Hello, everybody.

It's good to see you.

My name is Miss Afzal.

I hope you're well today.

Hope you're doing really, really well.

I am doing pretty good too, because I'm really excited to be sharing this book with you today.

The book we're gonna be exploring is "Blackberry Blue." This is what it looks like.

This is the fantastic front cover.

This is by Jamila Gavin, and I would like you now to go off and fetch your copy of this book.

So I'm gonna pause here and admire the front cover while you go and do that.

Okay, you're back.

Great.

You've got your book.

What else have we got? Have you got your thinking brain? Have you got some curiosity? Lots of great ideas and enthusiasm.

I hope so.

Let's begin exploring "Blackberry Blue." The outcome for today's lesson is I can explore characterization within a text.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them one at a time.

My turn.

Your turn.

Characterization, character traits, role on the wall, stereotype.

Fantastic.

I heard those loud and clear.

Let's find out more about what these keywords mean.

Characterization is the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

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.

A stereotype refers to a generalised and often unfair or untrue belief about a particular group of people or things.

So these are our key words for the lesson.

Let's make sure we're on the lookout for them.

Let's listen out for them, and let's be thinking about them throughout our lesson.

So here's our lesson today, exploring characterization in "Blackberry Blue." It has two parts to it, exploring characterization and addressing stereotypes.

Let's begin with exploring characterization.

"Blackberry Blue" is a collection of fairytales written by Jamila Gavin, with illustrations by Richard Collingridge.

And there we can see a fantastic illustration on the front cover of "Blackberry Blue." The text contains six stories, with characters from various backgrounds and cultures, reflecting the diversity of the world.

Each tale contains magical elements and fantastical occurrences, adding to the enchantment of the storytelling.

Characters are identifiable as good or evil depending on their actions and how they are described.

They share some similarities with characters from traditional fairytales.

I wonder if you have picked up which character identifies with which character from a fairy tale.

Here's a recap of what has happened in the text so far.

A king has a newborn son called Prince Just.

The prince's mother passes away shortly after he is born.

A woodcutter and his wife live a modest life away from the palace.

They collect their food from the wild that surrounds their home.

One day, the woodcutter's wife goes to look for blackberries.

She notices a raven above her head and falls asleep.

Upon waking, the woodcutter's wife spots a wall of brambles.

They are full of the juiciest blackberries.

When she picks the fruit, she becomes trapped and is only freed when she rescues an abandoned child.

The child is named Blackberry Blue and is adopted by the woodcutter and his wife.

The king remarries.

His new queen is rumoured to be a witch.

Her son, Prince Wolf, is very unkind towards Blackberry Blue.

So that's what we know so far.

Let's move on.

What is characterization? So this is one of our key words.

Characterization is the way an author and illustrator describe and develop the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

And traits is another one of our keywords, and traits are the special qualities that make a character unique and interesting.

Hmm, I wonder what some of your character traits are.

What makes you unique and interesting? It's an interesting thing to think about, isn't it? Authors and illustrators use a range of methods to convey characterization.

For example, a character's appearance, a character's words, a character's actions, how a character is depicted, how they're shown, how they're represented.

Check for understanding.

True or false.

Characterization can only be conveyed through a character's actions within a text.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer.

Take a look at these two statements.

Characterization can be conveyed through a character's actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions with others.

The text follows the character of Blackberry Blue, therefore, we can only develop understanding of her character.

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

Well done if you selected A.

Absolutely, characterization can be conveyed through many different means.

For example, the actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions with others.

Well done if you selected this statement.

Before we continue reading, let's have a look at some words that we will encounter in the next section of text.

Mourn means to feel or express sorrow or grief.

Perhaps if we've lost someone or something.

Aconite is a type of flowering plant known for its blue flowers, also known as wolfsbane.

And there we can see a very beautiful image of some aconite.

A bodice is the fitted upper part of a dress or a gown.

Creeping Jenny is a low, spreading, evergreen plant with brown leaves and bright yellow flowers.

And fronds are the large, divided leaves of palms, ferns, or similar plants.

And we can see some fern fronds in the image there.

Mm, so beautiful.

We rejoined Blackberry Blue alone and in deep sadness.

She mourns the passing of the woodcutter and his wife.

She eventually decides to visit her mother.

Read pages 11 to 21, up to the page break ending with the word scratches.

