Skellig Lesson 19: A Tense Situation - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 19 of the 'Skellig' novel study, the learning objective is to deepen the students' understanding of David Almond's use of language, specifically focusing on his employment of pathetic fallacy within the narrative. The lesson aims to equip students with the analytical skills necessary to identify and interpret how the weather and environment in 'Skellig' reflect the characters' emotions and the overall mood of the story. To achieve this, the lesson includes a targeted pathetic fallacy task followed by a writing exercise where students articulate their insights in a paragraph.

The lesson is structured to cater to different levels of comprehension and expression. The expected outcomes range from conveying a basic understanding of pathetic fallacy (must), to demonstrating a sound understanding (should), and even providing a deeper insight into Almond's literary technique (could). To accommodate various learning needs, the lesson plan suggests differentiation opportunities such as editing the PowerPoint presentation, tailoring tasks, and finding the right balance between teacher-led guidance and independent learning. The starter activity involves reading to the end of Chapter 41 and engaging in a discussion. The main teaching activities include a task to define pathetic fallacy and a writing task focused on Chapter 38 of 'Skellig'. The plenary concludes with volunteers sharing their paragraphs with the class, promoting peer learning and feedback.