Skellig Lesson 23: Themes - Lesson Plan

In Lesson 23 of the "Skellig" novel study, the learning objective is to explore how authors like David Almond utilise literary devices to captivate readers from the very beginning of a novel. The lesson aims to engage students in making predictions about the text and to delve into a discussion of the opening chapter of "Skellig". To assess progress, students will be tasked with writing a paragraph that articulates how Almond successfully hooks the reader's interest.

The expected outcomes for the lesson are tiered to cater to different levels of comprehension and analysis. All students must gain a basic understanding of the narrative devices used by Almond to engage readers. They should strive to achieve a sound understanding, while some could reach a level of insight into the author's techniques. Differentiation opportunities are provided to tailor the lesson to the class's needs, including customising the PowerPoint presentation, selecting or omitting tasks, and finding the right balance between teacher guidance and independent learning. The lesson begins with a starter activity focused on making predictions and pre-reading tasks. The main teaching activities include presenting a riddle about 'A hook', watching and discussing movie clips that showcase the importance of an opening hook, reading and discussing the first chapter of "Skellig", and writing a paragraph on how Almond engages the reader. The lesson concludes with a plenary where responses are shared and discussed.