The Wreck of the Zanzibar - Session 5 - Worksheet

Session 5 of 'The Wreck of the Zanzibar' provides a rich tapestry of activities for KS2 students to explore the themes and characters within the story. Discussion questions delve into the moral dilemma faced by the family—whether to leave their home on Bryher or not—encouraging students to consider Granny May's desire to stay and Laura's feelings of anger. Reading activities include continuing a timeline of events, analysing the character of Mother, making predictions about the plot, engaging in drama to empathise with the family's predicament, and undertaking reading comprehension exercises.

Grammar and punctuation are not overlooked, with a focus on modal verbs, conjunctions, comma usage, apostrophes, and direct speech. Students will also workshop specific vocabulary words that are central to the story's themes, such as 'tormenting' and 'courage'. Writing opportunities are varied and creative, ranging from narratives and letters to diary entries, discussions, poems, and even a newspaper report, all designed to deepen understanding of the story's context and characters' perspectives. Cross-curricular links extend the learning beyond English, incorporating science, computing, history, geography, art, design technology (DT), physical education (PE), and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, with activities like filming a news report, investigating the Scilly Isles, and designing a memorial. These diverse and engaging activities ensure a holistic approach to learning, with some continuing throughout the topic.