Hello everybody.

It's really good to see you.

My name is Ms. Afzal.

And I'm really excited today because I would be sharing with you one of my very favourite books.

It is a graphic novel called, "When Stars Are Scattered".

So, I'm hoping you've all read the book.

And you are ready to go.

You've got your copy.

So, I'm gonna pause for a moment and let you go and get your copy.

So hopefully your copy looks like this.

Look at that amazing cover.

And let's just pause here while you go off and find your copy.

Okay, we're all back.

We have our books.

We're ready to go.

Let's begin exploring this text.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can discuss the main ideas of "When Stars are Scattered".

I'm really looking forward to exploring this book together.

So let's take a look at what some of our keywords are going to be.

Let's go through them one at a time.

My turn, your turn.

Graphic novel.

Refugee.

Theme.

Fantastic, I loved hearing you loud and clear.

And let's find out a little bit more about each of these keywords.

A graphic novel is a type of text combining words and images in long-form, sequential art panels.

Refugees are people who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and have crossed an international border to find safety in another country.

A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.

So, we are gonna be finding out about these words.

I'd like you to look out for them.

Listen out for them.

Think about them, get curious about them.

They are coming up in our lesson.

So, what's involved in today's lesson? Well, it has three parts.

We'll begin by exploring the story.

Next, we'll be looking at graphic novels.

Exploring graphic novels.

And then we're exploring themes.

Let's begin by exploring the story.

And here's that amazing front cover once again.

Oh wow.

Look at that image.

I wonder what what you feel as you're looking at that image.

I feel it says so much.

Great choice of image for the front cover.

"When Stars are Scattered" is created by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed.

"When Stars are Scattered" is a true story, based on Omar Mohamed's own experiences in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya.

The story is told in graphic novel form.

There's one of our keywords.

And remember this is when words and images are combined in a long form, sequential text using panels.

The illustrations play a crucial role in conveying the emotions, experiences and challenges that Omar and his brother Hassan faced.

"When Stars are Scattered" joins Omar and Hassan after they've spent seven years in Dadaab Refugee Camp as a result of the Civil War in neighbouring Somalia.

And we can see in that image there, in white is a country of Kenya.

We can see in that purple circle is where the Refugee Camp was.

And this neighbours the country of Somalia.

As October, 2023, there are 302,805 registered refugees and asylum-seekers in Dadaab.

And there's another one of our keywords, refugees.

And refugees are people who have left their home country because of war, conflict, persecution.

And taken refuge in a neighbouring country.

Crossed an international border to seek refuge.

Life in the camp is not easy.

However, Omar and Hassan do have some things that they look forward to.

And we can see there, the image at the bottom of the screen there is of refugee camp.

So my first question for you, why is this graphic novel important? And do you think it reflects what life is like for all refugees? I'd like you to pause for a moment and think about your answer then share it with someone nearby.

Pause the video here.

Hmm.

I wonder what you consider there.

Why do you think this novel's important? And do you think it reflects what life is like for all refugees? Let's get Jacob's take on things.

So, Jacob says, this graphic novel text is important because it raises awareness of the refugee experience, human rights and helps build empathy.

By reading the afterward and author's notes, I know that "When Stars are Scattered" is based on Omar's own experiences.

He describes life in Dadaab and Somalia in lots of detail.

And the text shows lots of the challenges that many refugees face.

Yeah, a really interesting comment there.

I thank you Jacob.

Check for understanding.

True or false.

"When Stars are Scattered" is a true story in a refugee camp.

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

Well done, if you selected true.

"When Stars are Scattered" is indeed a true story of life in a refugee camp.

Now, I'd like you to justify your answer.

Take a look at these two justifications.

A, Omar completed his primary and secondary school education while at the camp.

And B, "When Stars are Scattered" is based on Omar Mohamed's real life.

It is autobiographical with illustrations from Victoria Jamieson.

Which of these statements best fits with the original statement? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done, if you selected B.

Both of these statements are true.

But the second one more directly links to the original statement.

Let's go through a brief summary of the text.

Omar and his younger brother Hassan arrive at Dadaab refugee camp as small children.

Fatuma, their guardian looks out for them.

Omar details the days before school as waiting in lines for water and food, completing chores and playing with Hassan.

Who communicates only through vocalisations and one word, Hooyo.

Omar form strong friendships with Jeri and Maryam who also live in Dadaab.

The narrative follows Omar as he begins school, studies and hopes to resettle in America.

I'd like you to order the following events from "When Stars are Scattered" in chronological order.

So, that means in time order.

We can see that word chrono within chronological.

And that means time.

So put them in the order in which they happen.

The correct sequence.

And use the text to support you, including the afterward.

That's gonna play a part in this.

I'll just read through them for you.

Omar sets up Refugee Strong, and organisation that supports refugee families.

Omar begins school.

He sees the value in education and studies hard.

Omar has an interview at the United Nations, the UN office.

Omar and Hassan are searching for their mother who they have not seen since fleeing their home country of Somalia.

