Chapter 8

1. Chapter 8 Mr Webb Bottom of the garden, Tuesday, 1.15pm. Trying to keep a clear head.

2. Reading • Together we’ll read chapter 7: I’ll begin then we’ll take it in turns to read a paragraph each. • Extension: if you read ahead and finish the chapter before the rest of the class, explain how a narrative hook is used at the end of this chapter and whether you think it is effective. Bear in mind what has just been happening.

3. Tension graph • Pick out key points in the chapter and use them to show how tension is created. • Does the tension stay at the same level or does it drop down? • Make a graph to show 10 points in the chapter and show how the tension increases and decreases. • How does the chapter end? Why might this be?

4. Tension points: Use these events to help you plot your tension graph: • The river is high and fast moving. • Lia and Alex chat about Grandad. • Lia tells Alex that people have to remember the bad stuff in life too. • Alex goes to look for clues in the graveyard. • Mr Webb asks Alex lots of questions that he doesn’t know the answer to. • Mr Webb calls Grandad a murderer and hisses a threat at Alex. • Alex hides in the church and hears someone approaching. • He has a flashback to when he and Nicu are hiding from people wearing “thumping ...heavy boots.” • The church is silent and he starts to read the war memorial. • A voice whispers in his ear, “Come on out now. I know you’re there.”

5. How does the chapter end? Why might this be? • “Come on out now. I know you’re there.”

6. Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Reverend Posselthwaite In church. 4.40 p.m. Divine inspiration. Messed up At home. 5:20 p.m. Chaos revisited.

7. Reading • Together we’ll read chapter 9 and 10: I’ll begin then we’ll take it in turns to read a paragraph each. • Extension: if you read ahead and finish the chapter before the rest of the class, make a chart to compare the descriptions of Revered Posselthwaite’s study (pages 103, 104-105) and Alex’s dad’s office (page 50). How does each place reflect the personality of its occupant?

8. Memory Scrapbook • You should have started to gather information about at least 7 events from your past. • You were asked to write approximately 5 bullet points about each event. • Now we’re going to start putting it all together.

9. Scrapbooks • Some people have brought in scrap books. • Some people can make them using sugar paper. Fold the paper to the right size and we can staple it later or tie it with ribbon/string etc. • Decide how you want to lay out your scrapbook and then start adding information into it.

10. Reading • Chapters 11 & 12 • Then work on Memory scrapbooks

11. Reading • Chapters 13, 14 & 15 • Then work on Memory Scrapbooks

12. Reading • What have we found out about Freda and William from the newspaper article on the microfiche? • What is the significance of the date which is the title of chapter 15? • Read chapter 16 and 17

13. As we read, think about: • Why is the weather warning repeated in this chapter? • How would you feel if a person you’d saved treated you the way Richard (Dad) treats William (Grandad)? • Why doesn’t Grandad tell Dad about his role in the war and how he’d saved him as a baby? Write a complete sentence to answer each of these questions when we finish the chapter.

14. War: For and Against • Make a chart like the one below and fill in reasons in each column:

15. What do you think? • Using ideas from the book and your own opinion, write a paragraph to explain whether you think that going to war is a good idea. • Try and consider the opposite point of view too. • You could use these sentence starters if you want: In my opinion, war is... I can understand why some people think ...., however, it is clear that...

16. If there’s time: • We’ll read chapter 17...