Starter quiz
- Which element of the narrative structure comes last?
- opening
- climax
- resolution ✓
- build-up
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- Which part of the narrative structure is usually where the 'problems' are first introduced?
- opening
- build-up ✓
- climax
- resolution
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- In which part of the narrative structure would this event fall? 'Joseph and Mrs F weep together after Adonis' death.'
- opening
- build-up
- climax
- resolution ✓
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- What 'problem' is resolved by the death of Adonis in 'When the Sky Falls'?
- the problem of Joseph struggling to read
- the problem of Bert's bullying
- the problem of Mr Gryce bullying Joseph
- the problem of Adonis being threatened with removal and being shot ✓
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- Which of the events would form part of the build-up in 'When the Sky Falls'?
- Joseph steals the cheese and bacon from the man on the train.
- We learn that Joseph cannot read. ✓
- We learn that Joseph's father has died. ✓
- Joseph tries to save Adonis from being shot.
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- Which of these problems are resolved during the course of 'When the Sky Falls'?
- Adonis' future is uncertain. ✓
- Joseph cannot read.
- Joseph struggles to form relationships with people. ✓
- The Second World War is raging.
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Exit quiz
- Why is the section of 'When the Sky Falls' when Joseph runs to the zoo through the air raid part of the climax?
- because it's when we see the zoo for the first time
- because it is very tense ✓
- because it is very dramatic ✓
- because it is where the problems in the story are resolved
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- Put these events from part of the climax in order.
- 1⇔Joseph runs through the streets towards the zoo.
- 2⇔He scales the fence and he finds the gun.
- 3⇔He trains the gun on Adonis.
- 4⇔He is knocked to the ground by the force of explosions nearby.
- Which sense is shown in this description? 'The heat from the flames pushed Joseph back; he knew it was no use him trying to fight the fire.'
- sight
- feel ✓
- smell
- hearing
- taste
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- Which sense are we unlikely to refer to in this section?
- feel
- smell
- sight
- hearing
- taste ✓
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- Match the methods of showing emotion to the examples.
- stating thoughts and feelings⇔Joseph knew he had to get there; he had no choice. ✓
- show-not-tell⇔Joseph's eyes filled with tears as he looked through the gun's sight. ✓
- rhetorical question⇔Would he really be able to do it? ✓
- Which point in the climax does this emotive detail relate to? 'Joseph knew he had to get up; he had to do his duty.'
- Joseph running through the air raid to the zoo
- Joseph climbing the fence, getting the gun and training it on Adonis
- Joseph being knocked down several times by explosions ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Writing is most successful when it is planned.
- We need to generate ideas for what to write about based on a stimulus.
- We can generate ideas about descriptive details as well as the main character's emotions.
- In this part of the climax, Joseph is racing to the zoo to guard Adonis and he is struggling with the reality of this.
- The details we generate should build an appropriate mood - in this case, a mood of panic and fear.
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle to generate ideas for Joseph's feelings and emotions at different points of the climax.
You may want to add in role-play tasks as a 'way in' to the different points, modelling your thoughts in role as Joseph before giving pupils the chance to do the same.
Keywords
Climax - the point in the narrative where the suspense and excitement reach their highest point
Senses - the physical abilities of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste
Emotions - strong feelings that result from a person's circumstances, mood or relationships with others
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