What happens when there is only one tree left?

The Last Tree is a Year 7–8 Five-Day Text Exploration resource that invites students to think deeply about the relationship between people and the natural world. Through rich language, symbolism, and layered meaning, students explore themes of environmental responsibility, hope, loss, and renewal while developing their ability to analyse author craft.

Across five engaging lessons, students move beyond literal comprehension to investigate how the author uses figurative language, symbolism, imagery, and theme to communicate powerful ideas. Students gather evidence, make inferences, evaluate the author's purpose, and construct evidence-based written responses.

This resource includes:

• Five structured text exploration lessons
• Vocabulary and word choice activities
• Figurative language and author craft analysis
• Inference and interpretation tasks
• Theme and author's purpose exploration
• PEEL paragraph scaffold and written response
• Student self-assessment opportunities
• Comprehensive Teacher Guide with answers and discussion prompts

Learning Focuses: Figurative language / Symbolism / Imagery / Inference / Theme / Author's purpose / Evidence-based responses

Designed for 15–20 minute lessons, this resource follows the familiar Resource Cupboard Text Exploration format, providing a consistent lesson structure while encouraging increasingly sophisticated thinking and discussion.

Perfect for helping students explore how authors use stories and symbols to communicate important messages about our world, our choices, and the future we create.