Exploring concepts and themes in ‘When the Sky Falls’ | English

Starter quiz

Which word is a synonym of 'happiness'?
- seduced
- incessant
- elation ✓
- telegram
Which word relates to making you weak and helpless?
- debilitating ✓
- consolation
- tremor
- labouring
Based on your reading up to Chapter 43, what does Adonis do when Joseph enters his cage?
- forces him to leave
- hugs him
- pats him on the head ✓
- licks his face
Which two family members does Mrs F reveal she has sadly lost?
- her son
- her daughter ✓
- her niece
- her husband ✓
Why does Joseph have to go to the zoo during the air raid?
- Mrs F doesn't want to go.
- Mrs F is too drunk to go. ✓
- The bombs are nearby and there is a risk Adonis may be freed. ✓
- The bombs are nearby so it is unsafe to stay at home.
What dangers does Joseph face at the end of Chapter 43 as he guards Adonis?
- bombs ✓
- fire ✓
- Adonis escaping ✓
- being arrested for using a gun
- bullies from school

Match the words to their meanings.
- pandemonium
  
  ⇔
  
  chaos ✓
- intensifying
  
  ⇔
  
  getting stronger ✓
- famished
  
  ⇔
  
  very hungry ✓
- fruitless
  
  ⇔
  
  pointless ✓
- disorientated
  
  ⇔
  
  confused ✓
Match the words to their meanings.
- debris
  
  ⇔
  
  scattered remains ✓
- teetering
  
  ⇔
  
  about to fall over ✓
- audacity
  
  ⇔
  
  willingness to take risks ✓
- incredulous
  
  ⇔
  
  unable to believe what's happening ✓
Why were Joseph and Mrs F crying at the end of the book?
- because of Adonis' death ✓
- because of their family members' deaths ✓
- because they have each other ✓
- because the zoo has been bombed
Which of the below does Adonis do to help Joseph?
- lifts him away from the wolves
- stands guard over him ✓
- lifts the rubble off his leg ✓
- kills a wolf ✓
What does Joseph do to try and save Adonis?
- he stands in front of him ✓
- he tells the shooters to back away
- he points a gun at the shooters
- he jumps in front of the bullets
Which of the following are pieces of evidence that support the idea that 'love' is a concept that links to 'When the Sky Falls'?
- Adonis chooses to defend Joseph when he could escape. ✓
- Mrs F and Joseph comfort each other as they cry. ✓
- Mr Gryce punishes Joseph for cheating on his test.
- Joseph helps Mrs F to the shelter when she is drunk.

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In the final stages of the book, we see Joseph saved by Adonis before Adonis is shot dead.
We also see Joseph and Mrs F united in their grief with Joseph finally learning to trust her.
We can connect books we read to abstract concepts; we can connect this book to our understanding of 'compassion'.
We can also identify themes that run through the book - for example, the idea that people are capable of change.

Pupils may struggle to identify concepts from the story.

You may prefer to provide a longer list of abstract nouns and allow children to make their own connections.

Evidence - the information from a text that can support or justify our reasoning
Prediction - an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
Concept - an abstract idea like ‘hope’ or ‘fairness’
Theme - a central idea of a text that the author wants us to think deeply about