Reading and engaging with 'Blackberry Blue'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand the features of a contemporary fairy tale.
Key learning points
- ‘Blackberry Blue’ is a collection of six fairy tales, with characters from various backgrounds and cultures.
- Each tale contains magical elements and fantastical occurrences, which is a key feature of the genre.
- 'Blackberry Blue' leans on traditional fairy tales for inspiration.
- The theme of good and evil is explored in 'Blackberry Blue'.
- 'Blackberry Blue' begins with a prologue: a paragraph that sets the stage for the fairy tale that is about to follow.
Keywords
Preface - an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope or aims
Fairy tale - a story that typically involves magical or supernatural elements, often with a hero or heroine who overcomes challenges to achieve their goals
Features - distinctive characteristics that belong to a text type
Prologue - an introductory section that sets the stage for the stories within a text
Prediction - an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
Common misconception
Pupils might recognise common features or character types from other fairy tales leading them to think that the characters must conform to a stereotype.
'Blackberry Blue' uses a range of fairy tales for inspiration. Use the text to discuss how characters do not always conform to stereotypes.
Teacher tip
New or unfamiliar vocabulary could be pre-taught to ensure greater understanding when encountered during the lesson.
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 sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which definition best describes a fairy tale?
Q2.Which of the following best describes genre?
Q3.Which of the following themes are explored in the story 'Hansel and Gretel'?
Q4.Which of these are common characters you might find in a fairy tale?
Q5.True or false? Fairy tales traditionally end 'happily ever after'.
Q6.What is a feature of a text?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following keywords to their definitions.
Q2.What is a suitable definition of a prediction?
Q3.How many stories are included in the text 'Blackberry Blue'?
Q4.True or false? The front cover of a text can usually provide us with some clues about the story.
Q5.Which of the following features are usually found in traditional fairy tale texts?
Q6.Which of the following characters are mentioned in the prologue to ‘Blackberry Blue’?
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Reading and engaging with 'Blackberry Blue', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Reading and engaging with '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.