Inspired by: The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate - Week 4

The week's learning journey delves into the art of choosing nouns and verbs with precision to enhance storytelling. In Margaret Mahy's tale, the little man and his mother face the challenge of climbing a steep hill, an action described with the verb 'trundle', which suggests a slow and laborious movement. Students are encouraged to explore the nuances of this word choice and to ponder alternative verbs that could convey different speeds or styles of movement. They are also prompted to role-play the ascent and to articulate the little man's feelings, using precise language to evoke empathy and understanding. The lesson extends to comparing sentences with similar actions but varied verbs, such as 'chopped', 'harvested', and 'cut', to appreciate the importance of verb choice in conveying specific actions and contexts.

As the narrative progresses 'Over The Hill', students engage in predictive reading, using details from the text to anticipate what might lie beyond the hilltop. They gather clues about the man's thoughts, attire, weather changes, and sensory cues like the smell of salt and the cries of seagulls, drawing conclusions about the impending reveal. This exercise hones their inferential skills and understanding of foreshadowing. Finally, in 'The Sea At Last', students celebrate the arrival at the sea with the pirate mother and her son. They explore the rich, sensory language used by Mahy, noting the rhythm and repetition in her descriptions. Students are invited to add to the vivid imagery with their own alliterative phrases and similes, enhancing their appreciation of the text's poetic qualities and the evocative power of language.