Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Mr. Young, and it is so good to see you again on another lesson in this "Twisted Tree" sequence.

So in today's lesson, we are really gonna focus on developing our knowledge of the plot of this fantastic story by consolidating our knowledge of what we have read.

So just as a reminder, you will need a copy of "The Twisted Tree" by Rachel Burge, and we are using the Hot Key Books version from 2019.

So shall we get started? So today's lesson has a very clear learning outcome.

So shall we take a look at what it is? So by the end of today's lesson, everybody should be able to identify and compare all of the major plot points in the novel.

And just as in any lesson, we have some very important words, our keywords.

So I do encourage you just to pause the video just for a moment or two just to jot some of these words down and their definitions, particularly if they are new to you, because we're gonna be using them quite a bit.

Let's take a look at what they are.

Chronological: arranged in the order that events happen over time, from earliest to latest.

So if we were writing a summary, we would want our events in the novel to be chronological, kind of following the natural order of the story.

A summary: a concise version of a longer text, capturing the most important information and main ideas.

A connective, and we're gonna practise using some of these today, are words or phrases that connect other words or sentences.

And finally, plot, which is the main events of a story.

So we are going to be looking at the plot of "The Twisted Tree".

So today's lesson has three really clear learning cycles, and I'm really excited about all of them.

So our first one is going to be all about getting the plot in order.

So we have read "The Twisted Tree" now, we have read this fantastic story by Rachel Burge.

We have enjoyed it, well, I certainly have.

And now we are going to be linking those ideas that take place in the novel into some kind of chronological order, make sure we really understand that story.

And then we're gonna move on to learning cycle two, where we're gonna compare some of those really significant moments in the novel, those kind of significant dramatic moments that happen to Martha.

And we're gonna compare the significance of one with the other.

And in particular, we're gonna use connectives to do that.

And finally, I'm gonna hand the reins over to you and you are going to write a fantastic summary of this fantastic story.

So let's get started.

So my first question for you is, how might these images below link to the plot of "The Twisted Tree"? So we've got a tree, a raven, an axe, we've got the rope, we've got a kind of godlike figure and we have these books as well.

So you've all read this story, so I would like you to recap your knowledge and tell me how could we link these pictures to the story of "The Twisted Tree".

So hit that pause button, have a quick discussion or jot down some ideas if you're working independently, and then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, fantastic effort on that task.

It's really fantastic to hear the wonderful discussions that you are having and all of those things that you are recapping in the plot of "The Twisted Tree".

So I'm hearing lots of people drawing kind of clear examples from the pictures on the board in front of you.

So people talking about the impact that the ravens have on the story, potentially the axe that Martha uses to kill the draugr, the twisted tree itself, and that rope potentially kind of signifying the kind of connection between the real world and the underworld.

So well done for recapping the knowledge of the plot in such a fantastic way.

Okay, check for understanding for me then, please.

Martha kills the draugr with an axe that she brands with a symbol from a rune.

Is that true or is that false? Once again, hit that pause button, have a quick discussion or jot down some ideas if you're working independently, and then do push play when you'd like to see which is correct.

Okay, it is of course true, isn't it? It's one of the fantastic parts of that novel, it's a really dramatic conclusion, really, to many of the main events in the story.

But how could we justify that answer? Is it A, Martha receives a message from Odin who tells her how to kill the draugr, or Hel tells Martha to kill the draugr when she's in the underworld? So which one is correct? Which god is helping Martha out at this point in the story? Once again, hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, well done to everybody who identified it as B.

It is of course Hel who does this.

It's a very famous Norse god and a very significant presence in the story.

Great job if you're able to identify that.

Okay, we have reached our first practise task of today's lesson, and you are going to need to look in the additional materials for this one.

So in the additional materials, you will find a series of statements, and these are key plot statements about the story, "The Twisted Tree".

And my task for you is as follows.

So I would like you to put them in the correct order, so the correct chronological order, we would say, using the letters to complete the tables, and the first one has been done for you.

So it will look a little bit like this.

So we've got 13 statements.

I would like you to work out in what order those statements go.

And we've done the first one for you.

The first one is E.

So hit that pause button, access the additional materials, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see which is the correct chronological order.

Okay, fantastic work on that.

That is actually a really challenging task.

When I did this task, I found it a little bit confusing at certain points.

I was scratching my head wondering which events took place where and maybe if I'd got them in the correct order.

But really well done for your fantastic effort on that.

It's really, really important to be able to understand the key plots, the key plots of the stories that we read, just like "The Twisted Tree".

So you can see the correct answers on the board.

So the correct answers are as follows.

So 1 is E, 2 is H, 3 is G, 4 is I, 5 is D, 6 is A, 7 is J, 8 is K, 9 is F, 10 is C, 11 is L, 12 is B, and 13 is M.

So it's really, really important that we now understand the plot because we are going to be kind of unpicking it a little bit more, analysing it a little bit more and forming some kind of opinions on our summaries as we proceed.

