Collect the heat first
Before any planning, gather words and details for how heat looks, sounds and feels: a shimmering road, a sticky seat, the hum of a fan, a dog flat on cool tiles. Students keep the three details they like best. A good bank of sensory detail makes the narrative task much easier to start.
Let the weather cause the problem
In the heatwave story, the setting should do more than decorate. Ask how the heat changes a plan, causes a problem or reveals something unexpected. Confident writers can use the weather to build tension and let it change at the turning point of the story.
Argue about swimming lessons
The persuasive task asks whether swimming lessons should be available to every child. It is a topic with real stakes in Australia and room for more than one view. Help students separate “available to all” from “compulsory for all”, and choose which they are arguing for before they plan.
Finish the year with a choice
End-of-year timetables are busy. Offer the two tasks as a choice, or use one as a quick write and the other as a longer piece. Students can keep their writing for a summer reading-and-writing folder, and return to it next year to see how far they have come.
