Lesson video

Hi there.

My name is Mr. Charlesworth, and in today's reading lesson we're exploring the text "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

Today's lesson is all about the introduction to the text and the genre, which is a modern myth.

I wonder, do you know any modern myths already? I'm really looking forward to working with you today.

Let's get started.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explain what a modern myth is.

The keywords are my turn, your turn, modern myth, supernatural, folklore features, Norse mythology.

Let's try those again.

Modern myth, supernatural, folklore, features, Norse mythology.

Well done.

A modern myth is a contemporary tale explaining a culture's beliefs and customs, often involving gods and supernatural creatures.

Supernatural beings include gods, giants, magic, and other mystical, ancient elements.

Folklore is a genre in which all stories are shared and passed down over time.

The features for text refer to distinctive characteristics that belong to it.

Norse mythology is a set of ancient tales of Scandinavian gods, beliefs, and the worlds they inhabit.

Today's lesson is all about exploring the genre of "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

In the first part of the lesson, we're going to have an introduction to the text, looking at the front cover and features of the genre.

In the second part of the lesson, we'll be thinking about our first impressions of the text and making some predictions.

Let's begin with our introduction to the genre and text.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" is a modern myth.

Well noticed, it's one of our key words.

A modern myth is a contemporary tale explaining a culture's beliefs and customs. It often involves gods and supernatural creatures.

Myths belong to the genre of traditional tales and folklore.

They usually explain the creation of the world, natural events, and the origins of rituals or customs. Modern myths incorporate elements of traditional myths, but are adapted to contemporary contexts.

They often include diverse characters, settings, and relatable themes that reflect the world we live in.

A contemporary context is a modern day context.

The author and illustrator of "Arthur and the Golden Rope" is Joe Todd Stanton.

The text is part of a series of picture books titled "Brownstone's Mythical Collection".

Each text in a series explores a different culture or myth.

You can see "Brownstone's Mythical Collection" just above the title on the front cover.

The front cover can provide the reader with clues as to what might occur in a text story or narrative.

I'd like you to discuss with your partner, what do you notice on the front cover? What can you deduce? What can you infer? Have a look through for small details too.

I know authors and illustrators like hiding clues on the front cover as to what might happen in the text.

Pause the video now whilst you have a look and discuss.

Well done.

I wonder how much you noticed.

You might have spotted a large, fierce creature with menacing eyes, sharp claws, and bared teeth ready for a fight.

When you bare your teeth, it's like you're ready to attack.

It's a very vicious action.

You might have also noticed a broken piece of tree with interesting markings or glyphs.

Glyphs are like hieroglyphs, signs or symbols that represent a language.

You might have also noticed the character, possibly Arthur, who's depicted in the foreground, that means he's closest to us.

You might have also noticed a golden rope draping around the setting, which seems to be a forest scene.

It is nighttime.

You can tell because the moon's in the background in the top right hand corner.

You might have also noticed a one-eyed bird nesting up in the branches.

Perhaps this links to the features of the modern myth.

We'll find out as we explore later in the lesson.

Here's our first check for understanding.

True or false, the front cover of a text can usually provide us with some clues about the story.

Is that true or false? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Well done, it's true.

I'd now like you to justify your answer.

Is it because a, the front cover gives subtle hints at what might happen in a narrative, or b, the front cover just tells readers the author and illustrator of a text? Pause the video now whilst you decide on your justification.

Well done.

Were you correct? It's a, the front cover gives subtle hints of what might happen in a narrative.

It's unusual for a front cover to just have the title, the author's name, and the illustrator's name, usually, they contain some clues as to what might happen.

We're now going to explore some of the features of a modern myth.

I wonder, do you know any features already? Pause the video now and discuss with your partner.

Well done.

There are lots of overlapping features with traditional myths.

Modern myths often feature gods and goddesses with extraordinary powers and abilities.

They adapt traditional myths for today, or create new ones.

Modern myths also reflect contemporary values, issues, and cultures.

They contextualise it in modern day, a contemporary setting.

