Retell the myth in detail

1.  Retell the myth in detail.

2.  Why parents do not let their children ride push bikes after dark? What about your parents?

WRITIHG

Write an outline of the myth.

The Hungry Bush-man.

Key words and expressions:

bush-man

juicy grass

Make up sentences with new words

Pre-reading task

Work in small groups. Make a list of words and word combinations which can characterize a bush-man who lives in Australian Bush. Compare your list with other groups.

Reading

There is a sad story that sets the scene in the Australian Bush. In early days bush-men, more commonly know as swagman, went around from property to property looking for work. These bush-man would take any sort of work that was avaliable. The wool industry was booming, sheep were plentiful and shearers were needed everywhere. This particular bushy had finished his days shearing but as his employer wasn't paying wages until the wool had been sent to the markets, they would sometimes have to wait weeks for their pay. After a hard days work the bushman would find a big shady tree preferably near a water hole to unroll their swag and set up camp for the night. As night was falling the bush-man saw an ideal opportunity walking not more than thirty feet away. Grazing on some juicy grass, between some trees, just up a bit from the camp site was this plump sheep. Knowing full well that if he was able to catch this sheep his meals would be taken care of for a least the next week. The chase was on.! After he caught it he packed it neatly into his tucker bag and proceeded to put the billy on for his cuppa before bed. Unfortunately, he was blissfully unaware that the owner of the property where he was camping was watching his every move. The owner of the land would not tolerate a swaggy on his land, let alone one that was stealing from him and quickly informed the authorities. The billy was just about boiled when three burly police officers on horse back rode into his camp site. Knowing full well what he had done, the police officers asked, "Just what have you got in your tucker bag?. You'd better come a waltzing down to the police station with me".

As to why the swaggy did what he did next is a mystery but that swaggy ran and jumped straight into the water hole never to be seen again saying "You'll never catch me alive".

To this day his ghost maybe heard as you pass by that water hole.

Comprehension check

Put the following events (A-D) in the right order/ Number them (1-4).

A. Knowing full well that if he was able to catch this sheep his meals would be taken care of for a least the next week. (№____).

B. These bush-man would take any sort of work that was avaliable. (№____).

C. To this day his ghost maybe heard as you pass by that water hole. (№____).

D. After a hard days work the bush-man would find a big shady tree preferably near a water hole to unroll their swag and set up camp for the night. (№____).

WRITIHG

Compose ten different questions on the myth.

The Boogie Man

Key words and expressions:

encounter

creature

Make up sentences with new words

Reading

This myth is told on any given night in Australia, "The boogie man maybe watching". Our family had a house in my hometown Toowoomba, that was raised about three foot off the ground. My strict instructions were never to go under the house, for that was where the boogie man lived. This was a rule that I could live with as it was never really enticing to venture under there anyway. The boogie man as it turns out is more resourceful than I first imagined. Not only is he hiding under houses but as it turns out he is under your bed, in the cupboards, hiding around corners, even if you don't do your homework he appears. I specifically remember one time as I was going to the toilet (we had an outside toilet), I would run down the back stairs into the toilet and lock the door. The journey back however was my first encounter with the boogie man. Our back stairs were not covered and you could see under the house through them. It was that night that I swore that I saw him. Dark hideous black creature with bright shinny yellow eyes. I screamed with fright and my parents came running but the creature was gone. Talking to my friends I soon realized that he didn't just live only at my house, he had been sighted all over Toowoomba. Not being one to install fright, I kept this story to myself for all these years, but I keep telling my children how lucky we are to have an inside toilet.

Comprehension check

Complete the sentences.

1.  This myth is told on any given night... .

2.  Our family had a house in my hometown Toowoomba... .

3.  This was a rule that I could... .

4.  I specifically remember one time... .

5.  The journey back however was my first... .

6.  Dark hideous black ___________ with bright shinny yellow eyes.

WRITIHG

Write out all the verbs from the text and define their forms.

The Mysterious Drop Bears

Key words and expressions:

a fish trap

a mate

to whimper

Make up sentences with new words

Reading

A legend is told of two Australian bush-men on their annual cattle muster. On this particular night, after setting up camp, one of the bush-men went down to the river to check the fish traps, while the other stayed by the camp fire strumming a tune on his faithful old guitar. Just as he ended his first tune a terrifying scream rang out. Leaving the safety of the camp fire he ran down through the bush to the river to see his mate lying on the ground shaking, with claw marks all over him. After stopping the bleeding and calming his mate down, the horrible truth was revealed.

"It was a drop bear" his mate said, in a voice more like a whimper,» I just reached for the first fish trap and all of a sudden, out of that overhanging branch pounced a drop bear." "I fought as hard as I could but it was just too strong and far too fast."

"Did you get a glimpse of it?", the first bushy said.

"A bit of a one, It looked a lot like a koala, but much much meaner."

Leaving all their camping gear behind, they speedily trekked out of the bush, back to civilization to tell their story to the local authorities. Their story was duly noted and recorded, but to this day no one has ever caught a drop bear, but be assured they exist, so be very careful when walking alone in the Australian bush.

Comprehension check