Grace Beside Me

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Grace Beside Me (2017) is a thirteen-part children's television series that tells the story of thirteen-year-old Fuzzy Mac. Fuzzy's life is turned upside down when she discovers she can communicate with spirits. It's hard enough navigating the highs and lows of becoming a teenager while living with your eccentric Nan and Pop but throw in a host of ancestor spirits, and you have a recipe for a whole lot of trouble!

Grace Beside Me is recommended viewing for students in Years 4–8. The television series is relevant to units of work in the learning areas of English, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Media Arts. The Grace Beside Me study guide offers curriculum specific to the teaching of episodes 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10.

In addition, Grace Beside Me engages students in discussions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and allows students to examine the influences of family, kinship, community, country, culture, spirituality and mainstream Australian society. The Australian Curriculum acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures as a cross-curriculum priority in all learning areas.

Episode synopsis

Fuzzy finds that the forest is dying. Something is sucking the energy out it and all of the wildlife has fled. When Fuzzy investigates further she sees a black mass following Lola, leaving her frail and old. Nan warns Fuzzy not to go back there; it is too dangerous and stronger than anything she has faced before. But Fuzzy can’t sit back and do nothing. She enlists Tui and Yar to help defeat the entity. In a final stand, Fuzzy rounds up the ancestors, including her mum Grace, to stand beside her and fight. Will it be enough to expel the darkness?

Curriculum Links

The Australian Curriculum: English is built around the three interrelated strands of Language, Literature and Literacy. Together the strands focus on developing students' knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. In English, students engage with a variety of texts for enjoyment. They read and view, and also interpret and evaluate these texts in which the primary purpose is aesthetic. As a classroom resource, Grace Beside Me allows students to respond to, examine and create texts.

The Australian Curriculum for the Humanities and Social Sciences which includes the knowledge and understandings of Civics and Citizenship, Geography and History provides students with an insight into the world they live in from a range of perspectives, past and present, and encourages them to develop an appreciation and respect for social, cultural and religious diversity. The learning area provides students with the skills, behaviours and capabilities that will equip them to face challenges in their lifetime and to contribute to the wellbeing and sustainability of the environment, the economy and society. Through studying Humanities and Social Sciences, students are given opportunities to develop their ability to question, think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, make decisions and adapt to change.

ATOM has also produced a study guide for Grace Beside Me. This study guide is available for download here.