Discussing a section of 'The Borrowers' (part 2)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can read and discuss a section of the build-up in 'The Borrowers'.
Key learning points
- In this section of the build-up, Arrietty explores the outside world and enjoys freedom and nature.
- The atmosphere shifts when Arrietty spots the eye of a human “bean”.
- Arrietty forms a friendship with the human “bean” this eye belongs to whose name is “Boy”.
- The atmosphere and Arrietty’s emotions change over the course of her experiences.
- We can make inferences about a character’s emotions by analysing their actions, words and expressions.
Keywords
Build-up - the building of action and suspense that leads up to the climax in a narrative
Atmosphere - the tone or mood created in a text
Emotions - strong feelings that result from a person’s circumstances, mood, or relationship with others
Inference - to use clues from the text to draw conclusions
Common misconception
Some of the vocabulary and phrases in the text may be unfamiliar. This may present a barrier to comprehension, particularly during dense sections of description involving high-level vocabulary.
Make a bank of unfamiliar vocabulary from the text and provide definitions in context beforehand. E.g. looking at a primrose leaf and identifying a "furrow".
Teacher tip
If time allows, continue reading Chapter 9 up to the end of page 77 and discuss the continued evolution of Arrietty's emotions as she engages in conversation with "Boy".
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2014 Puffin Books edition of ‘The Borrowers’ by Mary Norton for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? In the build-up, Pod takes Arrietty on her first borrowing expedition.
Q2.What does it mean to summarise?
Q3.What is the purpose of the build-up?
Q4.What does atmosphere refer to?
Q5.True or false? A character's emotions always stay the same.
Q6.How do we make inferences?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Order the events from this section of the build-up:
Q2.What was Arrietty most fascinated by on her borrowing expedition?
Q3.Where did Arrietty venture to when her father went borrowing?
Q4.What was Arrietty taken aback by the sight of while lying by the tree?
Q5.True or false? The atmosphere changes when Arrietty spots the eye.
Q6.True or false? Arrietty remains terrified of the human "bean" she encounters.
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Discussing a section of 'The Borrowers' (part 2), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Discussing a section of 'The Borrowers' (part 2), 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 'The Borrowers': narrative writing and reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.