New
New
Year 6

Exploring concepts and themes in 'A Kind of Spark'

I can consider how the resolution to ‘A Kind of Spark’ links to different concepts and I can draw out key themes from the whole book.

New
New
Year 6

Exploring concepts and themes in 'A Kind of Spark'

I can consider how the resolution to ‘A Kind of Spark’ links to different concepts and I can draw out key themes from the whole book.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When we read texts, we connect them to our own experiences and to 'big ideas'.
  2. We can identify these 'big ideas' using concepts and themes.
  3. Readers may interpret texts differently based on their reading of the material or their own experiences and beliefs.
  4. We can support our views about concepts and themes linked to a text by providing evidence.

Keywords

  • Evidence - the information from a text that can support or justify our reasoning

  • Concept - an abstract idea like ‘hope’ or ‘fairness’

  • Theme - a central idea of a text that the author wants us to think deeply about

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to understand the idea of a 'concept'.

Spend a moment coming up with a list of concepts like 'hope', 'fear' and 'happiness' that you can refer back to.

Our Year 6 curriculum also contains a writing unit based on this book which can be taught following this reading unit.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2020 Knights Of edition of ‘A Kind of Spark’ written by Elle McNicoll, illustrated by Kay Wilson, for this lesson.

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.
Match the words to their meanings.
Correct Answer:relished,enjoyed

enjoyed

Correct Answer:violated,damaged or intruded upon

damaged or intruded upon

Correct Answer:mortified,shocked and embarrassed

shocked and embarrassed

Correct Answer:malevolent,evil

evil

Q2.
Match the words to their meanings.
Correct Answer:defaced,damaged

damaged

Correct Answer:remorse,regret

regret

Correct Answer:provoked,deliberately upset

deliberately upset

Correct Answer:silkily,smoothly

smoothly

Q3.
Which characters helped Addie when Emily provoked her, as well as just after?
Correct answer: Audrey
Correct answer: Mr Allison
Jenna
Miss Murphy
Q4.
Why was Nina especially angry with Miss Murphy during their meeting?
because she let Addie hit Emily
Correct answer: because she withheld information from them in the meeting
because she had interrupted her filming
because she had treated Keedie badly too
Q5.
What does Mr Allison do to try and decrease the tension in the meeting?
asks Miss Murphy to leave
asks Addie to leave
Correct answer: suggests that they reschedule the meeting
brings in the thesaurus
Q6.
Which characters below showed bravery in dealing with the situation involving Addie and Emily?
Jenna
Correct answer: Mr Allison
Correct answer: Audrey
Emily

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word best completes the following sentence? 'The __________ crowd waited for Addie to start speaking.'
deliberate
smattering
Correct answer: expectant
marvelling
Q2.
How would you describe the reaction to Addie's speech?
negative
hostile
Correct answer: positive
concerned
ecstatic
Q3.
Which of the following positive things happen at the end of the book?
Correct answer: The plaque is installed.
Correct answer: Audrey gives Addie a thesaurus.
Bonnie is released.
Miss Murphy is fired.
Q4.
Which word best completes the following sentence? 'Addie found that the cows made good __________: they seemed to listen to everything she said.'
jibes
temples
cud
Correct answer: confidants
Q5.
Which of these concepts link best to the story?
Correct answer: friendship
revenge
despair
greed
Correct answer: understanding
Q6.
Which of these themes link best to the story?
Correct answer: 'Different people can get along if they put in the effort.'
'Adults don't understand children.'
Correct answer: 'Things that happened in the past can teach us about the present.'
'There's no point trying to change things on your own.'