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Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s class we began our work on Holes, learning about the history behind the book and working through some key ideas on themes. We began with a discussion of how the students found the book before thinking about its semantic field and the weird imagery the book draws on. The class then researched the 100 years of US history the book spans over before learning about key historical themes in the novel, from immigration to racism in the South to the US justice system. Lastly we touched on magical realism, linking the strange moments in the book to this wider genre. Lovely ideas today everyone- fab thoughts on how Sachar keeps the book entertaining through strong characters and interesting themes. Keep up the fantastic work, well done 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s class we continued our work on Holes, discussing genre, the narrative and the role of folktale in the story. We began by watching a clip of the film before discussing the genres we could see in the story before fixing in on fairytales and folktales. We read an extract and thought about how to interpret it as a modern fairytale in ways, before looking at the way the book is narrated and how the omniscience of the narrator is significant. Lastly we debated the importance of names in the novel, linking this to stories such as Rumpelstiltskin and Snow White. Lovely ideas today class, well done for your hard work and see you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 3
In today’s class we completed work on Holes, working creatively with ideas from the novel so the class could come up with their own fantastic versions of moments in the book. We began by discussing fate vs free will, linking this to the story’s ideas on social inequality, before looking at the ‘If Only’ song from the book. The class wrote their own verses to this and finally we discussed essay tips and looked at some analyses of literary techniques used in the book. The class speed-planned some essays which they did very well on. Well done for all your fab thoughts today class, keep it up and see you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s class we began our work on Mortal Engines, learning about some of the big ideas under the surface of the story. The class began by sharing their thoughts on the book before completing some work on setting, discussing how the book plays with both futuristic and Victorian time periods. We learned about colonialism and how it links to the book thinking about what the author is trying to say about topics such as the environment and inequality. Finally we discussed what we’d like to ask the author and wrote some interview questions and answers. Lovely work class, well done for your in-depth exploration of the author’s reasons for writing this book the way he did. Great job today 🙂
Interview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8d7xkftUMc&t=11s
Colonialism video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHbL0ByeLY&t=137s
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Summary for Lesson 5
In today’s class we continued our study of Mortal Engines, focusing on genre, philosophy and big ideas in the book. We began by thinking about genre and how the book fits (or doesn’t fit) into the science fiction genre. The class then learned about Municipal Darwinism in the book and we analysed an extract that showed that process in action, discussing what was wrong with the concept. The class wrote some fantastic diary entries off the back of this before finally thinking about what traction cities can teach us about how we should not live in the world. Lovely work everyone, well done for your discussions of traction cities in particular! Keep up the great work and see you next week 🙂
Article link for homework: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/dec/12/mortal-engines-what-philip-reeves-predator-cities-tell-us-about-our-world
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Summary for Lesson 6
In our final lesson on Mortal Engines we thought about the characters in the story and evaluated our final feelings on the book. We began by thinking about the homework article discussing the idea of history repeating itself in the story and how this reflects the real world. We then looked at character descriptions, making inferences about author intent. The class completed some group work where they had to choose quotations that proved particular points in the author’s toolkit and finally, they created their own characters and learned about book review writing. Some nice work class, but remember if you get stuck you need to let me know so I can help. Never be worried about just sending a quick message to clarify something or ask me for help. Keep that up and I’ll see you next week 🙂
Book review writing guide: https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/how-to-write-a-book-review
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Summary for Lesson 7
In today’s class we began work on Sherlock Holmes, learning about the history behind the creation of the fictional detective and the author. We began by thinking about how we felt about the book before learning and discussing why Sherlock is such a famous character even one hundred years after Conan Doyle first wrote about him. We looked at the reasons behind his creation and the class came up with amazing points about why these books are still so popular. We then discussed Victorian London and the context behind the story and finally the students came up with modern versions of Sherlock Holmes, thinking about how technology and the modern world would change the stories. Amazing work today everyone, well done for your hard work and see you next week 🙂
Homework article: https://www.novelsuspects.com/articles/the-appeal-of-sherlock-holmes/#:~:text=While%20Sherlock%20Holmes%20is%20a,fictional%20detectives%20for%20these%20reasons.
Ted-ed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8992A5oAWM
Background info video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7toqzP16H4c
Summary of the book: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/study-in-scarlet/summary/
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Summary for Lesson 8
In today’s class we continued work on A Study in Scarlet, thinking about genre and character. We began by discussing the homework article, thinking about the points it makes on Sherlock as a character and the way readers react to him, before moving on to learning about detective fiction and how Arthur Conan Doyle broke from tradition in the way he wrote this story. We dug into Sherlock’s theories of deduction and the class discussed some questions in groups, looking at narrative, perspective and the theme of friendship beautifully. Finally we did some work on character, using our creative skills to dissect characters in the book and create our work. Fab work today guys, well done and see you next week 🙂
Detective fiction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS3ylzuhqZQ&t=296s
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Summary for Lesson 9
In today’s class we completed work on A Study in Scarlet, doing some creative work and thinking about how this story fits together. We discussed what makes the case in the story interesting to Sherlock and thought about the way the clues all fit together. The class then discussed the book’s structure, thinking about the way the novel was split into two halves and why. Finally the students came up with their own Sherlock Holmes-inspired mysteries, coming up with amazing stories full of suspense and twists & turns. Great work class, well done for your in-depth thinking today and analysis of crime fiction. See you next week 🙂
Video on how to write a Sherlockian mystery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Oa9SrwMdk
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Summary for Lesson 10
In today’s class we began Treasure Island, thinking about the life of a pirate and the world in the 1700s. We discussed the novel, thought about the Golden Age of Piracy and learned some facts about what life was like back then. We looked at aspects such as why people became pirates, myths around piracy and thought about where the pirate hot spots were. The class then considered Jim Hawkins’ life at the start of the book, touching on why he might want to go to sea, before we summed up these ideas by reading a fact-file on the novel. Lovely work class, really excellent thoughts in particular on Jim Hawkins’ hopes and dreams. See you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 11
In today’s class we thought about the world of Treasure Island, thinking about the pirate code in the book and the way the characters interact. We began by thinking about the Black Spot with the class designing their own before moving on to talking about the violence and abruptness with which the pirates in the novel speak. We looked at the dangers of the high seas in the 1700s and the class debated with one another coming up with some excellent ideas of objects to take back in time to help them on their journeys. Finally we thought about how the author had obscured the geographical location of Treasure Island and why, drawing on some ideas of what the mythology behind the island communicates. Great work today everyone, well done for your group work in particular which achieved fab results. See you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 12
In today’s class we completed work on Treasure Island thinking about the character of Long John Silver and the complex morality of the novel. We began by discussing the role of greed in the story, thinking about how it serves none of the characters well, before moving on to thinking about Silver and his attributes. We discussed why Stevenson made him so likable and the class then conducted a fantastic mock trial, with half of them arguing for the prosecution, the other half for the defence. Finally we discussed the ending of the book, evaluating why it ends the way it does. Lovely work today everyone and over the past twelve sessions- it has been such a pleasure working with you all. Fab work, very well done and I will see you all in future courses! 🙂
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