Exploring characters’ emotions
I can describe key events in Chapters 35, 36 and 37 and I can explain how the author’s descriptions and language choices help to show characters’ changing emotions.
Exploring characters’ emotions
I can describe key events in Chapters 35, 36 and 37 and I can explain how the author’s descriptions and language choices help to show characters’ changing emotions.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In this section of the book, Joseph learns from Mrs F that his father has died in the war.
- Joseph goes through a range of emotions, including denial, anger and guilt.
- The author uses descriptions of Joseph's actions, speech and thoughts to depict these emotions.
- The author also makes specific language choices to enhance certain emotions.
- We make inferences about emotions based on evidence within the text.
Keywords
Emotions - strong feelings that result from a person's circumstances, mood or relationships with others
Infer - draw a conclusion from information and evidence in a text
Evidence - information or facts to show something is true
Language choices - particular words or phrases used by the author to convey a certain image or feeling
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle to see the evidence on which they have based their inferences about characters' emotions.
We automatically infer as we read; encourage pupils to look back and think, 'What made you think that? What clues did the author give us?'.
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Exploring characters’ emotions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Exploring characters’ emotions, 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 the Sky Falls': reading unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2021 Andersen Press edition of ‘When the Sky Falls’ written by Phil Earle for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
happiness
taken in
short message
non-stop
something that makes you really weak
attempt to comfort someone
slight shaking
moving slowly