Pugs of the Frozen North - Learning Sequence

The learning sequence for 'Pugs of the Frozen North' is a structured, multi-week plan aimed at guiding students through the story while developing their comprehension and writing skills. In the initial weeks, students start by reading the first few pages, capturing words and phrases that describe the atmosphere, and discussing the characters' traits and actions. They delve into the text, writing thought bubbles and feelings for the main character Shen, who finds himself alone on the ice. As they progress through the chapters, the students gather facts about Shen, discuss their impressions of new settings and characters like Sika, and practice writing dialogue. They also explore Shen's determination by creating a role on the wall and gathering evidence from the story. The children engage in activities to enhance their descriptive writing skills, such as identifying descriptive language about the snowy environment, sorting words into classes, and writing and editing a recount from Shen's perspective.

Moving into the later weeks, the learning sequence continues with students reading subsequent chapters and discussing the storyline, including the adventures and mishaps of other sleds. They gather evidence of character traits, such as Sir Basil's unpleasant nature, and express characters' thoughts and feelings through thought bubbles and 'feeling hearts'. The students are encouraged to be imaginative, creating new types of snow and describing a snow palace using similes. They plot the protagonist Shen's emotions on a graph and consider the story's themes. Towards the end of the unit, discussions focus on the book's conclusion, including Shen's new life and the potential future adventures of Shen and Sika. The final activities involve writing a detailed recount from a character's point of view, using advanced grammar and sentence structure, and editing and redrafting their work to refine their writing skills.