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Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s lesson we began our work on A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning, thinking about what we liked and disliked about the book and trying to re-imagine the unusual introduction of the book. We spoke about the strange setting of the book, how it doesn’t fit into any one place or time but rather borrows influences from many different historical periods and places. Finally the class focused on the way Lemony Snicket writes, using reverse psychology to tempt the reader further into the world of the novel and frequently directly addressing the reader. They wrote some incredible examples of their own Snicket-inspired introduction to the books playing around with the kind of language he uses and comparing this to another Snicket introduction from a book later in the series. Incredible and passionate work today everyone, it was great to see you all and I look forward to hearing about the inventions you come up with!
P.S. The homework sheet is attached below
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Excellent work on this Anna, well done! Your illustrations are absolutely beautiful, there is so much amazing detail and emotion seeping through your work and I am super impressed. I love the way in which you build tension through the cartoon strip, creating a wonderful sense of storytelling behind your invention and keeping the reader in suspense. Really great work on thinking about the backstory too, showing us how Lily is inspired by the lessons her dad has taught her and helping us see her thinking process as she works through the conundrum she is faced with! To make this even better, have a little think about making sure you stay consistent with your tenses, at times you slip between present and past tense when it would be better to stick to one tense the whole way through i.e., ‘Lily had built a boat’. Overall super work well done 🙂
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Wonderful work here Meng Meng, well done! I love how you have taken this invention and transformed it into a wider story, helping us get inside the head of your protagonist and follow their thoughts, feelings and emotions from beginning to end. I really loved the way in which you showed us the main character’s thoughts, writing with lots of emotive passion and energy which is brilliantly done. You have used techniques such as rhetorical questions very effectively and I really liked the imagery you used of the SOS sign and the rafts, creating a very strong sense of setting. Also fab illustrations- beautifully drawn! To make this even better, could you describe the invention a little more to give us a really clear sense of what it looks like and how exactly your character constructed it? Overall superb writing, well done 🙂
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Beautiful work Valentina, well done! I love the idea to use step-by-step instructions to outline what your invention is and how it functions, creating an excellent sense that this is a guide to survival for whoever is reading it. Your illustrations are very creative and beautifully drawn and I thought the ideas you came up with were super imaginative, really deeply describing the way your invention would work. Fantastic idea to start by outlining all of the resources you would have in that environment and playing upon bushcraft and survival skills, i.e., making a fire, to make your piece feel very well researched and realistic. To make this even better, could you number your illustrations to show which one matches up to which part of the instructions, creating an even clearer framework for your reader to work from? Overall great work well done 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Thanks for the feedback. Now I can see all the posts including your feedback. Sorry for the duplicated posts.
Regards,
Lianne
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s lesson we looked at the notion of author intent and how it is clouded in this book by the narrative voice of the story. We focused on the construction of Lemony Snicket by Daniel Handler, discussing what it adds to the book that Lemony Snicket is a pseudonym with an entire character profile behind him. The class did a fantastic hot-seating exercise where they interviewed each other about the book, thinking about questions to ask the author, and we then watched a real-life interview of Lemony Snicket. The class discussed why an author would use a pseudonym beautifully, and then wrote some amazing character interviews too. Gorgeous work today everyone, keep it up and I’ll see you next week 🙂
Lemony Snicket interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPr-Dk3pdNg
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Stunning work Valentina! I am very impressed by this. You have captured beautifully the tone of an author’s biography, and I really love the quotation you have made up from him, really creative work! You have thought very nicely about the ways in which his books have become successful, telling the reader all about how he creates suspense and mystery, and I really enjoyed the backstory you gave your author and how he started writing so that people would see him as a creative- such a fab detail. You have painted a vivid portrait of who this man is and why he writes, and have thought carefully about how to structure it so it feels like a real biography. Also amazing vocab such as tactic! To make this even better, make sure you keep your tenses consistent, for example you start off in the past tense (was a successful author) but then switch to the present (his book is selling so fast); try to make sure you keep the tenses the same throughout. Overall a superb piece of writing and so sorry for the slow feedback, I’ve been sick! Excellent work and well done 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 3
In today’s class we concluded work on A Series of Unfortunate Events, learning about genre. We learned about what Gothic fiction is, trying this out in our own styles, and playing around with the idea of naming a book character after someone in real life. The students did some fantastic creative writing based off of this story and finally discussed the themes of the book and what that meant overall for the moral. Excellent and engaging work everyone- very well done! Apologies for the late summary, I’ve been sick. Your homework deadline is extended to Tuesday. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Please find attached Valentina’s homework. Apology for the delay. she completed it on Sunday but I forgot to upload. The first page is the draft and the 2nd page is the finalized version. Many thanks.