And then I'd like you to answer this question, what is the new queen's plan? And refer to page 12 to support you.

So pause the video here, read those pages up to the word scratches, and share with someone nearby your answer to this question, what is the new queen's plan? And I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, good to be back with you.

What did you come up with? Let's see what Laura has to say.

"The new queen hopes that her son, Prince Wolf, will be king one day, not Prince Just, who she despises." She really doesn't like him.

Okay, thank you, Laura, for that answer.

I wonder if you came up with something similar.

And now I'd like you to refer to pages 13 and 14.

Blackberry Blue is aware that she will not fit in at the Spring Ball.

Her mother asks her daughter to return to her when the spring flowers are in full bloom.

What flowers and plants does Blackberry Blue's mother use to create her spring dress? And what warning does she give her daughter? So pause the video here while you refer to pages 13 and 14 and answer these two questions.

Share your answers with someone nearby.

Okay, so what were the flowers and plants used? What was the warning given? Let's see what Sophia has to say.

"Blackberry Blue's mother includes bluebells, forget-me-nots, and daffodils in the dress.

She warns her daughter to leave the ball before dawn lights up the sky." Fantastic answer there.

Can really see you looking so closely at the text there, Sophia, to get all of that detail.

Blackberry Blue adds creeping jennies and fronds to her hair to complete the look.

Very nice.

Nice touch, Blackberry Blue.

Refer to page 17.

After Prince Wolf stops Blackberry Blue from meeting Prince Just, she seeks advice from her mother.

What do you think the advice Blackberry Blue receives might mean? Pause the video here while you refer to page 17 and share with someone nearby.

What do you think the advice that Blackberry Blue receives might mean? Here's Jun.

What's he saying? "I think that Blackberry Blue's mother means that she must be patient.

As each season passes, eventually goodness will prevail." That means it will come about.

It will be the thing that happens that is dominant.

"And she will hopefully get an opportunity to meet Prince Just." Thank you for that answer, Jun.

I like the way you really thinking carefully about what this advice could mean.

Check for understanding.

Sequence the following events into chronological order.

That means in time, order, and the sequence in which they occurred.

Blackberry Blue's spring dress leaves a trail of petals deep into the woods.

Prince Just follows them to a bramble bush.

Blackberry Blue's mother makes a dress out of roses, irises, lilies, and campion.

A wolf attacks Prince Just.

It is scared off by a cloaked figure with a brambly cloak.

Prince Wolf watches his brother dance with Blackberry Blue a second time.

He commands her to stay when she tries to leave.

So pause the video now while you put these events into chronological order.

All right, it's good to be back with you.

Which one did you go for, first of all? Hopefully, you went for this statement.

Blackberry Blue's spring dress leaves a trail of petals deep into the woods.

Next came this statement.

Blackberry Blue's mother makes a dress out of roses, irises, lilies, and campion.

After that, Prince Wolf watches his brother dance with Blackberry Blue a second time.

And finally, a wolf attacks Prince Just.

Well done if you place the events into this order.

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

And that's one of our key words in the lesson today is role on the wall, this very special reading activity.

Using an outline of a character, we jot down character traits.

Remember, those are the special qualities that make a character unique and interesting.

And we place their thoughts, feelings, motivations, and fears on the inside.

And on the outside, we note the characters outer characteristics, including their 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 Prince Wolf with evidence from the text.

How can I spite my brother, and I will do as I like.

So these are some of his thoughts, some of his motivations.

And then on the outside, we've got Prince Wolf is cruel.

He does not let Blackberry Blue dance with his brother just to spite him.

Prince Wolf is bossy.

He commands Blackberry Blue to return.

Prince Wolf is controlling.

He grasps Blackberry Blue's hand.

When she tries to leave, he starts to fight with his brother.

So there on the outside, we've got how people see Prince Wolf.

And also, we've got some of his interactions with the other characters.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following features are included on the inside of the character when completing a role on the wall? Thoughts and feelings, motivations, interactions with other characters, physical appearance.

Pause the video while you decide which of these features should be included on the inside of a character when completing a role on the wall.

Well done if you selected thoughts and feelings and motivations.

Those go on the inside.

And interactions with other characters and physical appearance go on the outside.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to complete a role on wall for Blackberry Blue.

So on the inside, we are going to have her thoughts, her feelings, her motivations.

On the outside, you can write about her appearance, how people see Blackberry Blue.