Pause the video while you decide which order to place these events in.

Okay, I wonder what you came up with.

Did you get the first of the event as this one here? Omar has been searching for their mother.

Next came this one.

Omar begins to school.

After that, Omar has an interview at the UN office.

And finally, Omar sets up Refugee Strong.

Well done, if you selected this order.

Now we've come to the time for our first task.

So we've explored the story.

Now we're going to discuss our own thoughts and our feelings about the text.

And I'm gonna use a a grid.

A specific grid to help us with it.

So first of all, I would like you to answer the questions in the grid with your partner.

Be honest about your thoughts, and make sure you listen to your partner's opinion.

So, we're really gonna be thinking, reflecting, and also listening carefully to each other.

So we have got three things in particular exploring.

Likes, dislikes, and puzzles.

Let's go through them one at a time.

So likes.

What caught your attention? What made you want to keep on reading? And here are some sentence stems for you.

You could start by saying, I enjoyed.

Or my favourite part was.

Next dislikes.

Was there anything you weren't so into, or maybe you didn't understand? You could begin with.

I was unsure about.

Or I wanted to know more about.

And finally, puzzles.

Was there anything you found strange or surprising? Anything in particular that you noticed? And here your sentence stands.

I wondered.

I noticed.

Turn to someone nearby and share with them now.

Your likes dislikes, puzzles.

And listen carefully to each others answers.

Pause the video here.

Okay, it's good to be back together with you.

And I am wondering how did you get on with this task? What were your likes? What were you unsure about? Any puzzles? I'm gonna share my answers with you.

I wonder if you had anything similar.

So likes.

Well to be honest, there's more I love than a like.

So, I loved how the creators of the text were able to include lots of emotion in the narrative.

I really empathised with the characters.

The afterward was really affecting.

I wonder what emotions came up for you.

For me, I really cried at the end.

I found it so, so moving.

Dislikes.

Life was not easy for Omar and Hassan.

And the text does not shy away from depicting serious topics and themes.

I wanted to know more about the UNHCR and the work they do.

So, that's the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

So, I'm really curious to find out, yeah, actually what do they do? How are they helping refugees? Puzzles.

I wondered how Omar managed to stay positive for so long.

He spent over 15 years there.

Such a long time.

And I noticed how Omar really understands his brother's disability.

He cares deeply for him.

I found that very, very touching.

Next up, we are gonna be exploring graphic novels.

This is one of my very favourite forms of text.

I'm so excited to get into this.

Graphic novels can appeal to readers of all ages and interests.

A graphic novel tells a complete story with illustrations in panels.

The panels are often rectangular, but they can be different shapes as well.

They have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Unlike comics which are usually released weekly in smaller sections called comic strips.

I wonder if you've ever seen a comic strip.

I wonder if you've seen one? Maybe in a magazine or a newspaper? I used to like following the Peanuts comic strip.

Which has Snoopy the dog in it.

And Charlie Brown and the gang, when I was younger.

Graphic novels are really engaging and include many features such as speech bubbles, thought bubbles, and narration to inform the reader what is happening.

Let's find out more about those.

Callouts, refer to visual elements that draw attention to specific details within a panel or a page.

Let's look at three kinds of callouts.

Speech bubbles, come in different shapes to distinguish between types of speech or communication.

For example, they might be pointed.

Or they might have jagged edges to signify heightened emotions.

Next we have thought bubbles.

These represent a character's internal thoughts.

They might have a cloud-like shape.

Or be presented with a series of dots to visually distinguish them from the speech bubbles.

And then we have narration.

This is often in a panel.

A rectangular shape.

Narration in graphic novels is often used to provide insight into a character's inner thoughts or emotions.

This allows readers to understand the character's perspective, and adds depth to the storytelling.

Graphic novels have lots of creative ways to display words and images.

They can be presented in a range of formats.

One of my favourite double page spreads is on page 38 and 39.

And it depicts Omar's inner thoughts and emotions as he considers going to school.

And this highlighted to me the importance of access to education for all children.

How about you? What is your favourite double page spread and why? Here's some sentences that you could use to answer this question.

My favourite double page spread is.

I thought it was really effective because.

So, pause the video now.

Go off, take a look at the book and share with the person next to you your favourite double page spread.

And also share with them why you think it's effective.

Pause the video here.

Okay, good to be back with you.

And I am so curious.

I wonder what your favourite double page spread was.

I hope you en enjoyed sharing it with your partner.

And it's time for our next task.

"When Stars are Scattered" uses callouts in interesting ways to provide the reader with lots of information and context to Omar's experiences.

They provide the reader with a greater understanding of Omar's cultural background, alongside others in the refugee camp.

I want you to look out for three things now.

Find an example of each of the following callouts within the text.

Do you remember what the callouts are? Yep, first one is the speech bubble speaking.

Next one is the thought bubble.

Next one is the narration.

That sort of panel where we have the text written to give us some further information.

So, why did you choose each particular example? I'd like you to think about that as well.

