Natasha Bowen's ‘Skin of the Sea’: understanding the extract
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can show understanding of Natasha Bowen's 'Skin of the Sea' through comprehension and annotation.
Key learning points
- 'Skin of the Sea' centres around a protagonist called Simidele who is a Mami Wata, in this instance a mermaid.
- As a Mami Wata, Simidele must collect souls of enslaved people who die as they are transported across the Atlantic.
- Natasha Bowen makes use of flashback in the opening chapter to hint at Simidele's life before she became a Mami Wata.
- When annotating a text, you can use a range of symbols and notes to help develop an understanding of the text’s ideas.
Keywords
Mami Wata - a water spirit or deity (god) sacred to West, Central and Southern Africa
Flashback - a transition in a story to an earlier time in the life of one or more characters
Mortal - human
Annotate - to make short notes on, and about, a text
Common misconception
A Mami Wata is always presented as a mermaid who saves the souls of enslaved people.
Mami Wata is a water spirit and has a rich tradition in West, Central and Southern Africa. Bowen has used the deity in her novel and presented her as a mermaid with a specific task, but the goddess is presented in different ways in other art.
Teacher tip
Consider how you will read the extract with your pupils. How much time might this require, and what questions would you like to ask as you read it? Will your pupils require further definitions of key vocabulary?
Equipment
You and your pupils will need a copy of 'Skin of the Sea' by Natasha Bowen, published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The extract from 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') is written in the first person. Match each perspective to its definition.
the narrator is a character in the story using pronouns like 'I'
the narrator speaks directly to the reader using pronouns like 'you'
the narrator isn’t a character in the story using 'he', 'she', 'they'
Q2.The extract from 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') is from a novel. Match each word which helps us understand the form of a novel to its definition.
a short section of a text
the person who wrote the story
the person telling the story
a short description on the back of a book giving an overview
a way of dividing stories into sections
Q3.Match each technique, all important to 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') to its definition.
a transition to a time earlier in the life of one or more characters
when an object is given human characteristics
a method of comparison using the word 'like' or 'as'
a narrative perspective in which the narrator is a character
Q4.The extract from 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') is set in the sea. Match each word, all of which help us understand the setting, to their definition.
a body of water moving in a specific direction
waves created by the sea rather than the wind
the overlapping plates that protect the skin of fish
hard, colourful substance created by some marine life
Q5.The extract from 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') is based on West African mythology and myths. What are myths?
Q6.To means to make short notes on, or about, a text.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The main character in ‘Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') is a who lives underwater.
Q2.What is true of Simidele, the main character in Natasha Bowen's 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')?
Q3.In 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire'), what is Simidele's role as a Mami Wata?
Q4.Match these sentence stems to their endings 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire').
Yemoja transformed her into one.
she was once mortal.
she gathers the souls of enslaved people.
Q5.Starting with the first plot point, put these events from the opening of 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') into chronological order.
Q6.In the opening of 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire'), the main character Simidele doesn't want to be seen by the " " on the ship.
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Natasha Bowen's ‘Skin of the Sea’: understanding the extract, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Natasha Bowen's ‘Skin of the Sea’: understanding the extract, 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 3 English lessons from the Myths, legends and stories that inspire unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.