Darwin's Dragons - Session 17 - Reading Comprehension

In "Darwin's Dragons" Session 17, a set of reading comprehension questions guides students through the narrative's unfolding events. Covington is prompted to search for the storm drain for reasons explored in the text, while he feels the need to 'get bricky', a phrase requiring interpretation. Concerns arise regarding Farthing's behaviour, prompting questions about his actions. The text delves into why Darwin's interest in the dragons is waning and explores the drastic measure taken by Covington to drug Mr Hallam. Students are also asked to consider Covington's strategy for liberating the dragons and to understand why Farthing does not join the other dragons in their escape through the drainage pipe. The session culminates with a challenge for students to concisely summarise the session in no more than 50 words, testing their ability to distil the main points of the narrative.

These questions serve not only to test students' comprehension but also to engage them with the text's deeper themes, such as the characters' motivations and the ethical implications of their actions. The session provides an opportunity for students to analyse character development and plot progression, enhancing their critical thinking and summarisation skills. This exercise, part of a larger reading comprehension curriculum, encourages a thorough and reflective reading practice among KS2 students.