Skellig Lesson 2: Using the Senses - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 2 of the 'Skellig' novel study, the learning objective centres around understanding how David Almond crafts his characters, with a particular focus on the character of the man in the garage. The lesson aims to delve into the use of similes and other descriptive techniques, offering students a chance to analyse and appreciate Almond's literary style. To assess progress, students will be tasked with writing a paragraph that explains how Almond introduces and presents the man in the garage to the reader, demonstrating their comprehension of character creation.

Expected outcomes of this lesson vary according to the students' level of understanding. Every student should at least gain a basic grasp of character creation, while others should achieve a more sound understanding, and some could even reach an insight into the intricacies of Almond's characterisation techniques. The lesson plan provides differentiation opportunities, suggesting edits or adaptations to the PowerPoint presentation, task modifications, and a balance between teacher guidance and independent learning. The lesson begins with a 10-minute starter activity focused on similes, followed by a 20-minute main activity where students find words and phrases used to describe the man in the garage. Another 20-minute writing task allows students to articulate their analysis in a paragraph. The lesson concludes with a plenary session where volunteers share their work, and peers offer constructive feedback, lasting approximately 10 minutes.