The 13-Storey Treehouse - Session 1 - Chapters 1 and 2 - Worksheet

In the initial session exploring 'The 13-Storey Treehouse', students delve into the first two chapters with a series of engaging discussion questions. These questions aim to probe the reasons behind Andy and Terry's choice of abode, Terry's peculiar decision to paint a cat yellow, and who out of the two characters is deemed more responsible. These discussions encourage students to think critically about the characters' motivations and actions [RS4] [RS3].

Reading activities for this session include a character analysis of Andy and Terry, where students begin to dissect the personalities and traits of the central characters [RS3 & 4]. They are also prompted to make predictions about the cat's fate [RS5] and to complete a reading comprehension exercise to further their understanding of the text [see separate resources]. The session also incorporates a 'Grammar Hunt', focusing on elements such as direct speech, apostrophes for contraction, exclamation marks, and question marks, enhancing their grammatical skills. A 'Words to Workshop' segment is included to expand vocabulary, with words like 'automatically', 'probably', and 'wondering' up for exploration [RS2 & 7].

Writing opportunities stemming from the chapters include creating a leaflet that serves as a guide to the treehouse, drafting a job description for Andy and Terry, and composing estate agent details to advertise the treehouse. Additionally, students are encouraged to write a persuasive letter to Terry, urging him not to paint the cat. The session is enriched with cross-curricular links, integrating subjects such as Science, Computing, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology (DT), Music, Physical Education (PE), Religious Education (RE), and Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE). These links provide depth and variety, from creating a 3D treehouse in Computing to discussing the significance of trees in various religions in RE, thereby offering a comprehensive educational experience.