Building comprehension of 'Escape from Pompeii' through rich discussion
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can answer a range of comprehension questions on 'Escape from Pompeii'.
Key learning points
- Skimming and scanning are crucial skills when it comes to quickly retrieving information from texts.
- Readers can infer by using clues from within the text to draw conclusions.
- Evidence from the text can be used to develop answers to questions and support reasoning.
Keywords
Retrieval - Retrieval is finding key details or information in the text and extracting them.
Skimming - Skimming is quickly glancing over text for main ideas and key points.
Scanning - Scanning is rapidly searching text for specific information or keywords.
Inference - Inference means to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions.
Evidence - Evidence is the information from a text that can support or justify our reasoning.
Common misconception
Pupils may find it challenging to infer why citizens might take little or no notice of the tremors.
Explain that the scientific study of volcanoes was not as it is today. Being near to a tectonic plate, Italy would have experienced earthquakes. Therefore, many people would have not treated the first signs of eruption as the danger it was.
Teacher tip
Pupils could research about volcanoes for home learning, listing some of the positives and negatives for living near such potentially hazardous locations.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2005 Frances Lincoln Children's Books edition of ‘Escape from Pompeii’ written and illustrated by Christina Balit, 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.Tranio's father is called...?
Q2.What job does Tranio's father have?
Q3.Which is the correct spelling for the setting of the text?
Q4.What profession does Livia's family have?
Q5.Which mountain is located near to the city of Pompeii?
Q6.Sequence the following events from the text in chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
finding key details or information in the text and extracting them
to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions
quickly glancing over a text for the main ideas and key points
Q2.Which of the following is a suitable definition of the term scanning?
Q3.__________ is the information from a text that can support or justify our reasoning.
Q4.True or False? Inferring meaning can only be made through the illustrations.
Q5.What is a tremor?
Q6.Which of the following signs do Tranio and Livia notice that tell them that something bad is about to happen?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Building comprehension of 'Escape from Pompeii' through rich discussion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Building comprehension of 'Escape from Pompeii' through rich discussion, 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 'Escape from Pompeii': reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.