The Nowhere Emporium - Learning Sequence

The learning sequence for 'The Nowhere Emporium' provides a comprehensive unit overview for engaging students with the novel over a six-week period. In the first week, the class is introduced to the book through a magical doorway hook, sparking imagination about where it might lead. Students use a word detective grid to decipher unfamiliar words and begin a timeline display of key events, distinguishing between flashbacks and current events. They closely read the description of the shop, annotating and capturing language linked to the senses to craft a paragraph on the imagery used by the author. As they progress, students develop their own descriptions of magical shops, drawing inspiration from the book, and discuss their initial impressions of new characters introduced in the narrative.

Moving into the subsequent weeks, the focus shifts to deeper analysis of the novel's characters, such as Daniel and Lucien Silver, using 'role on the wall' activities to explore their traits with textual evidence. Students also reflect on significant quotes and plot developments, and engage in creative writing tasks like inventing new wonders for the Emporium. The unit encourages prediction and discussion on the unfolding story, including the characters' decisions and relationships. In the final weeks, the sequence connects the themes of the book with a scientific exploration of life cycles, prompting research and explanatory writing. The unit culminates in a review of the entire book, with potential discussions on literary elements such as heroes, villains, and the effective use of flashbacks, inviting comparisons with other works and an examination of overarching themes and language use.