Reading and engaging with 'Blackberry Blue'
I can understand the features of a contemporary fairy tale.
Reading and engaging with 'Blackberry Blue'
I can understand the features of a contemporary fairy tale.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- ‘Blackberry Blue’ is a collection of six fairy tales, with characters from various backgrounds and cultures.
- Each tale contains magical elements and fantastical occurrences, which is a key feature of the genre.
- 'Blackberry Blue' leans on traditional fairy tales for inspiration.
- The theme of good and evil is explored in 'Blackberry Blue'.
- 'Blackberry Blue' begins with a prologue: a paragraph that sets the stage for the fairy tale that is about to follow.
Keywords
Preface - an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope or aims
Fairy tale - a story that typically involves magical or supernatural elements, often with a hero or heroine who overcomes challenges to achieve their goals
Features - distinctive characteristics that belong to a text type
Prologue - an introductory section that sets the stage for the stories within a text
Prediction - an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
Common misconception
Pupils might recognise common features or character types from other fairy tales leading them to think that the characters must conform to a stereotype.
'Blackberry Blue' uses a range of fairy tales for inspiration. Use the text to discuss how characters do not always conform to stereotypes.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2014 Tamarind edition of ‘Blackberry Blue and other fairy tales’, written by Jamila Gavin with illustrations by Richard Collingridge, for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
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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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject or aims
a story that typically involves magical or supernatural elements
distinctive characteristics that belong to a text type