Okay, so we have now reached learning cycle two.

I've been super impressed with all of your enthusiasm and all of your hard work so far, so let's really keep that going into learning cycle two.

So learning cycle two is all about comparing the significance of key moments, key moments in the text, the kind of most important moments.

So let's get started.

So using comparative connectives can help you to compare the significance of key moments in a novel in more depth.

So crucially, when we refer to key moments, we mean the most important things that happen in a story.

So we can use connectives to really kinda show our intelligence and our insight about what we are reading.

So connectives can look a little bit like this.

So here are some examples on the board now.

So we've got: whereas X is, Y is; whilst X is, Y is; despite X being, Y is; contrastingly, and similarly.

So these connectives can really help us compare directly key and pivotal moments in a text.

So let's take a look at some examples.

So we could say the following here for whereas.

So we could say something like, whereas the draugr coming to the house is good for suspense and shows the dangers they face, Stig and Gandalf being alive is hopeful and creates relief.

The shift from fear to hope is significant for the plot's tension and relief.

So a really, really insightful comment there where we are comparing the elements of fear and suspense with those kind of more hopeful joyous elements towards the end.

And we are crucially using that connective of whereas to do that.

Again, we can see an example here with whilst.

We could say something like, whilst Hel revealing how to kill the draugr is crucial knowledge for their final battle, Martha running away to Norway is the beginning of her quest for understanding.

Hel's guidance is pivotal for the climax, whereas Martha's journey marks the start of her personal growth and discovery.

So again, kind of really drawing a parallel between two key points, saying how important Hel's advice is, but also just that initial decision of Martha to run away to Norway is just as important.

And again, we are using connectives to make that comment.

So check for understanding time for me then, please.

Which of the below connectives could be useful for comparing difference? Is it A, similarly; is it B, contrastingly; or is it C, whilst? So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, fantastic work to everybody who identified B and C as the correct answers there.

We would not say that A is correct because, you know, the word similar is literally in that connective.

So it kind of really focuses our ideas that we're gonna be talking about something similar, whereas contrastingly and whilst, we can absolutely see a clear difference being presented after those, can't we? So fantastic work if you identified that.

Okay, we have reached our second practise task of today's lesson, so let's really make this one count.

So I would you to once again look at the key plot points in the additional materials, so those same materials that were used for the practise task in learning cycle one.

And I have a discussion question, this is going to be a discussion task for you.

And if you're working independently, you can still complete the task, but just, you know, write down your answers independently.

So my question is, which do you consider to be the most important plot points? And I would like you to use comparative connectives to help develop your ideas.

So this is really gonna be your own personal opinion about the text, about what you consider to be the most important parts.

So we have some hints or prompts here, and they are as follows.

So you may wish to consider which events are most significant to develop our understanding of the characterization of Martha, help our understanding of Norse mythology, help move the plot forward, and what the plot needs in order for it to make logical sense.

So using those questions, can you tell me what the most important plot points are? And remember to use those comparative connectives, words like whereas, whilst, despite, similarly, all those fantastic things we've looked at previously in this learning cycle.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, my goodness, we are continuing to work incredibly hard in this lesson and it's absolutely wonderful to see that as your teacher.

So really well done on all your hard work in that task.

So let's look at a student example, a student example response.

So Aisha said the following, Aisha said, "Whilst the killing of Gandalf is shocking, for me the most shocking plot point is when Stig and Martha discover that Olav and Yrsa have been murdered." I agree, that is quite a shocking moment in the text, isn't it? So discuss for me then, please.

What connectives does Aisha use here? What connectives does she use? Hit that pause button, have a quick discussion, and then do push play when you'd like to see which are correct.

Okay, well done to everybody who identified whilst and is as the connective.

It is not just whilst, we need the is as well because we are making a comparison point.

So well done if you were able to pick up on that.

Okay, quick task for me then, please.

How could Aisha make this stronger by justifying her statement? So I totally agree with this.

I think Aisha's made a really, really high-level comment here, but how could she justify this by making it a little bit stronger? Hit that pause button again, and then push play when you'd like to see some correct answers to the task.

Yeah, fantastic work on those discussions and I'm agreeing with what lots of the groups are saying, is that we can add some further justification to that example paragraph by kind of talking about how it develops the plot, how it develops the story.

So we could augment Aisha's answer so it reads the following way: whilst the killing of Gandalf is shocking, for me the most shocking plot point is when Stig and Martha discover that Olav and Yrsa have been murdered.

This is where the action shifts and we start to realise the seriousness of the situation that they are both in.

So Aisha's now got a really kind of fantastic point using connectives, and she has justified that as well with kind of key information about how the plot is moved forward as a result.

Well done for picking up on that in your own discussions.

Okay then, we have reached our third and final learning cycle of today's lesson where we are gonna put all of that hard work into practise.

We have worked really hard on consolidating our knowledge of the plot, and now we are going to put that all together by producing a really nice piece of written work, a really nice summary.

So let's get started.