Modern myths usually teach an important moral or lesson.

And finally, they can sometimes blend reality and fiction, leaving room for interpretation.

Interpretation is the meaning that the reader makes of the text.

We're now going to explore the inside of the text.

Have a look on pages two and three.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" explores Norse mythology.

The opening double page spread introduces us to Arthur's home in Iceland on the left and the Norse world, which is shown on the right.

Four gods border the pages in circles.

Norse mythology comprises of ancient tales and beliefs of the Scandinavian people.

They feature gods such as Odin and myths about creation, the end times, and the nine realms, which are interconnected by the World Tree called Yggdrasil.

Let's say that word together.

My turn, your turn.

Yggdrasil.

Yggdrasil.

Well done.

Yggdrasil is the name of the World Tree.

You can see it located on the right-hand side of the page.

Realms represent the different parts of the Norse world.

They're a bit like kingdoms. We're now going to explore a little bit more about the Norse gods.

Norse mythology has several important gods and goddesses.

The ones that appear in "Arthur and the Golden Rope" are Odin, the chief god, symbolising wisdom, war, and poetry.

He presides over, that means to rule over, the realm of Asgard, accompanied by his ravens and wolves.

Let's say his name together, Odin.

Odin.

Well done.

Then, there's Thor.

Thor is the hammer-wielding god of thunder, strength, and protection, popular for his bravery in battles and for defending humanity against giants.

Have you heard of him before? I thought you might have.

Let's say his name together, Thor.

Thor.

Well done.

Next is Freyja.

Freyja is a powerful goddess associated with love, fertility, and war.

She's often depicted as independent and assertive.

Assertive means that she's able to assert her position, she's sure of herself, and confident.

Let's say her name together, Freyja.

Freyja.

Well done.

And finally, we have Baldr.

Baldr is a god representing purity, joy, and the summer sun.

He's known for being beloved by all.

To be beloved is to be liked by everyone.

Let's say his name together, Baldr.

Baldr.

Well done.

I hope you're keeping your eyes peeled for noticing them in the text.

I'm sure they'll turn up as characters.

Here's our next check for understanding.

Which three of the following are features of modern myths? Is it a, modern myths are entirely factual, b, modern myths reflect contemporary values, issues, and cultures, c, Modern myths usually feature gods and goddesses with extraordinary powers and abilities, or D, modern myths include important morals or characters learning something.

Which three of the following are features of modern myths? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Well done.

Were you correct? It's b, c, and d.

Modern myths aren't entirely factual, they have a blend of fiction and nonfiction elements.

In this first task, I'd like you to predict what you think might happen in "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

This could be based on the front cover, pages two and three, and what we've learned so far.

You can use the features of a modern myth and the illustrations to help you while notice both of our keywords.

You could discuss about the involvement of gods and goddesses with extraordinary powers and abilities.

You might predict about how the text is going to adapt a traditional myth for today.

You could think about how it's going to reflect contemporary values, issues, and cultures.

You might want to discuss about the important moral or lesson learned by Arthur or any of the other characters.

You might also discuss about how the text might blend reality and fiction.

You can use the sentence stem, I predict because.

Pause the video now whilst you complete the task with your partner.

Well done.

Let's have a look at two examples.

You might have said, "I predict that Arthur will face a menacing, mythical creature as they have bared teeth and sharp claws on the front cover." You might have also mentioned that, "I predict that Arthur will have some help from Norse gods and goddesses, as this is a feature of modern myths." There are many predictions that you could have made.

If your prediction can be justified using the features of a modern myth and the illustrations, then it's a good prediction, well done.

We're now going to build on our predictions by exploring our first impressions.

These are our initial thoughts and feelings about the text.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" opens with an introduction to the Brownstone family vault.

A vault is a large underground chamber, usually used for storage.

The vault is filled with a range of artefacts that have been collected over the years.

I'd like you to read with your partner from pages six to nine up until the text, "and many others." Pause the video now whilst you do so.

Great work.

I hope you enjoyed reading the first part of the text.

