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TRANSCRIPT
This reading log belongs to:
Everything seemed to have been going wrong for Michael and his family since they moved into their new house: his baby sister had been taken ill, the house is a mess and his parents are tired and worried. Then Michael makes a discovery in the crumbling garage at the end of their garden. Propped up against the wall, covered in spiders’ webs and dead flies, the creature seems to be alive. What or who it is, Michael doe not know, but he knows he must save it. With the help of his friend Mina, they carry the creature out into the light and then the magic begins…
Initial predictions. Plot: Character(s): Ending:
Chapter 1 – Why do you think the first chapter starts with the immediate
discovery of ‘him’?
Chapter 2 – Draw your idea of the inside of ‘the garage’. Make sure you
pay attention to the description at the start of this chapter.
Chapter 3 – List seven verbs you can find in this chapter. Try to use the
most interesting or exciting.
Chapter 4 – Put together a short prayer (at least four lines long) that you
could say for a very sick baby.
Chapter 5 – Why do you think Michael didn’t tell anyone about what he
had seen?
Chapter 6 – This chapter includes a simile. ‘It was as hard as stone.’ which is used to make sure the reader can understand just how hard the bird is. You try to create similes of your own that will paint a picture in your readers mind: As soft as… As cold as… As black as… As tall as…
As sharp as…
Chapter 7 – Can you predict what ‘27 and 53’ might be?
Chapter 8 – This chapter mentions dad being fat. See how many synonyms you can list for the word fat. Now see how many you can come up with for small.
Chapter 9 – The book describes Mina’s eyes as ones that “you think can see right through you.” Draw your idea of what they might look like.
Chapter 10 – Michael has a very weird dream at the beginning of this chapter. Why do you think he had such an odd dream? What could the dream be trying to tell him?
Chapter 11 – Why do you think Michael chose to tell the man on the bus about the thing in his garage?
Chapter 12 – This chapter talks about angels. Draw your idea of how a modern day angel might look.
If you could have one wish for an angel to help come true, what would it be?
r Chapter 13 – Use your imagination and the description in this chapter to draw your impression of Mina’s secret attic.
Chapter 14 – Do you think this is a valid reason not to go to school? Give three reasons why Michael should have stayed at home and three for why he should have gone to school. School Home 1 1 2 2 3 3
Chapter 15 – What do you think Mina’s family motto means? “How can a bird that is born for joy/Sit in a case and sing?”
Chapter 16 – Try to predict what ‘he’ is and how ‘he’ ended up living in the garage of Michael’s new home.
Chapter 17 – Mina gives a very good argument against going to school. Use this space to write a detailed letter to the head teacher arguing that you should be able to learn from home. Make sure you use at least three strong reasons and back them up with evidence or facts (even if you make them up). Dear Head Teacher,
Chapter 18 – The paragraph in the middle of page 53 is very descriptive. Use this and your imagination to draw your idea of the hospital ward.
Chapter 19 – If you could create something from clay, what would it be? Draw a picture of it and write a brief description. Remember to use lots of adjectives to describe the size, shape and colour.
Chapter 20 – Imagine you are Mina and you have just seen ‘him’ for the first time. Write a diary entry to explain what you think you have seen. Dear diary,
Chapter 21 – Mina and Michael are using an owl hoot to signal each other. What secret call would you use?
Chapter 22 – The DANGER sign on the house is painted in red. Why do you think this is? Draw some other signs you might paint in the same colour?
Chapter 23 – This chapter talks about what should and shouldn’t be taught in schools. In the spaces below write 5 things you love to do at school and 5 you really don’t like: Like Don’t Like 1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
If you were designing an English lesson what sorts of tasks would you include?
Chapter 24 – This chapter reveals a little more about who/what Skellig is. Use your fabulous prediction skills to write a paragraph about how he might have got into Michael’s garage in the first place.
Chapter 25 – Imagine you are Michael and have decided to raise money for the hospital that has been looking after your baby sister. Design a poster to advertise your charitable event (be creative with your ideas).
Chapter 26 – If Mina’s suggestions are correct what kind of evolving creatures might we see around the planet? Use the space below to draw and label your idea of an unusual but fully adapted animal for their environment.
Chapter 27 – This chapter contains lots of descriptive verbs (eg. sniggered). What is the job of a verb? Find as many interesting verbs as you can and list them in the space below...at least 12.
Chapter 28 – There is a lot of dialogue in this chapter. Using your knowledge of play scripts...change the conversations on page 84 into a short play (remember the stage directions).
Chapter 28 continued...
Chapter 29 – There is an example of a rhyming couplet in this chapter. Write at least three rhyming couplets of your own...use the topic of school or teachers.
Chapter 30 – This is a very descriptive chapter which includes lots of great imagery. Choose a sentence/paragraph which creates a picture in your mind and write it below....................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Now draw the image it creates in your mind.
Chapter 31 – Find 7 powerful verbs from this chapter. Next to each powerful verb write a more boring version that would not be as exciting to use. There is one example done for you.
1 blundered – walked 5
2 6
3 7
4 8
Chapter 32 – Michael tells a lie to most of the people he cares about, in this chapter. Why do you think he does this? Do you think this lie was a good idea?
Is it ever acceptable to tell a lie?
Chapter 33 – Michael’s story, in this chapter, seems to be based on his experiences with Mina and Skellig. Lots of authors use their own lives as a starting point when writing stories. Write one paragraph about something that has happened in your life, which could be the idea for a story.
Chapter 33 continued…
Chapter 34 – This chapter mentions that Skellig might be going away. Where do you think he might be going?
Chapter 35 – On page 107 there is a poem with the rhyme scheme ABAB. Write your own 6 line poem, in the same structure, about what or who you think Skellig might be.
Chapter 36 – This chapter talks about the kinds of dreams the fledglings (young birds) might have. Use the thought bubble below to draw your idea of a dream that a pet dog, cat, hamster or goldfish might have.
Chapter 37 – The characters use some inappropriate language in this chapter. Why do you think the author chooses this point for them to swear? Think about what emotions might tempt you to swear.
Chapter 38 – Use the space below to illustrate your ideas of the Persephone myth mentioned in this chapter.
Winter Spring
Chapter 39 – Use your imagination to come up with a different explanation of why Michael can’t feel the second heartbeat anymore. What could have happened, if the baby hasn’t died?
Chapter 40 – Why do you think the author ends this chapter with dad saying, “It’s over, son.”?
What is the author trying to make the reader think/feel?
Chapter 41 – Everyone in the family is struggling to find an appropriate name for the baby. Can you help? Suggest a name for Michael’s sister and your reason for choosing that name. Name: Reason:
Chapter42 – On page 131 Michael asks Skellig what he is. Skellig’s reply is not clear, “Something like you, something like a beast, something like a bird, something like an angel.”
Try to unravel this kind of riddle and draw your idea of what Skellig is, on the back of this sheet.
Chapter 43 – Michael seems like a new boy in this chapter. Leakey says Michael has, “been miles and miles away.” He hasn’t really been far away, so what is the author trying to tell the reader about the way Michael has been acting?
Chapter 44 – This chapter suggests that someone else might find Skellig once he leaves Michael and Mina. Write a brief plan for the next book. Include ideas about characters, setting, plot and ending.
Chapter 45 – We don’t learn a lot about how Michael is feeling when the garage is destroyed. How do you think he will be feeling? Draw a picture of Michael to represent his emotions.
Chapter 46 – Now you have completed the book, work with your teacher to write a review.
Chapter 33 continued…
Chapter 50 – Use the space below to consider what might have
happened for one of the other Tent D boys after they gained their
freedom.
