The Secret of Platform 13 - Session 1 - Worksheet

In the first session of 'The Secret of Platform 13', students delve into the initial chapters of the story, sparking their curiosity and analytical skills through a series of discussion questions. They explore the unique qualities of The Island and the moral implications of the characters' actions, such as the decision to transport the Prince through The Gump and Mrs Trottle's controversial choice to steal a baby. These thought-provoking questions aim to develop students' reasoning and comprehension skills as outlined in the learning objectives.

Complementing the discussion, a variety of reading activities are designed to deepen students' engagement with the text. They begin constructing a timeline to track key events and undertake a character analysis of Mrs Trottle, which encourages them to pay close attention to the narrative. Predictive exercises challenge them to anticipate future plot developments, while opportunities to ask questions about the story so far foster a deeper level of understanding. Creative tasks such as drawing The Gump based on descriptions in the text and completing reading comprehension exercises further enhance their literacy skills. Grammar and punctuation are reinforced through a 'Grammar Hunt', where students search for noun phrases, conjunctions, prepositions, and pronouns within the text, and a 'Words to Workshop' activity helps expand their vocabulary with a rich array of words ranging from 'reveal' to 'mourned'.