And what makes it effective in communicating to the reader what's happening within the scene? So, I'd like you to go off now, find an example of each of those three callouts.

And then share with your partner why did you choose this example and what makes it effective? Pause the video here.

Okay, it's good to be back together with you.

I'm wondering what did you choose? I mean so many to choose from.

Which one did you go for? Here's some things that I would like to share with you.

So for me, the speech bubbles on page 80 depict a conversation around disability with Omar's friend Jeri.

Which I found a really effective one.

It discusses quite complex emotions and thoughts in a very sensitive way.

Thought bubbles on pages 46 and 47 show some of the challenges Omar faced at school.

And narration on page 56 shows some of the inequality that occurred within the camp.

And now it's time for us to look at themes.

We're gonna be exploring some of the themes in this text.

What is a theme? Well, a theme is and is not a keyword.

So what is a theme? It's a big idea.

A big idea, topic or message that recurs.

It keeps coming up within a story.

Identifying themes within a text involves inference.

Inferences, looking carefully, looking between the lines, looking more deeply.

Themes are not explicitly stated within the text.

So, it doesn't say this book is about.

But it's something that we will discover in the following ways.

So, here are a few ways in which we can identify themes.

So, considering actions and characteristics of people within the text.

By identifying repetition.

So actions, emotions, traits that occur again and again.

Searching for deeper meaning, using inference.

And considering the overall message of the text.

One of the most prominent themes in "When Stars are Scattered" is perseverance and hope.

So, perseverance is when we keep going in the face of challenges.

Even if it feels unlikely or tricky for us to get through or to achieve our goal.

But we keep going.

I wonder if there's something that you've persevered with.

That you where you've really stuck at it even though it's been tough.

It's been challenging, but you've kept going.

You are interested.

I wonder what that could be.

Omar makes the most out of his situation.

He works hard, but the chances of resettlement are very slim.

What themes do you think are shown within the text? Pause the video while you consider what are some of the key themes.

I wonder what you came up with.

Here are some other themes that this text might include.

Love, loss, brotherhood, found family.

So this is the idea that, although their mother is not there, is not there with them.

Fatuma takes on that role.

She takes on that motherly role.

So, she's their found family.

Or they are each other's found family.

Survival, inequality and belonging.

There are many possible themes that can be drawn out from this text.

And readers may interpret themes and their importance differently.

That's because we're all individuals.

We will have our unique identities as readers.

I'd like you to match a theme with how it's conveyed in the text.

Here we've got three themes.

Found family, loss and inequality.

And here's how it could be conveyed in the text.

So conveyed means how it's shown, how it is presented.

Omar and Hassan are looking to reunite with their mother.

Maryam is not afforded the same opportunities as Omar due to her gender.

And Fatuma cares for Omar and Hassan like a parent.

So, pause the video now while you match the theme with how it is conveyed in the text.

Okay, let's see how you got on.

Did you link found family with Fatuma caring for Omar and Hassan? Did you link inequality with Maryam not being afforded the same opportunities as Omar due to her gender? And did you link loss with Omar and Hassan looking to reunite with their mother? Well done.

That's how you got on.

And well done for giving it a go, however you did.

A takeaway idea within a text may link to themes that are explored and developed in it.

It may include a key message, insight or perspective that the author has communicated to the reader.

What are your takeaway ideas within "When Stars are Scattered"? Pause the video while you reflect on this and share with someone nearby.

Oh, I'm curious.

I'm wondering what ideas you've come up with.

Your take-away ideas.

What are you taking away from this text? Let's see some other take-away ideas.

Here's one from June.

"When Stars are Scattered" made me aware of the privilege of an education.

Yeah, oh great point.

Thank you for sharing that Jen.

And Ms Aisha.

The text makes me think about inequality within the world.

Some progress has been made, but there's still a way to go.

Really, really good point there.

Thank you Aisha.

Some takeaway ideas you might have mentioned could be, people can find strength and hope even in the most difficult circumstances.

Friendship and community can provide a sense of belonging.

The work that charity and aid organisations do is vital for refugees and asylum seekers.

Autobiographical texts give us valuable insights into other people's perspectives.

As our reading experiences are unique, as a indeed you are.

You're unique, you're an individual, your ideas will be too.

And they're all valid.

In our lesson, developing understanding of "When Stars are Scattered" through rich discussions, we have covered the following.

"When Stars are Scattered" is a true story based on Omar Mohamed's own experiences in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya.

The text explores and individual's recount of their experiences.

It is not reflective of every refugee's experience.

A graphic novel tells a complete story with illustrations in panels.

Graphic novels include many features such as callouts, thought bubbles, and narration to inform the reader of what is happening.

A take-away idea within a text may link to themes that are explored and developed in it.

It may include a key message, insight, or perspective that the author has communicated to the reader.

And what I would like to communicate to you, is how delighted I was to be there, together with you sharing this text.

Exploring this amazing text.

And thank you for joining in.

Thank you for your ideas.

And, I'm really looking forward to seeing you at the next lesson.

Bye for now.