“Skellig” by David Almond

1. “Skellig” by David Almond

2. Aims of this unit • By the end of this unit, I will have; • Experienced and enjoyed a novel and range of texts of other genre • Show my new understanding of how writers use language creatively in different ways • Practised using sources of information for different purposes

3. How does the picture hook the reader?

4. How does the picture hook the reader?

5. How does the picture hook the reader?

6. How does the picture hook the reader?

7. How does the picture hook the reader?

8. Which one does the best job of hooking the reader?

9. How does the narrative hook the reader? • We are now going to read the opening of Skellig • With a partner, find the 6 best ways you think Almond hooks the reader • Next, discuss these with another pair and decide on the 3 best hooks. • Using the paper and scissors, design 3 big hooks to write on • Copy these onto your hooks, with the quote on one side and your analysis on the other.

10. Chapter 2: Nouns, Adjectives and Verbs • Being a good writer is about being in command of language • The next few lessons will aim to improve your knowledge of how writer’s use language to achieve a particular effect.

11. Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs • Nouns: • Naming things – horse, man, school, garage • If you can draw it, it is a noun! • Adjectives: • Describe nouns – brown horse, tall man, noisy school, old garage • Verbs: • Doing words – The horse is running, the man is swimming, the school is starting, the garage is closing

12. Setting the Scene Worksheet • With your partner, follow the instructions on the worksheet. • 5 adjective • 5 nouns • 5 verbs • The draw the garage, labelling the picture with phrases from the novel passage.

13. The timbers holding the roof were rotten and the roof was sagging in. The bits of floor that you could see between the rubbish were full of cracks and holes. The people that took the rubbish out of the house were supposed to take it out of the garage as well, but they took one look at the place and said they wouldn’t go in it even for danger money. The were old chests of drawers and broken wash-basins and bags of cement, ancient doors leaning against the walls, deck chairs with cloth seats rotted away. Great rolls of rope and cable hung from nails. Heaps of water pipes and great boxes of rusty nails were scattered on the floor. Everything was covered in dust and spiders’ webs. There was mortar that had fallen from the walls. There was a little window in one of the walls but it was filthy and there were rolls of cracked lino standing in front of it. The place stank of rot and dust. Even the bricks were crumbling like they couldn’t bear the weight any more. It was like the whole thing was sick of itself and would collapse in a head and have to get bulldozed away.

14. The timbers holding the roof were rotten and the roof was sagging in. The bits of floor that you could see between the rubbish were full of cracks and holes. The people that took the rubbish out of the house were supposed to take it out of the garage as well, but they took one look at the place and said they wouldn’t go in it even for danger money. The were old chests of drawers and broken wash-basins and bags of cement, ancient doors leaning against the walls, deck chairs with cloth seats rotted away. Great rolls of rope and cable hung from nails. Heaps of water pipes and great boxes of rusty nails were scattered on the floor. Everything was covered in dust and spiders’ webs. There was mortar that had fallen from the walls. There was a little window in one of the walls but it was filthy and there were rolls of cracked lino standing in front of it. The place stank of rot and dust. Even the bricks were crumbling like they couldn’t bear the weight any more. It was like the whole thing was sick of itself and would collapse in a heap and have to get bulldozed away.

15. The timbers holding the roof were rotten and the roof was sagging in. The bits of floor that you could see between the rubbish were full of cracks and holes. The people that took the rubbish out of the house were supposed to take it out of the garage as well, but they took one look at the place and said they wouldn’t go in it even for danger money. There were oldchests of drawers and brokenwash-basins and bags of cement, ancientdoors leaning against the walls, deck chairs with cloth seats rotted away. Great rolls of rope and cable hung from nails. Heaps of water pipes and greatboxes of rusty nails were scattered on the floor. Everything was covered in dust and spiders’ webs. There was mortar that had fallen from the walls. There was a littlewindow in one of the walls but it was filthy and there were rolls of crackedlino standing in front of it. The place stank of rot and dust. Even the bricks were crumbling like they couldn’t bear the weight any more. It was like the wholething was sick of itself and would collapse in a heap and have to get bulldozed away.

16. The timbersholding the roof were rotten and the roof was sagging in. The bits of floor that you could see between the rubbish were full of cracks and holes. The people that took the rubbish out of the house were supposed to take it out of the garage as well, but they took one look at the place and said they wouldn’t go in it even for danger money. There were oldchests of drawers and brokenwash-basins and bags of cement, ancientdoorsleaning against the walls, deck chairs with cloth seatsrotted away. Great rolls of rope and cablehung from nails. Heaps of water pipes and greatboxes of rustynails were scattered on the floor. Everything was covered in dust and spiders’ webs. There was mortar that had fallen from the walls. There was a littlewindow in one of the walls but it was filthy and there were rolls of crackedlinostanding in front of it. The placestank of rot and dust. Even the bricks were crumbling like they couldn’t bear the weight any more. It was like the wholething was sick of itself and would collapse in a heap and have to get bulldozed away.

17. The Big Bird Quiz • How many birds can you name? • Homework: • Due Monday 12th Sept • Choose a bird (any kind) • Research it and prepare to give a 60 second talk • Could include pictures, habitat, funky facts etc

18. The Man in the Garage • Read to the end of chapter 10 • What have we learned about: • His appearance • His behaviour • His relationship with Michael (eg what does he want from Michael, what does Michael want from him, etc)

19. The Man in the Garage (2) • This time we will be focussing on the language • …the red sauce below his lips was like delicious strawberry jam. When he opened his eyes again, I saw the tiny red veins like red bootlace sweets... • Why does the writer choose “congealed blood” and “a dark net”? How do they add to the atmosphere around the man in the garage?

20. The Joy of School!! How do you feel about school?

21. School and Me

22. “The Schoolboy” by William Blake • Read “The Schoolboy” • What is the theme of the poem? (ie what is the big idea?) • 5 lines, ABABB • Your turn! • Write a poem that explores your feelings about school • 2 verses, ABABB

23. Final Outcomes for Skellig • Choose from: • Book review • Personal writing about a time of sadness in your life • Report on the advantages and disadvantages of school • Creative writing about finding something magical in garden.

24. Success Criteria • 250 word minimum • Technical accuracy; • Spelling • Punctuation • grammar