Blue Guided Reading Group!
I will be posting questions for you to discuss about your reading books. I would also like you to ask each other questions about what you have been reading as well! Talking about the books we read can be very enjoyable, and it helps us to be story detectives too! Our friends sometimes spot things that we don't when we are reading.
Happy posting!
Mrs Messa
Marley and me:
ReplyDeleteRead the preface and the first three chapters.
What is the purpose of the preface?
Look at the description of Saint Shaun, the 'perfect dog'. How does this set up the following story?
Activity 1:
'Marley strolled like a runaway locomotive strolls' (Page 30)
This simile gives you an idea of how Marley moved. Can you think up any other similes which describe Marley at this stage in his life?
Activity 2:
Write a brief diary entry from Marley's point of view about his first evening with his new owner: leaving his home and family, being in a new place, being left alone at night etc.
The preface is the introduction of the book or a message from the author.
ReplyDeleteIn the first few pages of the preface, it tells you how `Saint Shaun` is really well behaved, maybe even the most well behaved dog EVER. But then it tells you about his curse: Nobody knew who is parents were and since his breeding was unknown, he was one of the Ten thousand unwanted dogs in America. But that makes me think, I his parents and breeding is unknown, shouldn't he be more wanted than
other dogs? I mean, his breeding could be rare, and maybe unknown because the breeding is too rare, and his parents might have been killed by people that wanted them so much. Hmm I might think about that later, anybody else have an idea?
(Back to the story:) Though he became wanted, by the main character in this book, and he was perfect, to him, better than any dog.
Though, with this description, I can sort of tell that something will go wrong. A perfect dog wont be with you forever. In stories, (Most of them) If you have a perfect animal or something like that, near the end or in the middle of the story something will go wrong, something will go wrong with the perfect piece of their life. So it must be sad soon in the story and the story mus be about dogs, obviously. I don`t know so far, something will go wrong
Hmm, I can`t really think of any similes to describe him. But maybe you could say:
Marley swayed his tail like a elephant but pounced like a cheetah?
The Diary entry could go something like this:
Dear Dog Diary,
I have a new owner, which means I left my home, I felt so sad and I cannot describe it. The new place I have gone into feels lonely and maybe too quite.
The thing I love best about my new house would be the bathroom, for I love playing with the tissue paper. At night my owner put me in a box and left me in the dark room, lights shut until he came back and put the lights on and shut the door. I barked for my family, and funnily enough, I barked for my new owner and his love.
When he finally came back for me I was pleasured, but I thought he would come in my box. Instead he picked me and the box up and put me in his room. There I knew I could sleep peacefully. Did I mention Jenny? Oh, my bad. She is his wife and she is so kind to me, though she sometimes does smack me for doing my business inside:)
Doglove, Marley:D xoxoxoxox
Initial thoughts ...
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of the preface in Marley and me is to let you know about the history of the story to date before the real story begins.
Describing Saint Shaun as the perfect dog makes me wonder if Saint Shaun will lose his Sainthood! The questions that I would ask as a reader are 'What will Saint Shaun do that is not perfect? and 'Who will be effected by his actions?'
(I will continue the other activities on another day.)
Similies
ReplyDeleteMarley was tall like Big Ben.
He was brave like a courageous lion.
He was tough like a powerful, full grown baboon.
He was as active like Usain Bolt.
He was clumsy like children shooting around like fireworks in a playground.
Diary Entry
Dear Diary,
Today, I left my old home, and went with a new owner, who seems very kind. When I went in his car, I felt very eager, because I was to have a new family, a new life and a new home.
As night came, I was placed in a very large room. I felt scared when my new owner left me. I sobbed so much because I missed my family.
The purpose of a preface is to give you a hint and a peak of what has happened in the story
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of the preface is to give a small introduction that what will happen in the whole entire story.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of the preface is to give a hint of whats going later on in the book .
ReplyDeleteHello Blue Group!
ReplyDeleteI was very pleased by the feedback you gave me about Marley; it was a book I enjoyed too! Though I thought the ending was a little too sad for my liking... Thank goodness for Lucky!
