The Abominables - Learning Sequence

The Abominables Learning Sequence is an engaging unit overview that spans six weeks, designed to deepen students’ comprehension and analytical skills through a variety of activities centered around the book. In the first week, students employ a word detective grid to decipher unfamiliar vocabulary and make predictions about the story's content. They read up to page 3 and create a thought bubble for the character Agatha, who has been whisked away by a yeti. Progressing to the end of the first chapter, they compare their initial thoughts on Agatha's feelings with her actual emotions, and write another thought bubble. The students also collect descriptive language for the setting and speculate on future events in the story. By week two, after reading chapter two, children answer questions to deepen their understanding, complete a role of the wall activity to explore Agatha's character, and discuss the changes to the valley within the narrative.

As the sequence continues into weeks three to six, the activities become more complex. Students read further chapters, examining the thoughts and feelings of Con as he encounters the yetis, and write dialogue for his first meeting with Agatha. They also step into Agatha's shoes, imagining her emotions as the yetis depart. A diary entry from Agatha's perspective is crafted and refined through editing. The children then explore the yetis' excitement upon reaching a hotel, and Con's speech to his father about his plans for the yetis. The unit also incorporates poetry analysis, with a focus on the poem 'My Mother saw a dancing bear', encouraging students to discuss the poet's feelings and the underlying message. In the final weeks, the children gather information about yetis, develop a word bank, and write their own descriptive poem. They analyze the actions of the yetis, respond to questions, and even write the next chapter of the book, using all the information they have learned. The unit concludes with reflections on the book's themes of friendship, loyalty, and respect for animals, and students are encouraged to find evidence of these themes within the text.