Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you doing today? Hope you're feeling good.

My name's Ms. Afzal.

I'm feeling good as well.

Today we are going to be looking at "Arthur and the Golden Rope" and comprehension of this text, so I'm feeling quite excited about that.

I hope you are too.

Shall we get started? The outcome for today's lesson is I can infer meaning from "Arthur and the Golden Rope." We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them, my turn, your turn.

Inference.

Evidence.

Character traits.

Role on the wall.

Motives.

Great to hear those keywords.

Let's find out what they mean.

Inference means to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions.

Evidence is the information from a text that can support or justify our reasoning.

Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.

Role on the wall is a character analysis activity which encourages readers to infer.

Motives refer to a person's reasons for doing something.

Let's look out for these keywords.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

So our lesson has two parts to it, Developing comprehension of "Arthur and the Golden Rope" through rich discussion.

First of all, there's using inference to draw conclusions, and next, role on the wall.

Let's begin with using inference to draw conclusions.

So what do we know about the text so far? A monstrous wolf, Fenrir, has put out the great fire in Arthur's town.

Without it, the villagers will freeze.

A hero must travel across the sea to the land of the Viking gods.

Everyone had been injured by the wolf, except one.

Arthur set off on a long journey.

Finally, he reached the great hall and met Thor, god of thunder.

Thor told Arthur what he must do.

Arthur is instructed to collect two rare items: the sound of a cat's footfall and the roots of a mountain.

After successfully capturing the sound of a cat's footfall, Arthur begins researching the second of the rare items. He discovers where he must go.

Let's hear Joe read pages 34 to 37 up until "began the climb," and you can follow along in your text.

(gentle music) <v ->"For his second challenge,</v> Arthur was truly stumped.

He had heard of a huge library within the gods' hall.

Perhaps he could find something useful there? He searched for an entire day and night, but found nothing.

It was only when reading the last book from the very last shelf that an ancient piece of parchment fell out.

It was an old map of the Norse world.

It showed the realms of the gods, the humans, and the giants, and connecting them all was a great tree.

'The huge, mountainous World Tree,' Arthur thought to himself.

That was it, the World Tree was the mountain with roots! It looked much bigger in real life, but with no time to waste, and legs as sturdy as two cooked noodles, Arthur began to climb." <v ->Okay, great to hear Joe.

</v> And now I'd like you to discuss, what character traits does Arthur show on his approach to his next task? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Arthur is determined as he has no time to waste.

However, his legs are described as sturdy as two cooked noodles.

This might mean that he is nervous or apprehensive, because noodles are usually quite soft and not particularly strong once they are cooked.

Arthur climbs up the World Tree in search of the roots of a mountain.

Look at the double page spread on pages 38 and 39.

These pages are wordless.

And I'd like you to discuss, what does this double page spread tell you about Arthur? Are his actions those of a hero? Pause the video while you take a look at this double page spread and share your answers to the questions with someone nearby.

So what did you come up with, I wonder? Maybe something like this? By climbing the World Tree, Arthur shows bravery.

He is climbing independently and climbs past the clouds.

He is determined to help his town and put himself in danger to reach for the root.

I think his actions are heroic.

Yeah, absolutely.

Bravery, heroism, all of these would describe Arthur at this point in the story.

And did you spot some earlier signs of Arthur's rescuer, I wonder? Which heroic character traits has Arthur shown in the text so far? Bravery, climbing the World Tree, facing a fear.

Scared, running away from the colossal cat.

Nervous, looking up at the mountainous World Tree.

Determination, voyaging across the sea independently.

Pause the video while you decide which heroic character traits Arthur has shown in the text so far.

Well done if you selected bravery for climbing the World Tree and determination for voyaging across the sea independently.

With some familiar support, Arthur returns to Thor.

And now let's hear Joe read pages 40 to 41 up until "through the air," and you can follow along in your text.

