- Year 6
Exploring characterisation in 'The Final Year'
I can explore characterisation in a verse novel.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 6
Exploring characterisation in 'The Final Year'
I can explore characterisation in a verse novel.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Characterisation is the way an author & illustrator describe & develop the personalities & traits of the characters.
- 'Role on the wall' is a reading activity that helps readers develop their understanding of a character.
- “The Beast” refers to Nate’s internal struggle with anger and frustration, which he can sometimes struggle to control.
- Characters can change and develop throughout a narrative and traits they show do not always remain fixed.
Keywords
Character traits - the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting
Characterisation - the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story
'role on the wall' - a character analysis activity which encourages readers to infer
Common misconception
Pupils may think that character traits remain fixed throughout the narrative.
Explain that character traits do not usually stay static. Adults could display a 'role on the wall' to note changes in characterisation of Nate as pupils progress through the narrative.
To help you plan your year 6 English lesson on: Exploring characterisation in 'The Final Year', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 English lesson on: Exploring characterisation in 'The Final Year', 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.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'The Final Year': reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2023 Otter-Barry Books edition of ‘The Final Year’ written by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd Stanton, for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
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