The Silver Sword - Lesson 1 - The Escape PowerPoint

The first lesson on 'The Silver Sword' by Ian Serraillier begins with an engaging activity where students are encouraged to make predictions about the story. They do this by examining the book's cover, title, and blurb, discussing the genre, and deducing clues about the narrative. As they delve into the first chapter, the character of Joseph Balicki is introduced. The lesson aims to explore his traits, such as bravery and intelligence, evidenced by his escape from prison and his meticulous two-year planning of this daring feat. Students are prompted to consider these qualities and find evidence within the text to support their observations.

Further into the lesson, students are tasked with writing notes and then transforming these into a well-structured paragraph, analyzing the differences between note-taking and formal writing. The exercise enables them to articulate Joseph Balicki's characteristics in a clear and concise manner. Following this, extension questions deepen their understanding of the story's context, the Balicki family, and the challenges Joseph faces, including his motivation and determination to escape the prison camp. The lesson concludes with a plenary where students share their paragraphs, receive feedback, and discuss improvements, fostering a collaborative learning environment and critical thinking.