Regards,
Lianne
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Wonderful work Valentina, well done! You have analysed Violet’s character beautifully here, focusing on her key traits such as her courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. I was particularly impressed by your use of quotations which demonstrated to me a very clear-eyed and deep understanding of the way the author has depicted her character. Your comparison between Violet and your sister is a gorgeous one, very heartfelt and also fantastic in unpicking the elements of Violet’s personality that you really admire. I am also loving the vocabulary you have used here- words such as ‘perserverant’ give your work such a high degree of polish, well done! To make this even better, just have a little look at correcting these spellings- perseverant, dangling, and responsible. Overall, this is seriously impressive work- beautifully sophisticated and fluid writing with some really wonderful points made about Violet as a character and what makes her stand out. Keep up this brilliant work and very well done 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s class we had our first writing lesson, focusing today on narrative writing and specifically the genre of adventure. We spoke about what makes an adventure story memorable, digging into the techniques used in the genre such as a strong heroic character and trials and tribulations along the way. The class created a blueprint for their own adventure stories and wrote some great character descriptions too, using a passage from Treasure Island to inspire them. Fabulous work everyone, well done and keep it up 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Please find attached Valentina’s homework. Apologize for the late submission. We have been travelling and could not really locate a scanner to upload the document.
Regards,
Lianne
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Summary for Lesson 5
In today’s class we continued our work on adventure writing, discussing today how to utilise elements such as tension, suspense and pacing. The class worked beautifully on coming up with some fantastic ideas to map out an adventure story, considering how to add elements of risk and time pressures to create anticipation. Very good work today everyone, amazing thoughts throughout, particularly in thinking through how to build the suspense! Keep up the wonderful work 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Please see attached the homework from Valentina. Apology for the late submission.
Regards,
Lianne
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Summary for Lesson 6
In today’s class we explored descriptive writing, focusing on the precision and impact of word choice, literary techniques, and sensory language. We examined how carefully chosen details can shape atmosphere and emotion, looking at examples where vivid imagery and metaphor bring scenes to life. The class then experimented with their own writing, using sensory description to deepen mood and meaning. We also discussed how language can reflect tone and perspective, and how to balance beauty with clarity. Wonderful engagement and thoughtful use of imagery throughout- excellent attention to detail and creativity today. Well done everyone 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 7
In today’s class we worked on our second novel, Journey to the River Sea, thinking about setting and context. We spoke about the rainforest where this novel takes place, digging into the kinds of language we might use to describe it. The class wrote some beautiful descriptions before we focused on the historical aspect, considering the fact this book was set in 1910. We learned about life at that time and used it as a lens to dissect the story before finally coming up with our own modern version of the book. Very well done everyone, super energetic and engaged work as ever. Keep up the great work 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 8
In today’s lesson we explored Journey to the River Sea with a focus on theme and genre, unpacking how Eva Ibbotson blends adventure, mystery, and moral storytelling to create a rich and compelling novel. We discussed key themes and considered how these ideas shape Maia’s journey and the world of the Amazon. The class produced some brilliant thematic analysis of their own, selecting a key idea and tracing how it appears across characters, settings, and turning points in the novel. We also touched on genre, thinking carefully about what makes Journey to the River Sea a children’s adventure novel and how genre expectations influence tone, plot, and character growth. Wonderful and insightful work class, I was very impressed by your dedication today. Keep up the amazing work and see you next week 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Pleaes find attached the homework for last week (lesson 8) and 2 weeks ago (less 6). I was on a trip 2 weeks ago so I didn’t manage to help Valentina to upload her homework on time. She did the homework on time that week. For the week before last week (lesson 7), she didn’t complete the homework yet and she will make it up this week. Thank you very much for your patience.
