Tom's Midnight Garden - Chapter 9 & 10 - Worksheet

Chapter 9 and 10 of "Tom's Midnight Garden" provide fertile ground for discussion, with questions aimed at understanding Tom's motivations for seeking Hatty and exploring the truthfulness of her stories. These chapters encourage students to delve into character analysis, particularly of Hatty, and to consider the dynamics of her interactions with Tom. The reading activities suggest continuing a timeline to track key events, which is a useful tool for comprehending plot development. Additionally, students are prompted to engage in drama activities, bringing to life the tour of the garden and Hatty's stories, and to make predictions about future interactions between Tom and Hatty.

The worksheet also outlines a variety of writing opportunities, including creating diary entries from the perspectives of Tom or Hatty, designing a leaflet about the garden's plants, and crafting a comic strip or an original story based on Hatty's tale of being a princess. Cross-curricular links are abundant, with suggestions for exploring plants in science, the physical geography of East Anglia in geography, and the fashion of the era in history. For those with a creative flair, there are art and design technology projects such as sketching plants, baking 1950s-style food, or constructing models. The chapters also open doors to discussions about friendship, tolerance, and honesty in PSHE, and even the chance to compare the story to biblical narratives like Cain and Abel. These activities offer a comprehensive and engaging approach to learning that spans multiple subjects and skills.