Reading 'The Twisted Tree': exploring the opening
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can make predictions about a new text and understand how a character is introduced.
Key learning points
- The cover, blurb and dedication of a book can give you important details about the themes.
- The novel is dedicated to Odin, who is a Norse god and an inspiration to poets.
- A protagonist refers to the main character of a story.
- Martha is blind in one eye because of an accident.
- Martha can feel other people’s emotions and thoughts through their clothing.
Keywords
Hubbub - a busy, noisy situation
Patronising - treat in a way that is apparently kind, but shows superiority
Jaunty - lively, cheerful or self-confident manner
Unfurled - spread out something which was rolled up
Disfigured - to spoil the appearance of something
Common misconception
The front cover is just for 'show' and a way to identify a book.
The images and font on a front cover can give you lots of clues about themes and genre.
Teacher tip
When reading the text, try different independent reading strategies. For example, 'control the game'. Select students at random to read, jumping from pupil to pupil after a couple of sentences.
Equipment
You will need access to the text: 'The Twisted Tree' by Rachel Burge, published by Hot Key Books, 2019.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these would you not expect to find on a novel's front cover?
Q2.What is a character?
Q3.What does it mean to predict?
Q4.What is a book's blurb?
Q5.'The Twisted Tree' is a novel. What is a novel?
Q6.What do we mean by 'the writer's intentions'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the name of the main character in 'The Twisted Tree'?
Q2.In Chapter 1 of 'The Twisted Tree', Martha is boarding a plane. Where is she going?
Q3.Exploring the blurb, front cover and dedication of a book can give you clues about the text. This reading skill is called ...
Q4.What is a protagonist?
Q5.'The Twisted Tree' has been described as a thriller, a mystery and horror. This refers to the of the text.
Q6.'The Twisted Tree' is written from Martha's perspective using the pronoun "I". This is an example of ...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Reading 'The Twisted Tree': exploring the opening, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Reading 'The Twisted Tree': exploring the opening, 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 'The Twisted Tree': fiction reading unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.