So note down Blackberry Blue's character traits, her thoughts, feelings, motivations, and fears on the inside.

Note down the character's outer characteristics, including physical appearance, actions, and interactions with other characters on the outside.

So pause the video and have a go at this task now, and I'll see you when you're finished.

All right, it's great to be back with you.

So you've completed your role on the wall for Blackberry Blue.

Hmm, but on the inside, have you included a thought that Blackberry Blue might have, a range of emotions that Blackberry Blue might feel, some of her character traits? What are those special qualities that make her unique and interesting? What about on the outside? Have you included a description of Blackberry Blue's physical appearance? Remember that amazing dress? Actions that Blackberry Blue performs? And how about an interaction that Blackberry Blue has with another character? I hope you manage to include these in your role on the wall for Blackberry Blue.

And now it's time for the next part of our lesson, where we'll be addressing stereotypes.

A stereotype refers to a generalised and often unfair or untrue belief about a particular group of people or things.

Stereotypes can often be found in traditional fairytales.

These may reflect attitudes held at the time they were written.

Stereotypes can include assumptions based on gender, age, and culture.

"Blackberry Blue" addresses and challenges some of these through its storytelling.

Well done, Jamila Gavin.

I'm so pleased about that.

Really important that we challenge and address stereotypes.

Here are some stereotypes about characters found in traditional fairytale texts.

Passive princesses, female characters, often princesses, are portrayed in need of rescue by a male hero.

Wicked stepmothers.

Female characters in positions of power, such as stepmothers or witches, are often portrayed as cruel and jealous figures who mistreat the protagonist, especially if they are female.

Charming princes.

Male characters, typically princes, are depicted as strong, heroic figures who come to the rescue of the damsel in distress.

They may be described as handsome, brave, and chivalrous.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following are character stereotypes that can be found in traditional fairytales? Female characters in need of rescue by a brave prince, a cruel stepmother who mistreats the protagonist, a male protagonist.

Pause a video while you decide which of these are character stereotypes that can be found in traditional fairytales.

Well done if you selected the first two.

Yeah, we can often find female characters in need of rescue by a brave prince and cruel stepmothers who mistreat the protagonist.

And it's important to remember that stereotypes are not found in all traditional fairytales.

Likewise, contemporary texts can also include harmful stereotypes, too.

It's good to be on a lookout for these.

And now it's time for your next task.

Do the characters within "Blackberry Blue" conform to, that means do they go along with, do they agree with, or challenge stereotypes? How does Jamila Gavin characterise Blackberry Blue, the new queen, Prince Just, and Prince Wolf? You might like to refer to the character's appearance, the words they use, their actions, and how they're depicted in the illustrations.

And refer to the text to support you with this task.

And you might like to use sentence starters, such as, I think, say the name of the character, conforms to stereotypes because, and give your reasoning.

And you may like to say, I think, say the character's name, challenges stereotypes because, and give your reasoning by referring to the text.

So pause the video here while you have a go at this task, and I will see you when you're finished.

Okay, it's great to be back with you.

I'm really interested to find out who do you think conforms to stereotypes? Who is challenging stereotypes? Here is Lucas.

"I think that the evil queen conforms to a stereotype.

She's in a position of power by marrying the king.

She wants her son to take over the kingdom and does not care for Blackberry Blue and Prince Just at all." Yeah, we've got conforming to stereotype there.

Okay, what else? Here's Aisha.

"I think Blackberry Blue challenges stereotypes because, even though she encounters difficulties, she is the one who saves Prince Just.

She does not need a male character to save her." Woo.

Go, Blackberry Blue.

Challenging those stereotypes.

I love it.

Well done, Aisha, for referring to the text there and giving us some really good reasons why it is that Blackberry Blue is challenging the stereotype.

In our lesson exploring characterization in "Blackberry Blue," we have covered the following.

Characterization is the way an author and illustrator describe and develop the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

Role on the wall is a reading activity that helps readers develop their understanding of a character.

Stereotypes can often be found in traditional fairytales.

These may reflect attitudes held at the time they were written.

Stereotypes can include assumptions based on gender, age, and culture.

"Blackberry Blue" addresses and challenges stereotypes through its storytelling and characterization.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

I love the way you really got into that role on the wall activity, and my favourite bit was challenging and busting through stereotypes.

Yes, let's keep at it.

I'll see you at the next lesson.

Bye for now.