Skellig Lesson 8: Foreshadowing - Lesson Plan

In the eighth lesson of the 'Skellig' novel study, the learning objective is to delve into the literary craftsmanship of David Almond, particularly his use of motifs throughout the book. This lesson aims to equip students with the ability to recognise and understand the significance of recurring themes and symbols that Almond weaves into the narrative. To achieve this, the lesson will involve a combination of reading, discussion, and a focused analysis of motifs present in Chapter 13 and earlier sections of the text.

The lesson begins with a 'Hidden Images' starter activity designed to engage students for ten minutes, setting the stage for the main teaching activities. These activities include an introduction to motifs, a reading session up to the end of Chapter 12 followed by a group discussion, and a task where students work in pairs for twenty minutes to identify and examine motifs within the text. The findings from this task will then be shared and discussed as a class. The lesson concludes with a plenary that recaps the key points and solidifies the students' understanding of motifs in 'Skellig'. Throughout the lesson, there are various opportunities for differentiation, such as customising the PowerPoint presentation, tailoring tasks to student needs, and finding the right balance between teacher guidance and independent learning. Expected outcomes range from displaying a basic understanding of Almond's use of motifs to demonstrating a deeper insight into the reasons behind his literary choices.