(gentle music) <v ->"Just as Arthur thought he was in the greatest peril,</v> Wind Weaver swooped down and caught him in her talons.

She carried Arthur all the way back to the gods' hall, where he triumphantly handed both glass jars to Thor.

Odin, the father of the gods, appeared and emptied the jars into a giant cauldron.

With a sudden flash of light, a huge golden rope began to rise, winding its way up through the air." <v ->And now I would like you to discuss,</v> what do you predict will happen next? Pause the video and share your prediction with someone nearby.

I wonder if you came up with something like this.

Arthur and Thor will try to track the beast and stop it from causing more destruction.

I think that Odin will give the rope to Arthur to use to harness Fenrir, the wolf.

Interesting ideas.

Thank you for sharing.

And now I'd like you to match the character to the action that they performed in the text.

So we have the Wind Weaver, Odin, and Thor.

And actions performed, crafts the golden rope, instructs Arthur to collect two rare items, swoops down and catches Arthur in her talons.

Pause the video while you match the character to the action that they performed in the text.

Did you match the Wind Weaver to swooping down and catching Arthur in her talons? Odin crafts the golden rope, and Thor instructs Arthur to collect two rare items. Well done if you made these connections.

Inference means to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions.

It's like being a detective and figuring out something that isn't directly said in a story by using clues and what you already know.

Inferring meaning can help us to build our understanding of the story.

It can help us discover the hidden messages that the author has planted and answer our own questions that we have about the text.

We can look for clues in the words used by the author, in the illustrations created by the illustrator.

Amazingly, in this text, that is the same person, Joe Todd-Stanton, author and illustrator.

Evidence from the text can be used to develop our answers.

To locate the correct evidence, it's important to: read carefully.

What is the main idea or details you need to locate? Skimming and scanning can be helpful for finding specific details.

Look for specific information.

Search for details within the text that directly relate to the topic or question.

Check the context.

Is information you're using to support your answer accurate? Is it in the same context? Evidence should be concise and justify the point that we're trying to make in relation to the question.

True or false? Inference can only be formed by focusing on the words on a page.

Pause the video, decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

Now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing one of these two statements.

Illustrations can hold just as much meaning as text; they too can be used to infer meaning.

Inferring meaning can help us to build our understanding of the story.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements best justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected the first statement.

Indeed, illustration can hold just as much meaning as text.

They can be so rich and they can help us to infer meaning.

We can use inference to discover: a character's feelings or emotions, a character's intentions or motives.

We can search for the following clues in the text and the illustrations: a character's actions, a character's experiences, a character's words, how a character is depicted.

I'd like you now to read the following extract from page 42, and I'll read along as well.

"Arthur nodded solemnly, but quivered with fear as he looked at Thor's one-handed brother.

What would happen to him if he confronted the beast? He would have to come up with a plan, and quickly!" Let's consider the following question by searching for clues.

How is Arthur feeling at this moment? So pause the video, take a look at this extract, and see if you can be a detective and search for clues, be an inference detective and search for some clues as to how Arthur is feeling at this moment.

Okay, so what clues did you find about how Arthur is feeling? He nodded solemnly.

Okay, I wonder what that could tell us about how he's feeling.

Perhaps he's feeling quite serious.

He quivered with fear.

Yeah, perhaps he's fearful, worried.

As he looked at Thor's one-handed brother.

Yeah, he could be considering what it is that's ahead for him.

And he would have to come up with a plan.

Yeah, so he sounds quite determined.

Hmm, needs a plan here.

And we can also infer meaning from the illustration as well.

So looking at that illustration we can see, yeah, the way he's looking so intently, does seem quite intent, determined, conscientious, serious.

Match the emotion with the corresponding inference.

So we have the emotions of worried, serious, and determined.

And the inference, Arthur is glancing up at Thor holding a branch as a staff, his backpack full of his useful possessions.

He needs to form a plan.

Arthur nodded solemnly.

He knew this moment was important.

