Skellig Lesson 20: Pathetic Fallacy - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 20 of the "Skellig" by David Almond study, the learning objective is to enhance students' abilities in making deductions and crafting empathetic writing. This objective will be achieved through an examination of how Almond utilises names within the narrative to provide insights into both character development and plot progression. Students will be tasked with writing a diary entry from the perspective of the character Michael to demonstrate their understanding of the character's emotions and experiences.

The lesson begins with a starter activity titled 'What’s in a name?' which lasts for 10 minutes and is designed to get students thinking about the significance of names in literature. Following the starter, the class will read and discuss the text up to the end of Chapter 42. This will be followed by a recap of empathetic writing skills, preparing the students for the main task of composing Michael's final diary entry, which they will work on for 20 minutes. To conclude the lesson, students will have the opportunity to volunteer to read their diary entries aloud, with the class offering constructive criticism. This plenary session aims to reinforce the skills learned and to encourage peer feedback. Teachers are provided with differentiation opportunities to tailor the lesson to the needs of their class, including editing the PowerPoint presentation, selecting or omitting tasks, and finding the right balance between guided instruction and independent learning.