Darwin's Dragons - Session 17 - Chapters 55 - 57 - Worksheet

In Session 17 of "Darwin's Dragons," students delve into Chapters 55 to 57 with a series of thought-provoking discussion questions and engaging reading activities. They contemplate Covington's perspective on Darwin's response to Jenny's death and debate the ethical considerations surrounding the dragons' fate, such as whether they should be returned to the Galapagos Islands or if Covington was right to free them. The session encourages critical thinking and moral reasoning, asking students to consider the implications of these actions. Reading activities include continuing a timeline of key events, listing flora and fauna from the book, updating character analysis for Covington, predicting the future of the dragons, and completing reading comprehension exercises.

Grammar and punctuation are also a focus, with a 'Grammar Hunt' that includes expanded noun phrases, the use of hyphens, and differentiating between formal and informal language in dialogue. The session's vocabulary workshop introduces a variety of words for students to explore, ranging from 'capered' and 'diverting' to 'noxious' and 'commotion.' Writing opportunities present creative tasks such as composing persuasive letters from Covington to Queen Victoria regarding the dragons' return or explaining his reasons for releasing them. The session also offers a wealth of cross-curricular links, including science topics like plants and animals, computing tasks like creating databases and 3D worlds, historical context on Victorian England, geographical skills using maps and globes, and art projects like drawing a portrait of Queen Victoria. Furthermore, it touches on physical education, religious education, and personal, social, health, and economic education (PSHE), covering themes such as courage, resilience, determination, adaptability, and the importance of animal rights and human environmental responsibility.