Turning points in 'Oliver Twist'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore how a turning point in a narrative affects a character’s emotions.
Key learning points
- Inferring meaning can help us to build our understanding of the story.
- A turning point in a narrative is a pivotal moment that significantly alters the course of the story.
- Turning points can evoke a range of emotions in the character.
- We can track a character’s emotions on an emotions graph.
- The author creates a turning point in the story by having a cliffhanger where Oliver is potentially fatally wounded.
Keywords
Inference - Inference means to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions.
Turning point - A turning point in a narrative is a pivotal moment that significantly alters the course of the story or a character's journey.
Emotions graph - An emotions graph is a reading task where readers plot a character's feelings and emotions as they change throughout a narrative.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that a character's emotions have to change drastically throughout a chapter.
In some chapters and with some characters, there will be less change as events that happen to them may not affect their emotions. You can explore this through the use of an emotions graph.
Teacher tip
Monks is mentioned in this chapter. He is a character that plays a key role in the finale of the text. It would be useful to alert readers to the character's presence. Before the following lesson, read Chapters 10-16. Children can read independently or have this read to them. Note safeguarding.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2014 Oxford University Press edition of ‘Oliver Twist’ written by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Jeff Anderson, for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the adjectives to the character in 'Oliver Twist'.
Fagin
Artful Dodger
Mr Brownlow
Q2.Where is Oliver on his way to when he is captured by Nancy and Bill Sikes?
Q3.What is the name of Bill Sikes' dog that threatens Oliver?
Q4.True or False? The character of Nancy has not changed since the reader first encountered her.
Q5.What is the most suitable definition of the word ramshackle?
Q6.A Victorian scullery was a small room at the back of the house used for washing dishes, clothes, and preparing food. Which present-day name best fits this description?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following keywords to their definitions.
to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions
a pivotal moment that significantly alters the course of the story
a reading task where readers plot a character's feelings and emotions
Q2.What do Crackitt and Sikes hope to do at the house in the countryside?
Q3.Match the locations to the characters that Oliver meets there.
Toby Crackitt
Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Grimwig
Fagin, Artful Dodger
Q4.What happens to Oliver at the end of chapter 9?
Q5.In which of the following sentences might a reader be able to infer criminal activity?
Q6.True or False? Turning points in a text can only be positive.
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Turning points in 'Oliver Twist', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Turning points in 'Oliver Twist', 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 'Oliver Twist': reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.