Skellig Lesson 21: Names and Endings - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 21 of the "Skellig" by David Almond study, the learning objective is to delve into the character development of Michael throughout the novel. This lesson aims to provide students with a clear understanding of how the author crafts Michael's journey from the beginning to the end of the book. To achieve this, the lesson employs a comparative approach, encouraging students to reflect on the transformation of Michael's character.

The lesson begins with a starter activity titled 'A Leopard Never Changes its Spots', designed to prompt students to think about the nature of change in individuals. This is followed by a reading and discussion session, where the class will cover the conclusion of the novel, paying close attention to Michael's character arc. After this, the teacher introduces 'The Changing Michael' task, guiding students to articulate their observations on how Michael has evolved during the story. Students will then independently write a paragraph detailing their insights. The lesson concludes with a plenary where volunteers share their work, and the class engages in providing constructive feedback. Differentiation opportunities are embedded throughout the lesson, allowing for the PowerPoint to be tailored, tasks to be personalised, and a balance to be struck between teacher guidance and independent learning.