Inspired by: The Emperor of Absurdia - Week 1

In the world of educational literature, "The Emperor of Absurdia" serves as a catalyst for exploring the nuances of language and structure in storytelling. The lesson focuses on understanding how the title and the name of the kingdom, Absurdia, contribute to the overall meaning of the story. Students are encouraged to discuss and interpret the significance of the word 'absurd' and how it might reflect the nature of the kingdom within the narrative. Further, the activity prompts learners to consider the impact of the story's layout, punctuation, and language choice on its meaning. By comparing an extract from "The Iron Man" by Ted Hughes, students delve into the imagery conveyed by the text and learn to appreciate the author's use of presentation and structural features, such as the visual arrangement of words on the page, to enhance storytelling.

Another aspect of the learning experience involves understanding the use of fronted adverbials and the importance of comma placement following them. By examining the phrase 'All of a sudden' used by Chris Riddell, students explore its meaning and the effect it has on the narrative. This leads to an activity where they can experiment with replacing the phrase with alternatives like 'Suddenly,' 'Abruptly,' or 'Without warning,' and rewriting sentences to understand the impact of these changes. Additionally, the lesson touches on the formation of nouns using prefixes, specifically 'super-', to demonstrate how words can be transformed to convey a sense of being above or beyond the ordinary. Students are encouraged to get creative and coin new words using the 'super-' prefix, further enhancing their vocabulary and comprehension of word formation.