an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope or aims

a story that typically involves magical or supernatural elements, often with a hero or heroine who overcomes challenges to achieve their goals

distinctive characteristics that belong to a text type

an introductory section that sets the stage for the stories within a text

an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge

Reading and engaging with 'Blackberry Blue'

English

Exploring characterisation in 'Blackberry Blue'

Building comprehension of 'Blackberry Blue' through rich discussions

Making connections to 'Blackberry Blue'

In 'Blackberry Blue: reading’, pupils read and discussed a modern traditional tale, exploring its literary influences. In ’Beowulf: narrative writing’, pupils will explore a more complex and classic traditional tale.

In 'Hansel and Gretel: reading’, pupils discussed a modern version of a traditional tale. They discussed and explored the themes of good vs. evil and analysed how the main characters had been presented. In ’Blackberry Blue: reading’, pupils will develop this understanding by reading and exploring a modern fairy tale, discussing its literary influences.

In this unit, pupils read and explore the collection of fairytales, 'Blackberry Blue'. They explore how 'Blackberry Blue' addresses and challenges stereotypes through its storytelling and characterisation. Finally, pupils identify connections in the traditional fairytale, 'Cinderella'.

'Blackberry Blue': reading

the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story

the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting

a character analysis activity which encourages readers to infer

a generalised and often unfair or untrue belief about a particular group of people or things

to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions

the information from a text that can support or justify our reasoning

initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a text

how a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world

a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly

fairness in the treatment of others, often involving punishment or reward based on their actions

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'Blackberry Blue': reading

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