Skellig Lesson 1: Predictions and pre-reading - Lesson Plan

The initial lesson in a study of David Almond's novel "Skellig" sets the learning objective to explore how authors craft effective descriptions. The lesson aims to achieve this by delving into Almond's descriptive techniques within the opening chapters of the book. To assess progress, students will be tasked with drawing and labelling the garage as depicted in the novel, relying solely on the details provided in the text. This exercise will serve as a tangible measure of their comprehension and interpretation of the descriptive language used by Almond.

Expected outcomes for the lesson are tiered to cater to varying levels of understanding among students. At the fundamental level, students must gain a basic comprehension of Almond's descriptive methods. Moving a step further, they should acquire a more robust understanding, and ideally, they could achieve a deeper insight into the nuances of how Almond employs description to enrich his narrative. The lesson plan offers differentiation opportunities, suggesting that the PowerPoint can be edited or adapted, tasks can be tailored, and a balance can be found between teacher-led instruction and independent learning. The lesson commences with a 10-minute starter activity asking "Who is it?" to pique students' curiosity. Main teaching activities include reading up to Chapter 3, discussing Almond's descriptive style, and drawing the garage, followed by presentations of the drawings. The lesson concludes with a 5-minute plenary to provide feedback and discuss the students' responses.