So in English, an important skill is to be able to write summaries of the things we read.

In many ways it really is the kind of first step in our understanding, our analysis, our evaluation, is simply just to understand what we are reading, and summaries can be really, really great ways for us to demonstrate that.

So in particular, summaries will do the following things.

So they will help us understand the plot, they will be concise, chronological, and only include the most important moments, and they will use time connectives.

So quick discussion question for me then, please.

What do you think we mean by time connectives? Can you think of any examples? So hit that pause button, have a quick discussion or jot down some ideas if you're working independently, and then do push play when you'd like to continue with the lesson.

Okay, well done on such a fantastic start to learning cycle three.

Some really, really interesting discussions taking place and I'm really enjoying those conversations where people are talking about maybe the time connectives that they use in their own work.

So kind of defining them but also giving examples of them as well.

So let's take a quick look at what we mean by time connectives.

So time connectives are words that join phrases or sentences together to help us understand when something is happening, and you will use time connectives all day really, every time you speak or tell a story, we just use them quite naturally, but they're really, really important to use in our summaries as well as they give a kind of indication to our reader of the chronology of a story.

So they can be particularly helpful when writing summaries as they ensure that they are chronological, so kind of linking back to that key word of today's lesson.

So here are some examples of what we mean by time connectives.

So words like first, then, later, after that, finally, before, as soon as, and while.

So you can start to see that these are already starting to give an indication of kind of chronology of which events follow which events, which come at the beginning, which come at the middle, and which come at the end, which is absolutely critical for our summaries.

So time connectives can really help us establish a kind of logical order to the story.

So quick check for understanding for me then, please.

Which of the following time connectives would be suitable for the plot points at the end of the summary? Is it A, finally; is it B, before; is it C, in the end; or is it D, after? So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see which are correct.

Okay, fantastic work to everybody who identified A and C, and we've got some clues in the words themselves, haven't we? We've got kind of final in finally and we've got end as well in the end, which give us a real clue.

These can be really useful time connectives to use in the end of our summaries or towards the end part of our summaries.

Great job if you picked up on that.

Okay, we have reached our final practise task of today's lesson, and I am super excited to see how you'll get on with this one.

So my task for you is as follows.

I would like you to write a summary of the main plot events of "The Twisted Tree" by Rachel Burge.

And I would like you to ensure that you use time connectives within your summary.

So remember, some connectives work better at different points.

We've got some examples here as well.

So to begin with, we might use connectives like firstly, initially, it all began with.

To move time on, so potentially for some of the more kind of events in the middle of the novel, we might use time connectives like next, after that, and then.

And then finally, to end our summary, to bring it to a close, we may use time connectives like at last, finally, and eventually.

So all of these time connectives serve different purposes at different stages of our summary.

So really excited to see you use these in action and just to demonstrate your fantastic knowledge of this fantastic novel.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, fantastic work on that last practise task of today's lesson.

So it's really fantastic to see you bring that all together and now have a really first-class piece of work in front of you.

So here is part of a summary that uses time connectives.

So let's read it.

It reads: "Firstly, Martha discovers a letter from Mormor revealing that their gift of reading clothes runs in the family; she realises the depth of her abilities.

After that, Martha discovers Stig living in Mormon's cabin, and he reveals that Mormor is dead.

They set off for Olav and Yrsa's house but discover that they have been cruelly murdered in the woods.

Then they wait in the dark, terrified.

The draugr comes to the house, but the Norns and apparitions scare it off." So really clear summary here, isn't it? My task for you then is as follows.

So what time connectives have been used in this paragraph? So pause the video, have a quick read through, and identify which time connectives have been used.

Then push play when you'd like to see the correct answer.

Okay, fantastic effort to everybody who identified firstly, after that, and then as the time connectives.

So that first one, firstly, kind of begins the action and then after that and then really move time on, don't they? But my next question for you is as follows.

So could any alternative time connectives have gone in their place here? Does it just have to be firstly, after that, or then, or can we use some alternatives? Once again, hit that pause button, have a quick discussion or jot down some ideas and then push play when you'd like to continue.

Yep, you're absolutely right, we could definitely use some alternatives, but provided they still kind of make sense in the context of the paragraph.

So things that are introducing ideas are still the time connectives that we would use at the beginning, and those that move time on are also still moving time on.

So we could change those for the ones as follows.

We've got initially, next, and then after that.

Great job if you were able to identify similar alternatives in your own discussions.

Okay, we have reached the end of today's lesson.

It's been an absolute pleasure to teach you on another lesson in this "Twisted Tree" sequence.

So let's just recap all of those fantastic things that we have learned today.

So firstly, summaries are important revision tools for understanding the plot.

A summary should be concise, chronological, and only include the most important moments.

Using time connectives allows you to write a clear chronological summary.

And finally, using comparative connectives allows you to compare the significance of key moments.

It's been an absolute pleasure to teach you today, and I really look forward to teaching you on another lesson in this sequence.

So thank you very much and goodbye.