
Animal Force includes a glossary with key information about characters and their associated animals, including Latin names, conservation status, and habitats. This supports learning about endangered, vulnerable, and protected species in Australia. Key animals, such as the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Leopard Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum), help students connect with characters while exploring conservation topics.
Ramsar Wetlands
Teacher notes highlight Ramsar Wetlands, internationally recognised ecosystems featured in the story. Students can explore their role in climate regulation, carbon storage, and habitat protection for species such as turtles, dugongs, and shorebirds.
Student Engagement and Activities – Online References
Students can further research wildlife, explore conservation, and participate in hands-on learning through online activities and information.
Key Word Sign (Auslan) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
In Animal Force, the characters use Key Word Sign, which combines speech and Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to support communication. This approach is particularly helpful for individuals with communication difficulties, encouraging language development. Key Word Sign pairs core vocabulary with hand signs, making it easier to express and understand key concepts.
While Key Word Sign isn’t a language itself, it is a valuable tool for enhancing communication for both children and adults as used by the author in her clinical practice. In the book, this method is used to introduce key animal characters through speech and sign.
A picture glossary of animal signs (such as for turtle, shark, frog, and snake) supports inclusive communication, especially for students with receptive and expressive communication difficulties. Teachers can extend this activity by having students create their own "animal sign" and explore traits like strong, brave, playful, or smart using Auslan. For further resources, Key Word Sign Australia offers excellent tools for students, carers, and professionals.
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