Regards,
Lianne
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Summary for Lesson 9
In today’s lesson we explored Journey to the River Sea with a focus on character development and the idea of children living big lives. We examined how Eva Ibbotson’s life fed into her writing, and how she portrays her young characters as courageous and curious, allowing them to shape their own destinies in the vast and unpredictable Amazon. We also experimented with inventing characters and quotations that could have come from the text, helping to deepen our understanding of voice, motivation, and personality. Excellent work today, everyone- your thoughtful reflections and creative ideas really brought the characters to life. Keep up the fantastic effort and see you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 10
In today’s lesson we focused on improving descriptive writing, exploring how to create vivid, meaningful scenes while avoiding the common pitfalls of “white room syndrome.” We looked at how to ground description in specific sensory detail, how to anchor writing in a clear perspective, and how to use emotion to give scenes depth and purpose. Students learned strategies for replacing clichés with fresh, precise imagery and practised transforming flat, generic descriptions into engaging ones. We finished by sharing written paragraphs and considering how they utilised all the tips we had learned today. Fantastic work everyone, well done, and see you next week! 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 11
In today’s lesson, we explored myths and legends, focusing on how heroes are created and why these stories have been told for generations. We learned about the Giant’s Causeway and discussed the legend behind it, thinking carefully about how natural phenomena can inspire powerful myths. Students then designed their own heroes, considering key heroic qualities such as bravery, strength, and sacrifice. Using this, we began to plan original myths, thinking about how our hero might shape the land, overcome challenges, or be remembered through story. Throughout the lesson, we focused on using imaginative detail and clear storytelling to bring these legends to life. Fantastic creativity and engagement today everyone, well done, and see you next week! 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 12
In today’s lesson, we continued to explore myths and legends, discussing the key differences between the two and what purposes they serve in storytelling. We looked at The Odyssey as an example, considering its heroes, gods, and explanations of the world. Building on this, the class worked creatively to develop their own legend template stories, drawing on common features such as quests, challenges, and moral lessons. There was excellent discussion and imaginative thinking throughout & a great conclusion to our work on myths and legends before our final reading lessons begin next week; well done everyone! 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 13
In today’s lesson, we explored prehistoric characters and the Mesolithic lifestyle in Wolf Brother. We delved into how Torak and other characters navigate their world, learning about survival, hunting, and community in the Mesolithic Age. The class brought the story to life by writing conversations between our own characters and Torak, experimenting with perspective, and historical context. We discussed how character choices are shaped by environment and spoke about the meaning of ‘historical fiction’ as a genre. Fantastic creativity today everyone, your dialogues and character creation really brought the world of Wolf Brother alive. Keep up the amazing work 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 14
Today we continued Wolf Brother, focusing on genre, character, and the author’s reflections. We read and discussed Michelle Paver’s reflections on writing the novel, thinking about why she chose this time period and how research, setting, and character are closely linked. We discussed why she chose wolves as the central animal and analysed key moments that revealed important things to us. Pupils shared thoughtful ideas about how the environment influences characters’ behaviour and survival, and how genre helps shape readers’ expectations. Excellent engagement and discussion today, well done everyone for your insightful contributions and careful reading 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 15
The lesson focused on finishing our course through a final exploration of Wolf Brother through close reading and creative analysis. We examined how suspense is built throughout the novel, considering Michelle Paver’s use of techniques to keep the reader engaged. Students then imagined interviewing the author, creating thoughtful questions about her inspiration, characters, and writing choices. We also explored the symbolism of the demon bear, discussing what it represents in relation to fear, mysticism, and Torak’s journey. Finally, students speculated about what might come next for Torak, using clues from the text and their understanding of the story to make informed predictions. Fantastic engagement today, everyone, and over the past fifteen weeks- you have all been imaginative, resourceful, and really passionate throughout. It has been a joy to teach you! Very well done, keep up the great work! 🙂
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