SKELLIG #1
Written by David Almond
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When you work:
- Use full sentences in every answer
- Check the story carefully for your answers
- Be ready to explain your answers
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Week 1 - 2: Chapters 1 to 15
Front Cover: List all the thing you can see on the front cover. (On the front cover I can see a man or woman stuck in a dome .
Prediction: What do you think this story is going to be about? (I think that this story is going to be about a man or woman that gets double crossed and got locked in a dome.
Chapter 1:
1. What does the narrator discover in the shed? In the shed, the narrator find a boy sitting on a chest of tea bags √
2. What happened to the previous owner of the house? The previous owner he died under the kitchen table. √
Chapter 2:
1. In your reading book, draw a SMALL sketch of the shed and label at least 5 of the things described in this chapter.```````````````````````````````````````````
2. Why wasn’t Michael allowed in the shed? Michael was not allowed in the shed because it was dangerous √
3. Read the last chapter. Why is Michael annoyed at the baby? Michael is annoyed at the baby because he came early and the family is under pressure √
Chapter 3:
1. Why does Michael call the doctor Doctor Death? Michael called him Doctor Death because he was almost dead √
2. What do YOU think that Michael finds in the shed? I think that Michael finds a angel from heaven √
Chapters 4 and 5:
1. What are three things that have now changed in Michael’s life? Three things that have changed in Michael’s life are:
1.he is going to a new school √
2. he is worried about the baby √
3. he saw something he could not explain √ Good thinking
Chapters 6 and 7:
1. The author mentions death several times in these chapters (eg. Page 17: ‘He sighed like he was sick to death of everything’). Why do you think he writes about these things so early in the book?
I think that the author is writing about death because he is close to death √ AHA!
Chapter 8:
1. Why did Michael order ’27 and 53’ from the Chinese takeaway? Michael ordered 27 and 53 because ….so they could give some to the man in the garage √
Chapter 9:
1. What sort of person is Mina (her personality, her looks, her interests) These words describe Mina
Personality she is very personal loves nature interested in birds √
Looks little √
2. What colour is a blackbird? Do some research. A blackbird has these colours yellow red green √
3. What does this tell us about the difference between Michael and Mina?
Miina takes her time to judge the black bird
Michael just says its is a black bird √ Yes, they are very different people.
Chapters 10, 11 and 12:
1. What does Michael now notice about the blackbird? Michael now notices that the blackbird was on the side of the fence AND Read again and correct please.
2. What information do we now learn about the person in the shed in this chapter? In this chapter we learn that he keeps asking questions he may be an angel. √
3. Why is Michael so interested in shoulder blades? Michael is interested in shoulder blades because it is the part that is sticking out √
4. What do other people tell him about shoulder blades? Other people tell Michael that …. that they are just a part of your body Where is your answer? √ Now you have it.
Chapter 13:
1. What does Mina show Michael? Mina shows Michael a house that owls a bunch of birds live in √
2. Why do you think she shows him? Mina shows Michael because he was sad about the baby √ Yes. And because she is trusting him more now.
Chapter 14 and 15:
1. Why are Michael and his dad tidying up the back yard? They are tidying the back yard so they could plant flowers so the house can be pretty so that the mum could have a beautiful house when friends come over X But why? √ Well answered now.
2. What does Mina tell Michael about shoulder blades at the end of the chapter? Mina tells Michael that that they are just a part of the body.
3. How does Mina feel about homeschooling? Mina feels that home school is boring √
4. How does Mina feel about Michael’s school? Mina feels that Michael’s school is boring. X Read again and read what she says, Zach. √ Spot on!
4. Interview two people plus yourself (3 in total) in your reading group about what they think about home school and ‘normal’ school. Use PMI (plus, minus and interesting) and write the responses below.
YOU
Normal school
Plus: Friends
Minus: Running out of things
Interesting: how many teacher you have
Home school
Plus: you have your toys
Minus: no one to play with
Interesting: who is your teacher
PERSON 1
Normal school
Plus: people to play with
Minus: you can get bored and not allowed to play on your phone
Interesting: heaps of teachers
Home school
Plus: You have your school and freedom
Minus: No friend
Interesting: You can text your friends at breaks
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS for Week 1
How would you describe Michael’s family?
What are the reasons for this?
‘Doctor Death’ enters the story throughout these chapters. what reasons do you think the author has for this? Think of foreshadowing and the emotions of the characters.
Where do you think that the person in the shed comes from?
How has he survived over the years?
What do you think is his role in the story?
What do you think will happen to him and why?
The author has repeated several ideas so far and these are very significant to the rest of the story:
- blackbirds and owls
- death
- shoulder blades / wings
- secrets that both Mina and Michael have
Predict how these will guide the rest of the story
EXTRA FOR EXPERTS : Choose one or more (or talk to Mr M about your own idea)
Investigate something in the story (Chat with Mr M if you are not sure about a topic for this).
Create 5 tricky questions about the story so far for others in your group
Create a possible family tree for Skellig (go back at least 4 generations)
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