Arthur quivered with fear.

He was concerned about having his hand bitten off like Thor's brother Tyr.

Pause the video while you match the emotion with the corresponding inference.

I wonder if you matched worried with Arthur quivering with fear, serious with him nodding solemnly, and determined with the way he's glancing up at Thor, knows that he needs to form a plan.

Well done if you matched these emotions with the corresponding inferences.

And there are many inferences you can make from one extract or illustration.

And now it's time for your task.

I'd like you to read pages 43 to 45 and discuss the following question and justify your answer with evidence from the text.

How was Arthur feeling at the end of the page? And remember to infer for clues using: character's actions, experiences, words, and how the character is depicted.

And you may like to begin your sentences in this way.

Arthur felt.

I know this because it says.

I know this because he.

It depicts.

So pause the video here and have a go at this task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

I wonder how you got on with discussing the question, how was Arthur feeling at the end of the page, and justifying your answer with evidence from the text.

Let's see what Aisha came up with.

"Arthur felt insignificant.

I know this because it says he was 'feeling impossibly small and helpless.

' It depicts him gripping onto Thor." Here's Izzy.

"Arthur was frightened.

I know this because he runs 'as fast as he could into the forest to hide.

' It depicts the beast staring directly at him, drool trickling down its chin!" Fantastic answers and accompanying evidence from the text.

And now it's time for the next part of our lesson, role on the wall.

Role on the wall is reading activity that helps us develop our understanding of characters in a story or text.

Using an outline of a character, we jot down character traits, thoughts, feelings, motivations, and fears on the inside.

On the outside, we note the character's outer characteristics, including physical appearance, actions, and interactions with other characters.

We can support our inferences with evidence from the text.

So thoughts and feelings on the inside, character's appearance and how people see them on the outside.

Let's look at some examples of role on the wall for Arthur with evidence from the text.

Here's some of his thoughts.

"Can I defeat Fenrir?" "Am I a hero?" How he's feeling, determined, kind, brave.

And on the outside, Arthur does not look like a typical hero.

He is described as "too small" by the people in his town.

Arthur listens to Thor's advice and immediately sets off to find the two incredibly rare items he wants to help his town.

Arthur takes on a challenging task.

He does not give up, climbing up the World Tree.

Which of the following features are included on the inside of the character when completing a role on the wall? Physical appearance, actions they perform in the story, thoughts and feelings, fears.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected thoughts and feelings and fears.

These appear on the inside of a character in role on the wall, while the others appear on the outside.

And now for your task, I would like you to complete a role on the wall for Arthur.

So his thoughts, feelings on the inside, his appearance and how people see him on the outside.

Note down Arthur's character traits, his thoughts, feelings, motivations, and fears on the inside, and note down his outer characteristics, including physical appearance, actions, and interactions with other characters on the outside.

Enjoy completing your role on the wall for Arthur.

I'll see you when you're finished.

So how did you get on completing a role on a wall for Arthur? On the inside, have you included a thought Arthur might have, a range of emotions that Arthur might feel, character traits? How about on the outside? Have you included a description of Arthur's physical appearance, actions that Arthur performs, and an interaction Arthur has with another character? I hope you were able to include some of these things on your role on the wall, and I hope you enjoyed creating this.

Well done.

In our lesson, Developing comprehension of "Arthur and the Golden Rope" through rich discussion, we have covered the following.

Inference means to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions.

Readers can look for clues in the words used by the author and in the illustrations created by the illustrator.

Evidence from the text can be used to develop answers.

There are many possible inferences you can make from one extract or illustration.

Role on the wall is a reading activity that helps readers develop their understanding of a character's feelings, emotions, intentions, or motives.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson, developing comprehension of this fantastic text through rich discussion.

I think you did a great job looking for clues, finding the inferences in the text, using the evidence from the text to develop your answers, and I really enjoyed your role on the wall activity.

Great job, everyone.

I'll see you at the next lesson soon.