Pre-reading task Wherever he was he wished he was somewhere else, and when he got there, he wondered why he d bothered. Nothing really interested him least of all the things that should have. It seems to me that almost everything is a waste of time, he remarked. 1. Circle the word which most aptly [spot on] describes the boy s state: disinterested bored board uninterested wishful 2. Imagine you are an Agony Aunt: give this lad some good advice!......... 3. Think of situations where you have felt just like the boy above, when things have not lived up to your expectations and nothing has seemed worth the effort you ve put into it. Describe one:......... 4. When that happens, what do you do to make life more interesting again?......... 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 1 of 11
Chapter 3: Word market synonyms Once you ve read chapter 3 you ll know that a synonym is: Copy each word from the box below next to its synonym in the table! proclamation greetings unabridged exactly ridiculous rebuked market warned showing huge booth chance various crossly wisely curiously gauche state definition scold absurd angrily announcement bazaar cautioned clumsy complete displaying immense interestingly knowledgeably meaning miscellaneous nation opportunity precisely reprimand salutations scolded stall Now look for your answers in the word search! 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 2 of 11
Wordsearch P I M I N R T E R S B C H A N C E J A R C R E B U K E D F I H G T M U C S S O E R I O T M A R K E T G I S V L A T C L S O E N C O W I MO G T R O B E O R O D F S W E R L T Y U S T U I E X A C T L Y D S R E X C A V N U B A S D E R E Y D S E L A I R H J M K X C O A C L T U P I C F Y S E D T X C A V T L O B N Y I M O A I l Y T C I H E S T F I S T D U L N L G N X C F G N C A I O I M D H H D O K G H I S I X A Y U U C T L O Y V A R I O U S T K H A V L Y I L W A R N E D R W I S T I I W O S L X W I O S L X Y C U I R O A O G K X W I S E L Y U M I E X Y A R Y T N N K I O I U S V A R S C E L A N N D E K MX N U G N A B R I D C U R I O U S L Y E V G E D V G A U C H E C H T L X Y D A D I C T I O N O P O L I S D U E X T S U C X R O U I S L T Y U N D M I G C T L G U N A B R I D G E D M A R T C K E B Y H B R I G C M R T H G I N G A C V X R D E When you have found all 20 words, look for the 13 letter name that is left. It is: 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 3 of 11
Answer OHT P C H A N C E C R E B U K E D S R O MA R K E T G C O C R O S L E X A C T L Y D S R A B E D E L I M O T F Y D A O I I I T T N N C I H G I S U O V A R I O U S T H L WA R N E D T I O O A O WI S E L Y U T N I S E N C U R I O U S L Y G A U C H E H D I C T I O N O P O L I S U G U N A B R I D G E D E 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 4 of 11
Chapter 4: Spelling Bee The Spelling Bee has left a trail of words amongst the DIY letters. Find them for him by circling any words you recognise: e.g. lsdvegetableklgidoseatwordsnbapprkfuoswmapplerikls ysgalarmedpejymscrispmbsaqjdpeoplel afwassistancectmyqantpwidlvxiperhaps erkflxklsdassureprtmisapprehensionhf qupeacefulkcxaodspeechaspeakwijnal mbqibjxexcitedlydroxknockingqupuasb frdangerouslyxzinfuriateopsquashedkr yictegpersistentlyvgspfyhvswungljshir Help the Spelling Bee sort these letters into their right order to spell the words correctly: tacwh raonhet douthes linettlec ourhabonle gainys 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 5 of 11
Answer OHT Well done if you ve spotted the words within words, like squashed ysgalarmedpejymscrispmbsaqjdpeoplel afwassistancectmyqantpwidlvxiperhaps erkflxklsdassureprtmisapprehensionhf qupeacefulkcxaodspeechaspeakwijnal mbqibjxexcitedlydroxknockingqupuasb frdangerouslyxzinfuriateopsquashedkr yictegpersistentlyvgspfyhvswungljshir Can you spot any more words? Correct words: watch another shouted intellect honourable saying 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 6 of 11
Chapter 5: There is a play on the homophone witch / which which = choice; witch = (usually old) woman who casts magic spells e.g. I can t decide which costume to wear for the fancydress party: shall I go as a witch or a fairy? Section A : 1) Do you know cup of tea is for me? 2) The lured children into her gingerbread house. 3) It s up to you type of cake you choose, carrot or lemon. the same A homophone is a word with the same as another word, but a different meaning and a different spelling. Can you think of some more homophones? Night / knight ; know /... ; sun /... ; site /. ;... Section B: Now you try 1) Write two sentences using night and then knight, making the meaning of each word clear. 2) Write at least three more sentences using different homophones, making the meanings clear. 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 7 of 11
Chapters 10 & 11 Chroma says his musicians play all the colours and Milo watches them play a glorious sunset. We can use words to create a glorious sunset in a poem. Use the image tree below to conjure up images from which to build your poem. Do you see how the ideas on the bottom row have developed from the images at the top? SUNSET Palette of colours Sun goes to bed Paint brush Stripy blanket... Swirling mix of hues Array of shades Now use your best image ideas to build up your own picture of the sunset make sure you can see the picture in your head. e.g. I see my sun as a sleepy child after a fun day at play, pulling up a brightly striped blanket and settling down for the night. Describe your image and build it up: 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 8 of 11
Chapter 11 Dr KAKOFONOUS A. DISCHORD needs help with an experiment. Circle all the awful noise words for him. 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 9 of 11
Chapter 13 You ll often be hungry for sounds as well as food the Soundkeeper tells Milo, then lists some of the sounds he might want to hear. Write about some of your favourite sounds. The poet John Betjeman said, Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights. What do you think he means? The writer Rudyard Kipling said, Smells are surer than sights and sounds to make the heartstrings crack. Do you agree? What are your favourite smells? 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 10 of 11
Other teaching ideas: Explore the way the writer plays with literal and figurative meaning and the subtle humour that results. In Chapter 5 the Witch introduces us to aphorisms, e.g. Brevity is the soul of wit. Research the meaning and use of other aphorisms. In Chapter 9 Alec talks about people whose legs grow up. Ask the children to draw what such a person would look like, give him/her a name and then give them an adventure! (Written or oral) In Chapter 12 the Soundkeeper shows Milo that laughter looks like a thousand tiny, brightly coloured bubbles. Ask the class to think of some sounds and write them in a font and colour that shows how they sound [try laughter for a start]. 2008 www.teachitprimary.co.uk 10539 Page 11 of 11