The Demon Headmaster - Lesson 9 - PowerPoint

The teaching resource for 'The Demon Headmaster' delves into the exploration of themes within literature, using Gillian Cross's novel as a prime example. The lesson encourages students to understand what a theme is—the underlying subject matter or issues addressed by a book. To engage students, the lesson includes an anagram activity where they must decipher a set of jumbled words to reveal key themes from the story, such as 'education', 'fitting in', 'friendship', 'power', 'individuality', 'conformity', and 'bullying'. This interactive approach not only helps in identifying themes but also aids in vocabulary building and critical thinking.

Further into the lesson, students are tasked with reading specific quotes from the book and determining which theme each quote represents, as well as explaining the significance of the theme in the context of the story. For example, an act of kindness demonstrated by the protagonist, Dinah, despite being treated poorly, is an illustration of true friendship. The resource provides a structured approach to literary analysis, prompting students to think deeply about how characters' actions and the narrative's events convey broader messages. This analytical exercise enhances comprehension and encourages students to consider how various themes are woven into the fabric of fictional works.