Teaching Resources

Curriculum and Activity Booklets

Year 3-6
Teachers Guide

This guide has been developed to support teachers with curriculum resources and teaching ideas to accommodate the NSW Curriculum; the Victorian Curriculum; the Australian Curriculum taught in WA, Tasmania, SA and the ACT; and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

Year 3-6
Webquest Activity Booklet

This Webquest Activity Booklet has been prepared as an extended learning activity following the curriculum resources for Year 3-6 Teachers. Students can progress through the activities independently and if they submit their work once completed, they receive a small prize.

Year 7-10 Guide
for Teachers and Students

This resource for Year 7-10 students suitable to be self-led by students or to support activities delivered by teachers. The activities will enable students to develop a deeper understanding of poverty in Australia and gain confidence to start creative writing projects.

Pens Against Poverty
Promotional Poster

Download this year’s Pens Against Poverty promotional poster, which includes information about our theme and how to enter the contest. The poster can be displayed in classrooms and other school settings to promote entry to this year’s competition.

Learning About Poverty

The judges look for writing that primarily shows a developing awareness of poverty and homelessness. Overly simplistic writing, where an easy solution is found, gives away a lack of understanding of these issues.

While it is understood that young students are still developing in their understanding of these complex issues, teachers can actively and sensitively guide students to raise their awareness of poverty and homelessness. Age-appropriate reading, research and discussion can be used to explore these issues before and throughout the writing process.

We encourage all educators to take advantage of school resources on poverty and inequality, prepared by the University of New South Wales and our partners at Anti-Poverty Week. They include primary lessons, secondary lessons, and tools on inclusion for schools.

Anti-Poverty Week’s Fast Facts can further assist teachers to provide an overview of poverty in Australia for students, while both Oxfam and World Vision provide dedicated resources for educators from a global perspective.

Finally, schools, teachers, and educators hoping to learn about the Pens Against Poverty competition can download this year’s explainer and our letter to schools.

Writing Tips from Our Judges

Writers always need ideas. To get you started in thinking, visit some of the websites below for writing tips and help getting started.

Teachers, we’ve thought of you too and have prepared some links to offer some ideas to help get your students writing. Award winning author and Pens Against Poverty judge Jackie French has prepared some writing tips to help get students going, and educator Dee White has writing resources for young writers.

Students interested in the story writing competition may benefit from using Scholastic’s story generator, while young poets could enjoy Writeshop’s poetry writing prompts for kids.