Developing responses to 'When Stars are Scattered' through rich discussions
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can develop my own response to 'When Stars are Scattered’.
Key learning points
- When reflecting on a text, we can consider characterss thoughts, feelings and actions and relate them to our own.
- Omar’s strong bond with his brother is one of the core relationships in ‘When Stars are Scattered’.
- Throughout the text, Omar picks up on the inequality between what life is like for boys and girls at Dadaab.
- The way that one reader connects with a text might be different to another based on their own life experiences.
Keywords
Character trait - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.
Connection - How a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world can be called a connection.
Recommendation - A recommendation is a suggestion for a text that is well-suited to a reader’s age and their interests.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that there is one correct answer in relation to the question posed in Task A.
Explain that texts can offer us philosophical questions, which ask readers to reflect on their own opinions. Links could be made to the author's note and afterword to deepen understanding.
Teacher tip
Pupils must have read the text in advance of this lesson. Encourage pupils to regularly recommend texts for each other and support discussions around different texts and what they have enjoyed and why.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2020 Faber & Faber edition of When Stars are Scattered’, created by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who are the creators of 'When Stars are Scattered'?
Q2.'When Stars are Scattered' is set in which African country?
Q3.Which character trait is shown in this sentence: Lucas spent his Saturday volunteering at the local animal shelter.
Q4.What is the name of Omar and Hassan's legal guardian at Dadaab Refugee Camp?
Q5.What is the definition of a refugee?
Q6.Match the following types of connections.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
Q2.What does it mean to be fortunate?
Q3.Match the following character names to their relationship to Omar.
Q4.Which of the following connections is the following sentence: 'When Stars are Scattered' made me reflect on refugees who are still in camps or left without any support or help.
Q5.Which of the following are themes that could be identified from the text?
Q6.Refer to the 'Author's note'. True or False? 'When Stars are Scattered' is based on the author's real-life experiences?
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Developing responses to 'When Stars are Scattered' through rich discussions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Developing responses to 'When Stars are Scattered' through rich discussions, 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 'When Stars are Scattered': book club unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.