Darwin's Dragons - Session 8 - Chapters 25 - 27 - Worksheet

During Session 8, which encompasses Chapters 25 to 27, students delve into a series of discussion questions that probe the emotional and motivational aspects of the character Covington's experiences. They consider how Covington reacts to Farthing's injuries and explore the reasons behind his decisions, such as sacrificing his fiddle case and choosing to follow Farthing. These discussions aim to deepen the students' comprehension and encourage empathy by examining the text for emotional cues and character motivations.

The session also includes a variety of reading activities designed to enhance understanding and engagement with the text. Students continue to develop a timeline of key events and compile lists of flora and fauna mentioned in the story. They also analyze Covington's thoughts and feelings through dedicated resources, and tackle reading comprehension exercises. Grammar and punctuation are not overlooked, with a 'Grammar Hunt' focusing on conjunctions, expanded noun phrases, modal verbs, and the use of commas. Additionally, a 'Words to Workshop' activity helps students explore and understand vocabulary such as 'maudlin', 'tarnished', and 'erupting'. Writing opportunities are provided, allowing students to explain natural phenomena like earthquakes, write diary entries from Farthing's perspective, and compose persuasive speeches. Cross-curricular links are made with subjects such as Science, Computing, History, Geography, Art, Music, PE, RE, and PSHE, suggesting a variety of related activities that extend learning beyond the English classroom and into a broader educational context.