Tom's Midnight Garden - Chapter 1 & 2 - Worksheet

In the first two chapters of 'Tom's Midnight Garden', students are invited to delve into the world of the protagonist, Tom, through a series of discussion questions and reading activities. The worksheet encourages students to form an impression of Tom and to consider the feelings of characters regarding quarantine and separation. They are prompted to ponder why Tom finds the clock so intriguing, setting the stage for deeper engagement with the text. As part of the reading activities, students track the plot's development on a timeline and conduct a character analysis of Tom, Uncle Alan, and Aunt Gwen, which will be particularly useful in later chapters.

Writing opportunities arise from the chapters, where students can express creativity and understanding of the characters' experiences. They might compose a letter from Tom to his mother detailing his journey and arrival, or a postcard to his brother Peter describing his new surroundings. Instructions for living in the flat and diary entries from Aunt Gwen or Uncle Alan's perspective offer further exploration of the narrative. Additionally, students are encouraged to compare life in the 1950s with the present day through research and leaflet creation. The worksheet also integrates cross-curricular links, including science, art, design and technology, geography, maths, computing, and PSHE, allowing for a comprehensive educational experience that extends beyond English literature.