Brightstorm - Session 19 - Reading Comprehension

In 'Brightstorm', a reading comprehension activity from KS2Gems, students delve into Chapter 25 with a series of questions designed to enhance their understanding of the text. Question one asks why Felicity must postpone her tea until after leaving the lake, prompting readers to consider the circumstances of the story's setting. The second question explores the reasons behind Arthur's fall through the ice, while the third inquires about the equipment that is lost as a consequence of this incident. These questions are coded RS4 and RS3 respectively, indicating the specific reading skills they aim to assess.

The fourth question invites students to reflect on the effectiveness of a particular sentence that compares each step to walking on glass, thus requiring analytical thinking about the author's use of simile and its impact on the reader (RS2 & 7). In question five, the true motivation behind Maudie's decision to join the expedition is examined (RS3). The sixth question underscores the practicality of navigation, asking why a compass is essential for the characters (RS3). Finally, students are challenged to concisely summarise the events of Chapter 25 in no more than 50 words, testing their ability to distill key plot points and themes (6). This task not only assesses comprehension but also the students' skills in brevity and focus.