New
New
Year 1

Exploring illustrations in 'Lulu Gets a Cat'

I can make predictions about a book using the front cover and illustrations.

New
New
Year 1

Exploring illustrations in 'Lulu Gets a Cat'

I can make predictions about a book using the front cover and illustrations.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A front cover often shows the title, an illustration, the author's name and the illustrator's name
  2. The title and illustrations can generate a prediction about what a book might be about
  3. One person's prediction might be different to another person's
  4. Looking closely at some illustrations can help to make more detailed predictions
  5. Looking at illustrations and discussing a book before reading builds excitement about reading it

Keywords

  • Prediction - making a guess using what we already know

  • Illustration - a picture in a book

  • Character - a person or animal in a story

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to link their predictions to their own knowledge or experience.

Support pupils by contextualising prior learning (books they have read that may be similar, learning about animals, pets they may have at home etc.) Alternatively, provide them with some context e.g. "I know that cats are difficult to look after."

Build anticipation further by wrapping up the book and unwrapping it to reveal part of the front cover at a time. Give them sneak peaks of set illustrations and then hide the book away and keep reminding children they will get to find out soon.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the 2018 Alanna Max edition of 'Lulu Gets a Cat' by Anna McQuinn.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
A __________ is who is in a story.
Correct answer: character
setting
plot
Q2.
The __________ is where a story takes place.
character
Correct answer: setting
plot
Q3.
The __________ is what happens in a story.
character
setting
Correct answer: plot
Q4.
What is a prediction for a story?
A prediction is an explanation of the main events of a story.
Correct answer: A prediction is a sensible guess about what might happen using what we know.
A prediction is guessing what a story is about without thinking about it.
Q5.
Why are illustrations helpful when making predictions?
Correct answer: They can give us clues about the plot.
They are nice to look at.
Correct answer: They can give us clues about the characters and the setting of the story.
Q6.
Match each word to its definition.
Correct Answer:author,a person who writes the words of a story

a person who writes the words of a story

Correct Answer:illustrator,a person who draws the pictures or images for a story

a person who draws the pictures or images for a story

Correct Answer:title,the name of a book

the name of a book

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the title of the story we have been looking at?
Correct answer: 'Lulu Gets a Cat'
'Lulu Gets a Dog'
'A Cat Gets Lulu'
'Lulu Gets a Rabbit'
Q2.
Using the illustrations, what do you think Lulu is most interested in?
football
Correct answer: cats
sleeping
playing
Q3.
Looking at the illustrations, which of these statements do you think is true?
Correct answer: Lulu wants to have a real cat.
Lulu already has a real cat.
Lulu does not want a cat.
Q4.
Match each term to its example from the story 'Lulu Gets a Cat'.
Correct Answer:title,'Lulu Gets a Cat'

'Lulu Gets a Cat'

Correct Answer:author ,Anna McQuinn

Anna McQuinn

Correct Answer:character,Lulu

Lulu

Q5.
Which of these adjectives could you use to describe Lulu on the front cover?
Correct answer: calm
excited
angry
Correct answer: relaxed
Correct answer: happy
Q6.
What can you use to make a prediction about a story?
Correct answer: the title
Correct answer: the front cover
Correct answer: the illustrations
the illustrator's name
Correct answer: your knowledge of the topic