I'd like you to discuss the following question, what impressions you get of the Brownstone family members? An impression can be your first thoughts or ideas about them.

Pause the video now whilst you discuss the question.

Well done.

You might have said that, "The Brownstones seem to be very adventurous.

They collected amazing objects and took part in epic battles with mythical creatures." I really love the way that Joe Todd Stanton explored this through his illustration.

The impression that we get to the Brownstones is that they're a very adventurous bunch.

I wonder if Arthur will be the same.

Here's our next check for understanding.

You might like to use the text to support if necessary.

The question is, what is Professor Brownstone's most prized possession? Is it a, a collection of books, b, a set of knight's armour, or c, an ancient vase? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Well done, it's a, Professor brownstone's most prized possessions are the text because it contains the tale of all of Brownstone's ancestors.

Ancestors are people that are related to Professor Brownstone, they're in his family tree.

I'd now like you to read pages 10 and 11, where we're introduced to Arthur.

Pause the video now whilst you read with your partner.

Well done.

I'd like you to discuss the following question, what impression do you get of Arthur from this introduction? What do you know about him? What can you tell about his character and his personality? Pause the video now and discuss with your partner.

Great work.

You might have said, "I think that Arthur might not demonstrate the same character traits as his ancestors.

He is going to be different.

He's introduced in a different way to his ancestors, but Professor Brownstone is still very proud of him." I wonder how his character will progress as we read on.

In our final check for understanding, I'd like you to draw lines to group the following information based on what we've read so far.

On the left-hand side, you have characters and setting, and on the right-hand side, you've got Arthur, Iceland, the Norse world, Thor, and Professor Brownstone.

Pause video now whilst you match them up.

Fantastic work.

Let's see if you're correct.

The characters are Arthur, Thor, and Professor Brownstone.

The settings are Iceland and the Norse world.

We've encountered many more characters and hopefully more settings as we continue to read.

In our final task, I'd like you to reflect on what we've read so far.

Can you answer the following questions with your partner? Is there anything that you like or dislike about the story so far, and why? And are you puzzled or intrigued by anything? Does it make you think of something that you've seen, read, or heard recently? Can you make any connections to other texts or to yourselves perhaps? Pause the video now whilst you discuss with your partner.

Well done.

I wish I could have heard some of your responses.

Let's have a look at few examples.

You might have said, "I really liked how adventurous the Brownstone ancestors were.

They looked really brave and courageous.

I wonder how Arthur will be different." For the second part of the question, you might have said that, "The text makes me think about Greek myths that I've read about in history.

They had lots of supernatural features." I wonder if your responses linked to other myths too.

In the second part of the task, I'd like you to create five questions that you would like to ask Professor Brownstone.

You can consider features that you've noticed in the text as well as information we've learned within the lesson.

You could use these question starters of who, what, where, when, why, and how.

I wonder what you'd like to ask him.

Pause the video now whilst you note these down.

Well done.

I'm really curious about what you might have asked him.

Here are some examples.

Who are the other members of your family beyond the ones we've read about in the text so far perhaps? What is the most powerful and rare artefact that's in your possession? Perhaps it's one that's included in the vault.

Where does Arthur live in the Icelandic town? When did this adventure take place? Why is Arthur different to other ancestors? And how have you arranged your collection of antiquities? Antiquities are artefacts or rare items that people might collect.

They're a bit like antiques.

I'd be really interested in Professor Brownstone's responses, wouldn't you? I hope we can discover some of the answers as we continue to read throughout the lessons.

In today's lesson, we've been exploring the genre of "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

We've discovered that "Arthur and the Golden Rope" is an example of a modern myth.

A modern myth is a contemporary tale explaining a culture's beliefs and customs, often involving gods and supernatural creatures.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" explores Norse mythology.

Norse mythology comprises of ancient tales and beliefs of the Scandinavian people.

Finally, predictions and first impressions of a text can be based upon understanding the features of a modern myth, the text, and the illustrations.

I've really enjoyed exploring this text with you today.

I'm looking forward to working with you again soon.