The Golden Horsemen of Baghdad - Learning Sequence
The learning sequence for "The Golden Horsemen of Baghdad" provides a structured approach to exploring the novel over a six-week period. In the first week, students delve into the character of Jabir, forming initial impressions and discussing his life circumstances through activities such as creating a fact bubble and responding to questions about his experiences. The introduction of Yusuf's character prompts discussions on his actions and motivations, particularly his reasons for evicting Jabir, and students are encouraged to write about Jabir's internal thoughts and feelings. As the sequence progresses into weeks two and three, students read further chapters, discussing language use and the creation of atmosphere, particularly during a sandstorm. They continue to explore Jabir's character and experiences, including his interactions with the judge and his journey through the streets of Baghdad, by engaging in various writing tasks such as thought bubbles, role on the wall activities, and summarising the plot while mapping Jabir's emotional journey with supporting quotes from the text.
Weeks four to six of the unit overview focus on deeper character analysis and the development of the plot. Students read additional chapters, exploring themes such as guilt and shame, and examine the character of Yasmina through evidence-based activities. They also consider the kindness of Jabir's family and the desert surroundings, and evaluate the success factors behind the completion of the horsemen. The narrative progresses to explore the characters' emotions in response to the Caliph's actions and deadlines, and students are tasked with writing from Jabir's perspective, including a letter home and a biography. Throughout these weeks, students continue to plot Jabir's emotional journey, supporting their analysis with quotes from the text, and conclude the unit by identifying and discussing themes within the story, as well as expressing their opinions and preferences about the book and similar literature.
