· Prediction activities based on the cover/blurb/title.
· Picture stimulus for a discussion of key ideas/themes in the novel.
· Theme based scenario cards ‘What would you do if?/What advice would you give?’ based on key issues in the novel.
During reading:
· Mind map to collect points on a key character/theme (more complex version of this for able pupils showing the links between characters/themes).
· Role on the wall for a key character (keep adding notes as the novel progresses).
· Flowchart of the plot (more complex version for multiple narratives).
· Tension graph – plot key events in the novel against a scale (could be decided by the pupils) that measures tension/fear/self esteem etc.
· Family tree.
· Hot seating of characters at important points in the novel.
· Glossary activity – collate words as a class and find the definitions (with a particular focus e.g. slang) keep on display during the unit on flipchart paper
· Role play/freeze frames of a key event (incorporating hot seating to reveal character’s motivation/feelings).
· Rewriting an extract in a different form or from a different viewpoint.
· Reading journal.
· Sequencing – cut up a section of the text which pupils have to arrange in the correct order, focusing on the layout/structure of the text (paragraphs/connectives). Pupils give reasons why they chose that order.
· Close textual analysis - involves shared reading using an OHP/projector and teacher annotation. Pupils then carry out their own text marking activities using a highlighter or scanning for a particular focus e.g verbs.
· Cloze activities/reverse cloze activities.
After you have finished reading the novel:
· Ripple chart of the impact of a key character
· ‘You’re the witness’ style role play
· Quote search – provide quotes and pupils speculate who said it when and then find the answer
· Create a title for each chapter
· Summarize the plot/storyboard
· Casting the film of the novel
· Class debate – provide provocative statements about characters/events/themes
Generic starter/plenary activities:
Many of the activities suggested during the novel can be used as starters or plenaries to reinforce or revisit learning. For example:
Mind Maps or Role on the Wall
· Add the theme we have learned today to your mind map using 5 key words
· Use your mind map to prepare 2 points on which characters are important to the theme ……………
· Prepare a post-it note to add to the role on the wall
Card Sort
· A set of the key characters and themes can be used in a variety of ways to introduce or recap learning, pupils can rank/sort the characters or themes in answer to a question or statement about the novel.
Statement and evidence/Quote search
· Provide pupils with a list of statements to sort into true or false or to rank. Pupils then have to find evidence in the novel to support their judgement.
· The same activity can be done with a list of quotes from the text.