The Snow Spider - Session 5 - Worksheet

Session 5 of 'The Snow Spider' worksheet, provided by KS2Gems for the year 2022, delves into the character of Eirlys and the evolving dynamics in the story. The session initiates with thought-provoking discussion questions that encourage students to reflect on Gwyn's altered relationship with Alun after revealing his magical abilities, the mysterious children in Arianwen's webs, and the moral implications of Gwyn's use of magic against Dewi. These questions aim to deepen comprehension and stimulate critical thinking about the characters' interactions and the ethical dimensions of their actions.

Reading activities for this session include continuing a timeline to track the narrative's events and a character analysis of Eirlys, which requires separate resources. Students are also tasked with comparing Gwyn's relationship with Alun before and after his magical confession, exploring evidence that supports Gwyn's magical identity, and engaging in reading comprehension exercises. The session further enhances language skills with grammar and punctuation activities focusing on colons, semi-colons, modal verbs, hyphens, dashes, and a 'Words to Workshop' section that introduces vocabulary such as 'ridicule', 'offended', and 'anguish' for students to explore. Writing opportunities in this session are diverse, ranging from diary entries and narrative rewrites to crafting an apologetic letter from Alun to Gwyn, as well as creative instructions for snow-related activities.

Cross-curricular links extend the learning experience beyond English literature, incorporating science topics like animals, rocks, and states of matter; computing through animation creation; historical context with winter sports; geographical skills involving mapping and topographical features; artistic expression by painting scenes from the text; musical exploration of Welsh folk and choral music; and personal, social, and health education discussions on bullying, loyalty, friendship, and compassion. These interdisciplinary connections are designed to enrich students' understanding and appreciation of the story while building a broad range of educational skills.