While we continue to rehearse for our brilliant play, I would like you to continue to read Kensuke's Kingdon, and start to complet the following activities. You can do them at your own pace, and if you would prefer to, you can respond on paper and bring that in to show me.
Kensuke's Kingdom is one of my favourite Michael Morpurgo books: it's definitely not as sad as some of the others - I know you have told me that can put you off!
See below for the activities, and happy reading!
Mrs Messa
Oops!
DeleteKingdom, Kingdom, Kingdom
complete, complete, complete
Let me know if my spellings are wrong - I have hit all the wrong keys this morning!
On the second paragraph you spelt kingdom like ' kingdon ' and complete like ' complet ' .
DeleteActivity 1:
ReplyDeleteImagine you are on a sailing trip round the world like Michael. You have just docked in a port after your first week and you promised your friends you would keep a blog. Write your first entry in your blog. You might want to think of a title for your blog.
Think about how you are feeling. This can add greater depth to such an entry.
Activity 2:
ReplyDeleteRead the blurb again.
"I heard the wind above me in the sails. I remember thinking, this is silly, you haven’t got your safety harness on, you haven’t got your lifejacket on. You shouldn’t be doing this. . . I was in the cold of the sea before I could even open my mouth to scream."
Washed up on an island in the Pacific , Michael struggles to survive on his own.
With no food and no water, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone . . .
1) What is a blurb?
2) Why do books have a blurb?
3) In your opinion, what makes a good blurb? Can you think of three things which make a good blurb?
Activity 3:
ReplyDeleteQuick Comprehension: you need to find and record the bit in the text which answers the following questions. Remember to answer in full sentences!
1) Does Michael have a brother or sister?
2) Why did Michael and his family set off on the Peggy Sue?
3) How did Michael end up on the island?
4) Use three adjectives (in sentences) to describe how he might have felt as he woke to find himself on the island.
Activity 4:
ReplyDeleteQuick Comprehension 2:
1) Why do you think the old man was upset to find Michael on his island?
2) What did the old man call Michael?
3) Where was the old man from?
4) Would you like to live on an island like Kensuke? Give reasons for your answers.
Activity 5:
ReplyDeleteDictionary work!
Michael Morpurgo uses some descriptive vocabulary to make his books as vivid and imaginable as possible.
Look at the following words and guess what they could mean (if you don't already know.)
Look them up in the dictionary, and then see if you can use them in your own sentence.
reproached (P139)
enunciated (P120)
diminutive (P71)
apprehensive (P53)
Some of these pages are quite a way through the book, so you will need to have read up to these pages to avoid spoilers!
Activity 6:
ReplyDeleteFor and Against.
Michael and his family leave a lot behind when they set off on their voyage. How would you feel if you were in his position?
Write a list of reasons for going away. These are the reasons why you would like to go.
Write a list of reasons against going away. These are the reasons why you would not want to go.
What is your conclusion? Would you like to do something like this or not?
Sofia’s exotic journey.
ReplyDeleteI have just arrived at Vieux Port (The old port of Marseille) and this is the first opportunity I have had to begin my blog to all my dear friends. My journey started in Southport, where I boarded the Peggy Sue (a boat big enough for me, Amelia, Mummy and Daddy). I was feeling enthusiastic during the trip to France. I felt this sentimental feeling as I boarded the boat, seeing as I had never gained this possibility of travel anytime earlier in my short life.
Mummy and Daddy both took turns to steer, the steering was on automatic mode, so it’s lighter to steer. They also tutored me; Mummy taught me topics on animals and literacy; Daddy taught me geography and maths, considering we were travelling the world! I felt overjoyed that I didn’t have to walk to and from school because that tired my legs out.
In my spare time, I’d take the binoculars off Daddy and try to find a sea creature. After three hours of starring out into the mid open sea, I saw a flying fish. I felt overwhelmed at this sight, because I’d never come across this view before. The fish was clean, sea blue and fairylike. Added to this, the fish had silky white wings. I sometimes just stare out into the sea, waiting for something to happen. Subsequently, I feel relaxed at this point, like the waves calmly pushing through the water. The weather is a little chilly from Southport to Vieux Port, but I keep warm wearing my woolly, comfortable and cosy brown hat that you kindly bought for me as a leaving present.
