Lesson video

Hi there.

Thank you for joining me for today's reading lesson.

My name is Mr. Charlesworth.

For today's lesson, you're going to need a copy of the text "Coming to England" which is written by Floella Benjamin and illustrated by Joelle Avelino.

If you haven't got a copy to hand already, pause the video now whilst you get one.

Great work.

In today's lesson, we're going to be exploring a turning point, which is where a change in a narrative occurs.

I wonder what it could be.

Let's get started.

The lesson outcome for today is, "I can explore how a turning point in a narrative affects a character's emotions." They keywords are, my turn, your turn.

Prediction.

Turning point.

Emotions graph.

Let's try those once more.

Prediction.

Turning point.

Emotions graph.

Well done.

Let's now have a look at the definitions.

A prediction is an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge.

A turning point in a narrative is a pivotal moment that significantly alters the course of the story, or a character's journey.

An emotions graph is a reading task where readers plot a character's feelings and emotions as they change throughout a narrative.

Don't worry if you're unsure about any of these keywords, we'll be exploring them throughout the lesson.

In today's lesson, we're going to be exploring turning points in our text "Coming to England".

I hope you have got your copy ready.

We're going to begin by reading Chapter 10 together, and exploring what happens, and then we're going to have a look at a turning in a narrative, Chapter 10 has one of these, I hope you're looking forward to finding out what it is.

Let's get started by exploring Chapter 10 together.

"Coming to England" is written by Floella Benjamin and illustrated by Joelle Avelino.

Let's have a quick recap about what we know so far.

In the previous chapter that we read together, Floella's parents had both left Trinidad to move to England.

I hope you have had an opportunity to read the chapters in between, but if you haven't, here's a short synopsis.

In Chapters 7 to 9, Floella and her siblings finally set out to join their parents.

Floella prepares for the 15 day journey as she leaves Trinidad.

In 1960, there weren't planes to make this journey shorter, so they travel by boat.

On the 1st of September 1960, her sister, Sandra, spots England, they're reunited with their mother at Southampton Docks.

And this is where we joined Floella at the start of the next chapter.

Let's get reading.

In Chapter 10, we follow Floella as she journeys with her mother and her siblings from Southampton to London Waterloo.

And I would like you to read the first part of Chapter 10, that's from page 69, to the bottom of page 73.

You should reach the word "rabbit".

Turn to page 73 now to see where you're reading up to, and then return to page 69 to read the first section of the text.

Pause the video now whilst you do so.

Well done.

It was really interesting to explore Floella's experiences after getting off the boat, I can just imagine how she might have felt coming to life in a new country.

Referring to page 70, Floella describes her train using personification, that's giving human characteristics or behaviours to an inhuman or inanimate object.

I'd like you to identify the example with your partner, and what effect does it have on you, the reader? Discuss the two questions with your partner now.

Pause the video whilst you do so.

Fantastic work.

Did you find the example of personification? It mentions the train as "roaring".

Let's have a look at a response from Laura, she says that, "Floella describes the train as 'roaring'.

This gives the impression that the train is making sounds as if it were a living, breathing, metallic creature." I wonder what effect it had on you and your partner.

Let's continue to explore the chapter.

Floella describes the contrast between the rural countryside and the hustle and bustle of the city.

As the train pulls into London, she gets a strong sense of having arrived in a country that she's loved from afar.

Referring to page 72, I'd like you to discuss the impression that Floella had of Waterloo station.

How might this make her feel? Perhaps keep your eyes peeled for some adjectives, and how she describes Waterloo.

Pause the video now whilst you discuss the question.

Great skimming and scanning.

Did you find any adjectives that Floella uses to describe Waterloo station, that might give us an understanding of her impression of it? Andeep says, "Floella describes Waterloo station as 'palatial'." That means like a palace.

"By describing it like a palace, I think she holds it in high regard.

She is perhaps shocked at taking in so many new experiences." If you hold something in high regard, you respect it and perhaps look up to it.

Here's our first check for understanding.

Referring to page 72 and 73, which of the following stations do Floella and her family travel through? Is it "A", London Paddington? "B", Turnam Green? "C", London Waterloo? Or "D", Kings Cross? There might be more than one here, refer to the pages and pause the video whilst you answer the question.

Well spotted.

It was Turnam Green and London Waterloo.

The other two stations are located in London, but they aren't mentioned by Floella in the text.

Well done if you found both.

Let's continue to explore the rest of the chapter.

While she's travelling through London, Floella compares things that she notices to her life back at home in Trinidad.

I'd like you to read the rest of the chapter, that's from pages 74 to 76.

