Reader's theatre

Supply students with Readers Theatre Script from Grimsdon Teaching support kit, based on Chapter 6 The Haggle. Review the dialogue from the performance piece, emphasising how the dialogue is used to lead characters into the next event.

Students will: In groups, practise the Readers Theatre. Record examples of word choices that assist plot transition.

Exploring ‘trouble’ with Deborah Abela

In the first video conference recording Deborah Abela, among other things, discusses with students the concept of ‘trouble’ as the cause of motor for events in narrative, and then of the idea that trouble, when it occurs again in the narrative needs to build or escalate — that when trouble next occurs it needs to be greater than before.

Watch Session 1 of the video — noting that the recording is of low quality, being the recording of a classroom-based video conference and is 43 minutes in duration.

After viewing: Discuss the video conference, reminding students of aspects of effective narrative writing that they have been learning about. Group students to brainstorm possible scenarios for their ‘trouble’.

Students will: Work in small groups to brainstorm their ideas for events that will follow the ‘trouble’ established during the first session of the video conference. In small groups students create role plays to try out and refine their ideas. Once they have established their plot ideas they develop plot diagrams to scaffold their final writing.

Expanding language

Demonstrate the use of an online thesaurus to refine and expand language options.

Students will: Students practice using an online thesaurus using selected words from Grimsdon.