Activity 2
ReplyDelete1) A blurb can tell you an extract from the story. The extract contained in the blurb is usually the most dramatic paragraph from the story. A blurb can also be a few lines that tell you about the content of the story so the reader is excited about wanting to read the book.
2) Books have a blurb so you can get an idea of the story line, without opening the book. This allows the reader to decide whether they will select that book to read or if it will be interesting.
3) In my opinion, a good blurb is made up of descriptive extracts, suspense to the story and a cliff hanger to ensure the reader wants to pick that book and be excited about reading it.
Activity 3
ReplyDelete1) Michael does not have a brother or sister up to the age of nearly eleven as it states on page 2 the following:
‘There were the four of us in the house: my mother, my father, me and Stella – Stella Artois, that is, my-one-ear up and one-ear-down black and white sheep dog.’
2) Michael and his family set off on the Peggy Sue, because Michael’s father had lost his job and had dreamt of a worldwide trip sooner or later. The evidence is stated on page 9 as follows:
‘It wasn’t a spur of the moment thing, you know. I’ve been thinking about it a long time, all those years working in the factory. All right, maybe I was just dreaming about it in those days. Funny when you think about it: if I hadn’t lost my job, I’d never have dared to do it, not in a million years.’
3) Michael ended up on the island by not having a safety harness on and the boat tipping therefore leading Michael to fall into the sea and drift onto the island shore. This information is stated on page 43:
‘I heard the wind above me in the sails. I remember thinking: this is silly, you haven’t got your safety harness on, you haven’t got your life jacket on, you shouldn’t be doing this. Then the boat veered violently and I was thrown sideways. With my arms full I had no time to grab the guard rail. We were in the middle of the cold sea before I could even open my mouth to scream.’
4) The 3 adjectives to describe how Michael felt when he woke up on the island in a sentence are;
He must have felt very tense, alarmed and abandoned appearing on an island with no one to talk to except for his dog.
A sea voyage from Union's quay to Meleda's port
ReplyDeleteOn Monday the 27th of October, I and my family just arrived at the port of Unions Quay. The captain prepared the sailing vessel - Peggy Sue, then we got ready to set sail onto the Pacific ocean. I was feeling incredibly excited about the voyage.
The chief of the sailing boat was steering on automatic mode. As we floated over the seas, I glimpsed an immense creature swimming through the waves. It smelt like foul anchovies; it looked like a crab with gigantic claws; spidery legs and a hard exterior.
When I stared at it, I gasped with amazement! I tried hard to reel it up with the fishing hook, but unfortunately it was so heavy that I accidentally dropped it. Although, I wasn't able to catch it, I still tried my very best (It did make me feel disappointed).
Meanwhile, my mum was on the lookout for lighthouses because we might get lost in the middle of a stormy night. Furthermore, that would have been an absolute catastrophe.
After a couple of days, in the afternoon, I started to shiver, because the temperature was decreasing. My mum gave me a warm cosy jumper to wear and a cup of hot-chocolate. I was continuously sneezing and coughing, it was like having a deadly disease!
I heard seagulls cackling above the horizon, that was a signal to show that we were approaching land. The dark grey clouds burst, and it rained cats and dogs. I felt safe and secure, because we were arriving onto the shore of Meleda's port.
1) What is a blurb?
ReplyDeleteA blurb is a brief paragraph to give a peek about what will happen in the story. Furthermore, it tries to interest the reader.
2) Why do books have a blurb?
Books have blurbs to stimulate interest of the readers and encourage them to read it. Moreover, it gives information of the book.
3) In your opinion, what makes a good blurb? Can you think of three things which make a good blurb?
a) Make it eye-catching
b) Encourage the reader to read it
c) Good information
Activity 3
ReplyDeleteMichael does not have a brother or a sister. ( Evidence on page 2 ).
"There were four of us in the house: my mother, my father, me and Stella- Stella Artois."
2.The family set off on the Peggy Sue, because Michael lost his job, and it was his dream to go on a sailing trip around the world. ( Evidence on page 9).
"I've been thinking about it a long time, all those years working in a factory. All right, maybe I was just dreaming about it in those days. Funny when you think about it: if I hadn't lost my job, I'd never have dared to do it, not in a million years. He knew he wasn't making much sense. . . sail around the world?"