Pause the video now whilst you read together.

Great reading.

I wonder, referring to page 75, why might Floella feel nervous as her mother opened the door to number 1 Mayfield Avenue? Why might this be? What gives us that impression from the text? Pause the video whilst you discuss the question with your partner.

Great discussion.

There are lots of possible reasons here, one example might be from Izzy, she says that, "Floella is likely feeling a mixture of emotions.

She might be feeling apprehensive," that's a bit worried or anxious, "About seeing her new home for the first time.

She might also be looking forward to seeing the rest of her family." That includes her two younger siblings, as well as her father.

Well remembered.

We're now going to explore Floella's new home in a little more detail.

I'd like you to refer to page 75.

I wonder, how is Floella's new home described? And why might Floella be disappointed by this? Maybe re-read the page to look at any positive or negative, or even neutral responses that Floella makes about it.

Pause the video now whilst you discuss the question.

Great work.

You might've noticed an unfamiliar word here.

There's a word called "dingy".

Let's say it together.

My turn, your turn.

Dingy.

Well done.

"Dingy" is an adjective.

It means gloomy and drab.

So, it doesn't sound very positive straight away.

Let's have a look at an example answer from Alex.

Alex says, "Floella's new home is described as not very well lit and 'dingy'.

It is described in stark contrast to their house in Trinidad, which had significantly more space and personal belongings.

Floella may be feeling disappointed as her expectations were not met." I wonder how you'd feel if you were Floella.

Must've been quite tricky to mask those emotions.

Here's our next check for understanding.

True or false? At the end of Chapter 10, Floella has nothing to look forward to.

Is that true or false? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

I can see why lots of you might've thought "true" here.

But, there is one or two things that Floella is still thankful for, and looking forward to, so the answer is "false".

And I'd like you to justify your answer.

Is it because "A", despite her hopes being dashed, Floella still recognises one thing that she's grateful for, her mother's cooking? Or "B", Floella, her siblings and her mother all burst into tears? Which justification best fits the original statement? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Great work.

It's not "B", because if they all burst into tears, it's not something that they'd look forward to, although tears can be tears of laughter and happiness too.

So, the answer is "A", even though Floella's situation isn't described in a positive light, there are still a few things that she's thankful for.

By the end of Chapter 10, Floella is in a very different place emotionally to the beginning of it.

Referring to what we know already from reading, I'd now like you to make a prediction about what you think might happen next.

You can of course refer to the words in the text.

The illustrations.

Features that you know about the text, such as the title page, contents and cover.

And finally, knowledge that you have about Floella Benjamin.

These can all help you inform a prediction.

You might like to use the sentence then, "I predict.

because.

." Pause the video now whilst you come up with your prediction.

Well done.

I wonder if your prediction will happen in Chapter 11.

Let's have a look at two examples.

You might have said that, "I predict that after initial shock of moving to a new country, Floella will settle into her new life in England.

I think this because the title reflects this journey." You might've also said, "I predict there might be challenges ahead for Floella.

It mentions in the text that her family were stared at, but not because of their clothing.

Floella might experience discrimination." That's targeting someone due to a protected characteristic.

It's important to remember that if your prediction can be justified using information from the pages, features of the text or knowledge of Floella Benjamin, then it's a good prediction.

Well done.

Let's now explore turning points in the narrative in a little more detail.

In order to build tension, the author includes a turning point towards the end of the chapter.

Well noticed, it's one of our keywords.

A turning point in a narrative is a pivotal moment that significantly alters the course of the story or a character's journey.

I wonder, what do you think is the turning point within the chapter? And why? You can of course refer to the text.

Pause the video now whilst you discuss the question with your partner.

Well done.

We're looking for a pivotal moment here, that means a significant moment that Floella experiences high emotions.

You might've said like Jun, "I think that the turning point in the chapter is when Floella's hopes and dreams are not what she expected.

She cries 'hysterically'." The word "hysterically" is an adverb, it means with wildly uncontrolled emotion.

Turning points typically bring about a major change in the story, whether it's a positive or a negative shift.

This change can evoke a range of emotions in the character, such as joy, relief, disappointment, fear, or sadness, depending on the nature of a turning point.

Readers can identify a character's emotions by paying particular attention to how the character acts, thinks and speaks in a story.

By noting a character's actions, thoughts, words and how they handle challenges, we can figure out their intentions and perhaps infer their inner emotions.

Here's our next check for understanding.

True or false? Turning points can only affect the narrative in a negative way.

Is that true or false? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Great thinking.

There's definitely more than just one way to experience things, and to think about it.

So, the answer is "false".

And I'd like you to justify your answer.

Is it because "A", turning points can change the narratives in both positive and negative ways? Or "B", a turning point in Chapter 10 of "Coming to England" affects Floella in a negative way? Which justification best fits with the original statement? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Well done.

We're looking for justification here that shows two sides to things, not just one.

The bottom example says that it's just affecting in a negative way, and we know that a turning point can be both positive and negative.

So, it must be "A", turning points can change the narratives in both positive and negative ways.

I wonder if you can think of any text that have a turning point that's positive? Or perhaps, you can think of a text that has a turning point that's negative, like this? When a character's emotions change throughout a chapter, a really fun reading activity you can do is to create an emotions graph, an example looks like this.

Positive emotions go above the centre line, negative emotions below.

A short comment can be used to describe a character's actions, thoughts and words.

Let's have a look at an example using Chapter 6 of "Coming to England".

The chapter begins with Floella feeling uncertain.

That's quite a neutral emotion.

Her parents are talking about moving to England.

Can you remember what happens next? Yes, that's right, Floella's father decides to leave, so she gets sadder.

Her emotions are definitely going to be below the line.

Her mother stays to look after her and her siblings.

And then finally, at the end of the chapter, Floella's mother leaves to go to join her father with Roy and Cynthia.

Floella is devastated.

Therefore, the point is at the lowest point in the graph, in the most negative section.

An emotions graph typically includes a range of emotions to represent the emotional states of characters or individuals in a narrative.

Here's a list of some emotions that you might find on an emotions graph.

There's joy, sadness, anger, and fear.

Surprise, disgust, anticipation, trust.

Love, guilt, shame, and disappointment.

And pride, excitement, curiosity, and confusion.

Some emotions here can be placed in different positions within the graph.

For example, "surprised", you can be pleasantly surprised, or it can be a shock.

There are many more emotions too, perhaps you'll think of some in our next task.

Here's our final check for understanding.

Which of the following are negative emotions? Is it "A", disappointment? "B", anticipation? "C", fear? Or "D", joy? There may be more than one.

Which emotions would you place below the middle line on our emotions graph? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Well done.

I think if I'm disappointed, that leaves me feeling quite negative, so "disappointment" definitely should be one of these.

If I'm anticipating something, it means I'm looking forward to it, so I don't think that's a negative emotion.

"Fear" is definitely negative, if I'm fearful, it means I'm scared about something happening.

And "joy" is still quite positive, it's upbeat.

If I think of something joyful, it fills me with happiness.

So, the two examples here that are negative emotions, are "A" and "C", "disappointment" and "fear".

Well done if you got both of them.

In our main task, I'd like you to now create an emotions graph for Floella for Chapter 10.

Note down her actions, thoughts and her words.

Try to aim for at least three points in the narrative.

You can see on the graph, you've got your positive, neutral and negative emotions.

And then, as you're going through the chapter, you can put points on the graph to show how the emotions stay the same or change.

You might like to use the sentence then.

"Floella is.

because.

." To support you.

Pause the video now, whilst you complete the task.

Well done.

I hope you enjoyed thinking about Floella's emotions throughout the chapter.

Let's have a look at some possible examples.

Remember, where you place these on the graph, and the emotions you selected might be different.

These are just some examples.

At the beginning of the chapter, you might've said that Floella's overjoyed at seeing her mother again.

She "skips" in excitement.

I wonder if you included some examples in the text in yours too.

Later on in the text, Floella is still wary of when we need positive.

She's in awe of the countryside and the city life.

She describes it in two different ways.

Finally, at the end of the chapter, I think that Floella is disappointed about her parents' new home in England.

She cries.

This might be for a number of reasons, perhaps her expectations didn't meet her reality, you can see from the emotions graph, the author creates a turning point by Floella's emotions changing from positive at the beginning of the chapter, to disappointed and distraught at the end.

I wonder if you can think of other chapters where this also happens.

Perhaps your current reading book will have one of these too, you might like to explore it after the lesson.

In today's lesson, we've been looking at turning points in the text "Coming to England".

We've learnt that predictions can be justified using information from the text, features of the text, or knowledge of the subject matter.

We've discovered that a turning point in a narrative is a pivotal moment that significantly alters the course of the story or a character's journey.

Turning points can evoke a range of emotions in the character.

We can track a character's emotions on an emotions graph.

Finally, the author of "Coming to England" creates a turning point by Floella's emotions changing from positive at the beginning of the chapter, to disappointed and distraught at the end.

Thank you so much for joining me for today's lesson.

I'm really looking forward to working with you again soon.