After reading — Assessment as learning

Australian Curriculum: English sub-strand: Language – Expressing and developing ideas

Select two chapters the students are familiar with and identify any words and adjectival or adverbial phrases relating to culture, setting or character, within the text. Discuss the meaning of these words and phrases and research any unknown concepts, objects or ideas using the interactive whiteboard or the internet.

Students will: List the main characters and settings (restaurant, school, Thai temple, etc) and using ICT (Wordle) create word clouds or banks that include descriptive words and phrases taken from the text.

Exploring plot

Australian Curriculum: English sub-strands: Literature — Examining literature; Responding to literature

Explain plot diagrams and their purpose. Create a simple one from a known section of the text. As a class identify key events that add depth to the plot and map these. Discuss the specific language features that assist in building tension and suspense and creating humour.

Introduce Literature Circles and allocate roles to students. As a whole class practise using the roles with a section of the text. Place students in groups and allocate particular sections of the text to each group. PETAA book reference: Literature Circles in Holliday, M. (2008) Strategies for Reading Success, The Primary English Teaching Association Australia (Appendix 2) Modified version for plot development focus.