Inspired by: Harry and the Jaggedy Daggers - Week 3

The enchanting world of literature unfolds in a classroom activity where children increase their familiarity with a diverse array of books, including fairy tales, myths, and legends. This particular session is inspired by the whimsical tales of Zephyr, the embodiment of the wind in Jan Fearnley's 'Harry and the Jaggedy Daggers'. Children delve into the multifaceted character of the wind, known by various names such as Mistral, Sirocco, and Bora, each with its unique attributes and cultural significance. The activity encourages them to explore these differences and to recount the tales orally. A highlight of the lesson is the dramatisation of Aesop's fable 'The North Wind and The Sun', where students interpret the story through dance and action, and engage in a 'hot seat' exercise to explore the characters' traits and motivations, thereby uncovering the timeless moral that a gentle approach often trumps force.

In another creative segment, students focus on 'The Wild Wind', where they are prompted to examine an illustration of Zephyr and express their thoughts and emotions it evokes. They are encouraged to use vivid language to capture both the ferocity and the serenity of the wind, collecting words and phrases to craft a descriptive piece. The lesson extends to 'The Jaggedy Daggers', where word families become the focal point. Through the unfortunate tale of Harry's boat being wrecked on the Jaggedy Daggers, pupils explore the etymology of words like 'nautical' and 'telescope', discovering how they are connected in form and meaning to other words within their families. This linguistic journey not only enriches their vocabulary but also enhances their understanding of how language evolves and adapts across contexts and cultures.