3. Michael ended up on an island wearing no safety harness on, ( life jacket ).
4. When Michael was washed up on the shore of a small island, he must have felt lonely until he saw Stella Artois, furthermore, he felt alarmed and scared, because he is lost on a small sandy island
3. The Peggy Sue veered violently, and Michael was thrown into the sea. He clung onto his football. But then, he saw a boat and someone rescue him. When he was awake, he realised he was on a sandy shore.
ReplyDeleteEDITED VERSION
Activity 4
ReplyDelete1. The old man was upset to find Michael, because it was his island and he didn't want Michael to light a fire again.
2. The old man calls Michael, "dameda."
3.The old man is from Nagasaki, Japan.
4. I would never like to live on an island, because if I did, I will feel terribly lonely. Feel like a orphan and miss my family.
Activity 4
ReplyDelete1)The old man was upset to find Michael on his island because evidence from the story shows that he’d never had contact with a human.
‘Often in the mornings I would see him spear-fishing in the shallows, sometimes alone, but often accompanied by a group of orang'utans.’
The story also shows that he was upset because he thought the fire Michael had made would ruin his Island, so he put this out:
‘When I next looked back, the fire was not smoking at all. It had been completely smothered, and the old man was nowhere to be seen.’
2)The old man called Michael ‘Dameda.’ This information is on page 70:
‘I could see at once that he was very agitated, his chin trembling, his heavily hooded eyes accusing and angry. “Dameda! Dameda”, he screeched at me.’
3)The old man was from Japan, as it says on page 114:
‘So football you like. When I little, I play football too. Very happy time, long ago now, in Japan, in my home.’
4)I wouldn’t like to live on an island like Kensuke, because I would get mosquito bites, sunburnt and not have a home to live in.
If I was bitten by a mosquito it could make me ill causing Maleria. I would despise the idea of being sunburnt, because I would feel stiff, sore and terribly sick. I would hate the thought of not having a home to sleep in, because I wouldn’t be comfortable and have no access to my velvety, smooth and silky bed.
Activity 5
ReplyDeletereproached
Amelia,the girl dressed in a frilly pink dress, was reproached by Sofia for kicking her under the table, with her shiny black patent shoes.
enunciated
Mrs Messa, the kind enthusiastic and helpful teacher, enunciated ‘inconvenience’ clearly so all the children were able to say the word.
diminutive
I saw an ant that was as diminutive as a crumb.
apprehensive
The girl, with the jet black hair, was lost in a deep dark forest thus she felt apprehensive about what she would see.
Activity 6
ReplyDeleteThis is the last morning I lay in my bed, before I leave for my voyage around the world, feeling petriffied, confused and depressed. Worried, I leave my snug intimate home, leave Julie, my pure white cat, and leave a thrilled school and my sympathetic, delightful friends for a year. Luckily, I get to have a jouney and explore the world.
Furthermore other reasons for going away on a trip around the world are; seeing fabulous landmarks; eating fresh food and talking to a range of different people .
I’m curious to see wonderful landmarks, because they’re exotic, tremendous and are brilliant sights to light up my face. Along with the sights I’d like to eat fresh foods ,as my taste buds would taste a new texture and get use to different types of food. I’d like to meet new people, since they might be as cheerful as my school friends.
However reasons against going on a voyage are; missing my school; friends, plus the rest of my family. I won’t be attending a school on my voyage so my learning will suffer. Not seeing my friends will make me lonely. Another reason for feeling lonely is not seeing my extended family…they will feel miserable because I have never been away for such a long period of time.
Overall I would travel around the world since it is only one year (365 days) and I would discover new things and my learning will be expanded by my experiences. On my return my friends, family and school will still be there and I will have seen, eaten and met new things in my life.
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Character Description
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter is a Hogwarts student, who has accomplished lots in only two years. He wears large, circled and thick glasses and has brown, wavy locks with twinkling, sky blue eyes. The wizard has a scar on his forehead, which appeared when the evil wizard, Voldemort, struck Harry with his powers. Harry has courage, dignity and is as fearless as a tiger.