Exploring a historical scenario linked to ‘A Kind of Spark’

English

Understanding the historical context of the Scottish witch trials

Exploring Addie's character

Using drama to explore a character 'low'

Adopting different perspectives

Planning the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark' including switches in perspective

Writing the first half of the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'

Writing the second half of the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'

Self-editing the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'

Exploring Addie's speech in the climax of 'A Kind of Spark'

Planning the climax of 'A Kind of Spark' including flashbacks

Writing the first section of the climax of 'A Kind of Spark'

Writing the next two sections of the climax, including a flashback

Writing the final sections of the climax, including a flashback

Self-editing the climax of 'A Kind of Spark'

In this unit, pupils finesse writing a build-up and climax with a focus on switching between the past and present tense to highlight a jump in perspective. In 'When The Sky Falls’: Narrative and Diary Writing', pupils will write a narrative climax and use it as the stimulus for writing a diary entry from a character's perspective.

In 'Beowulf’, pupils rewrote the build-up and climax of a scene from the end of ’Beowulf’, focusing on interspersing dialogue to convey atmosphere and advance the action. In this unit, pupils will finesse writing a build-up and climax with a focus on switching between the past and present tense to highlight a jump in perspective.

In this unit, pupils write a build-up and climax based on the text, 'A Kind of Spark'. They learn to switch tense to highlight a jump in perspective from narrative prose to an internal monologue and from present to past tense to indicate a flashback. These outcomes can be used for KS2 SATS writing.

'A Kind of Spark': narrative writing

Depiction or discussion of distress or humiliation e.g. bullying.

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Everyone accused of witchcraft was executed. 

The church linked witchcraft to the devil. 

She is opposed to execution as a punishment. 

She empathises with the women accused of witchcraft. 

Which best explains why Addie feels strongly about the witch trials? 

Which of the following might have provoked accusations of witchcraft? 

She tells the village meeting Maggie's story to persuade them to get a memorial.

She writes Maggie's name on her hand to inspire her to make her speech. 

She writes Maggie's story on the fliers she hands out. 

How does Addie use Maggie's story to help her in 'A Kind of Spark'?

Maggie is bullied or picked on by people in the village. 

Maggie is brought before the village council.

Maggie eventually confesses to being a witch. 

Put the key points of Maggie's story, as we imagined it, in order. 

to imagine the dialogues they might have had 

to show how they might have felt through our actions

When we're re-enacting a historical event, what are our priorities? 

the Scottish witch trials that occurred in the Victorian era

the Scottish witch trials that occurred in the Early Modern period

Which historical event inspires Addie's campaign in 'A Kind of Spark'?

Which of the following were common beliefs in the Early Modern period? 

What did the Church say was the cause of witchcraft? 

to get a documentary made about the accused people

What is the aim of Addie's campaign in 'A Kind of Spark'?

Which of the following helps Addie to persuade the village to back her campaign? 

Which person does Addie feel is being treated most similarly to the way the 'witches' were treated? 

Exploring a historical scenario linked to ‘A Kind of Spark’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance