Making connections to 'Blackberry Blue'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can draw comparisons between 'Blackberry Blue' and other texts.
Key learning points
- When drawing comparisons to other texts, readers can look for connections in themes, events or characters.
- ‘Blackberry Blue’ shares lots of similarities with fairy and folk tales, especially ‘Cinderella’.
- A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
- Some themes are more complex, they can impart important morals or lessons, regardless of when the text was written.
Keywords
Connection - how a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world
Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
Convey - to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly
Justice - fairness in the treatment of others, often involving punishment or reward based on their actions
Common misconception
Pupils may find it challenging to agree on the placement of the statements in Task A.
Consider printing the statements and the Venn diagram, to allow pupils to move them as they discuss and work in small groups or pairs.
Teacher tip
You may wish to use this lesson as a springboard to encourage pupils to discover fairy tales from other cultures and backgrounds (e.g. Mossycoat, Chinese Cinderella). If possible, have a number of these in the class book area.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2014 Tamarind edition of ‘Blackberry Blue and other fairy tales’, written by Jamila Gavin with illustrations by Richard Collingridge, for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the publisher of the text 'Blackberry Blue'?
Q2.Which character magically creates the dress that Blackberry Blue wears to the ball?
Q3.Who has been poisoning Prince Just?
Q4.True or false? The King saves the day.
Q5.Match the words to their definitions.
having the ability to heal or restore health
experiencing illness or poor health
to be filled with intense emotion, usually anger or resentment
Q6.Which of the following is an appropriate definition of a theme?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
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
Q2.Which is the most appropriate definition of the word justice?
Q3.How is Blackberry Blue's mother returned to her?
Q4.Which of the following are features that can be found in both 'Blackberry Blue' and 'Cinderella'?
Q5.How does Prince Just recognise Blackberry Blue’s real identity?
Q6.Place the events that happen within the final pages of 'Blackberry Blue' in chronological order.
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Making connections to 'Blackberry Blue', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Making connections to 'Blackberry Blue', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'Blackberry Blue': reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.