The Demon Headmaster - Lesson 11 - PowerPoint

In an engaging English lesson based on Gillian Cross's novel "The Demon Headmaster," students are invited to explore their vocabulary with a word search activity. They are given ten minutes to find words related to the novel, including characters like Miss Wilberforce, Dinah, Lloyd, and Harvey, as well as themes such as fitting in, education, suspense, individuality, friendship, prefects, school, hypnotism, control, bullying, and power. This fun and interactive task is designed to familiarize pupils with the key elements of the story and its overarching themes.

Moving deeper into the narrative, students are tasked with reading and discussing Chapter Thirteen, where SPLAT springs into action. They are prompted to critically analyze SPLAT's plan by considering its strengths, weaknesses, and the likelihood of its success. The lesson then challenges students to reorder the muddled events of the chapter, enhancing their comprehension and sequencing skills. In a subsequent session, they delve into Chapter Fourteen, answering questions that probe their understanding of the plot and characters' motivations, such as the Headmaster's desire for control over money and Dinah's critical decision to participate in a quiz. These activities not only encourage close reading but also stimulate thoughtful discussion and analysis of the text.