Starter quiz
- What is odd about Joseph's journey at the start of 'When the Sky Falls'?
- he is leaving the city
- he has no belongings with him
- he doesn't know where he's going
- he is entering the city ✓
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- Which of the following does Joseph experience in 'When the Sky Falls'?
- an air raid ✓
- rationing ✓
- being conscripted
- being bereaved ✓
- bullying ✓
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- Which other character lose family members to the Second World War?
- Syd ✓
- Adonis
- Mrs F
- Mr Gryce
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- Which of the following are events in 'When the Sky Falls'?
- The council wants to shoot Adonis. ✓
- Mr Gryce's cane is broken by Mrs F. ✓
- Joseph's grandmother gets annoyed and tells him to go to the city.
- Joseph says he will stay with Mrs F forever.
- The zoo is bombed in an air raid. ✓
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- Which of the following are true based on 'When the Sky Falls'?
- Mrs F and Joseph get along well straight away.
- Syd and Joseph instantly become friends.
- Adonis grows to trust Joseph. ✓
- Mrs F shares her family story to help Joseph. ✓
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- Which of the following events is most dramatic in 'When the Sky Falls'?
- when Joseph first meets Mrs F
- when Joseph runs through the air raid to the zoo when Mrs F is drunk ✓
- when Joseph steals vegetables
- when Syd helps Joseph memorise the book
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Exit quiz
- Put the elements of a narrative structure in the correct order.
- 1⇔opening
- 2⇔build-up
- 3⇔climax
- 4⇔resolution
- Match the elements of the narrative structure to their meanings.
- opening⇔where the writer describes the setting and characters ✓
- build-up⇔where the problems are introduced and tension rises ✓
- climax⇔the highest point of the action and tension ✓
- resolution⇔where the problems are resolved ✓
- In which part of the narrative structure would this event fall? 'Joseph rushes through the Blitz to stand guard over Adonis.'
- opening
- build-up
- climax ✓
- resolution
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- What 'problem' is resolved by Mrs F snapping Clarence 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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- In what way is the 'problem' of Adonis being due to be killed by the council 'resolved' in 'When the Sky Falls'?
- by Joseph setting him free
- by Adonis being shot after the air raid ✓
- by Mrs F sending the council away
- by Joseph saving Adonis
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- Which 'problems' remain unresolved at the end of 'When the Sky Falls'?
- Adonis being due to be killed
- Joseph's reading difficulties ✓
- whether Joseph and Mrs F can get along
- the ongoing war ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- 'When the Sky Falls' is a complex novel with several plot lines - such as Joseph's struggle with reading.
- Different plot lines are resolved at different points in the story.
- We can argue that the air raid at the zoo is the climax of the story.
- The resolution of the story is not a 'happy ending' - the 'problem' of guarding Adonis is resolved by his death.
- The historical context of the climax - the Blitz - is key to the narrative.
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle to identify the story structure within such a long novel.
Emphasise that different problems may be resolved at different points in a story, but we can identify the air raid as the overall climax because it is the point of highest tension.
Keywords
Climax - the point in the narrative where the suspense and excitement reach their highest point
Resolution - the point where the problems in a story are resolved
Historical context - the background information that existed at a specific period in history
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