Inspired by: The Viewer - Week 1

The educational activities inspired by "The Viewer" by Gary Crew & Shaun Tan aim to develop students' critical thinking and interpretative skills. Beginning with the character Tristan, who is described as curious from birth, students are encouraged to explore the significance of this introductory sentence. The class discusses how this opening line sets the tone for the book and invites speculation about Tristan's nature and the narrative that follows. Through guided questions, students delve into the concept of ambiguity and perspective, considering how an author's choice of words can shape a reader's understanding of a character. They are tasked with categorising Tristan's eclectic collection of objects, which range from items that measure to natural objects, and objects linked to time. This activity not only aids in comprehension but also prompts students to infer aspects of Tristan's personality based on his possessions.

Further activities include narrative writing exercises inspired by the setting of "The Dump," where students consider authorial intent and the impact of language on character and setting development. They are prompted to interpret the phrase 'another world' and write contrasting descriptions of the dump from the perspectives of Tristan and a 'careless person'. This exercise highlights the power of viewpoint in storytelling. Additionally, the lesson on 'Long-Dead' focuses on the grammatical function of hyphens in compound adjectives, using examples from the text to illustrate how punctuation can clarify meaning. Lastly, 'Inside The Curious Box' encourages students to predict narrative developments, using descriptive language and illustrations to infer what might be inside the box and the potential consequences of opening it, thereby enhancing their predictive reading skills.