Direct Speech & Dialogue in Literature
Direct speech, like many writing concepts, is best taught through rich literature. That is why I have sourced examples of direct speech from 16 classic children’s books.
Each card has the speech mark punctuation removed, allowing students to add them in using a pen, whiteboard marker (if placed in plastic sleeves), or even macaroni! A digital Google Slides version is also included, so you can display the excerpts on your interactive whiteboard and complete the tasks as a whole class.
Using rich literature not only reinforces writing skills but also expands vocabulary and may even inspire your students to discover new texts!
Looking for lesson ideas? Read my blog post to find FIVE ways to use this resource!
Why Choose The Direct Speech & Dialogue in Literature?
- This resource introduces your students to a wide range of amazing authors and texts - and may even inspire them to read the books!
- Students learn punctuation most effectively when it is taught in context!
- Students can make learning fun with macaroni, using mini pasta pieces to represent speech marks!
- Pages can be placed in write and wipe sleeves and used during literacy rotations!
- Excerpts can be used as story starters for a new narrative!
- Posters can be printed and displayed around your classroom!
- Posters can be coloured in and glued into books!
What's Included?
- 16 excerpts from beloved texts including Harry Potter and Matilda
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Free Resources from The Sydney Teacher
Get free ideas and inspiration to use in your classroom today
3 Free Activities for 'Commotion in the Ocean'
If you’re reading Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae with your class, you’ll know how much students love the playful rhymes and vibrant sea creatures. To extend the fun and learning beyond the book, I’ve created three engaging (and free) classroom activities covering literacy and maths!
1. My Favourite Animal Writing Template
After reading the story, let students choose their favourite ocean animal. Using the writing template, they’ll draw their animal in the space provided and write a few sentences about why they like it. This activity encourages both creativity and writing practice, while giving you a lovely classroom display.
2. Whole-Class Graphing Activity
Turn your students’ favourite ocean animals into a maths graphing lesson! As a class, tally and graph which animals are chosen the most. This whole-class activity introduces data collection, graphing, and interpretation skills in a fun, meaningful way.
3. Animal Match-Up Game
Reinforce recognition and memory skills with an animal match-up game. Students will match the animal names to their corresponding pictures. It’s a great small-group or fast-finisher activity!
Download the Free Commotion in the Ocean PDF Activity Pack
All three activities – the writing template, graphing sheet, and match-up game – can be downloaded HERE for free!
📚 Grab Your Copy of the Book
If you don’t already own Commotion in the Ocean, it’s a must-have for your classroom library! You can grab it HERE
Book Week 2025: Free Activities for the “Book an Adventure” Theme
1. Daily Mystery Book Unwrapping
Wrap CBCA shortlisted books and other classroom favourites in colourful paper, adding a small clue to each one. Every day of Book Week, choose a book to unwrap and read together. The element of surprise creates excitement and exposes students to new authors and genres.
2. Adventure-Themed Costume Parade
Invite students to dress as their favourite adventurer or book character and take part in a Book Week Parade. Encourage them to briefly share who their character is and the adventure they’re on.
3. Book Week Reading Quest
Take your class on a 'Reading Quest' by exploring a different adventure theme each day of Book Week.
Some ideas include:
An underwater adventure – Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
A hero’s journey – The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
A villain’s redemption – The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson
A space odyssey – The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers
Living in another country – My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald & Freya Blackwood
By the end of the week, your students will have travelled through oceans, galaxies and new lands
4. Peer Book Recommendations Wall
Create a display where students can share their favourite reads with the class. Give each student a blank card or sheet to illustrate the cover of their chosen book and add a short note explaining why others should read it. As the wall fills up, it becomes a colourful gallery of book suggestions, inspiring classmates to try stories they might not have picked up otherwise.
5. Book Week Colouring In
My free Book Week colouring-in page is the perfect mindfulness activity for when you need to calm things down—whether that’s after a busy Book Parade, a high-energy literacy session, or simply as a creative way to decorate your classroom.
Click HERE to download it!
Want more?
If you’d like even more themed crafts, reading templates, and ready-to-use activities, my Book Week Mega Bundle has everything you need to make your “Book an Adventure” celebrations unforgettable.
PLUS - it's updated every year for FREE with the new CBCA theme, so purchasing this bundle gives you access to a lifetime resource!
FREE Back to School 'Mystery Message' Ice-Breaker Activity
Looking for a fun back to school activity after the holidays? This FREE Mystery Message Pack is the perfect low-prep way to re-engage students with 10 secret messages to decode using a Pigpen Cipher. Ideal for any term, it’s a creative icebreaker that boosts motivation, teamwork, and excitement as students return to class.