Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 5

Developing an understanding of 'Front Desk' through rich discussions

I can discuss the main ideas of ‘Front Desk’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 5

Developing an understanding of 'Front Desk' through rich discussions

I can discuss the main ideas of ‘Front Desk’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘Front Desk’ is a fictional novel, inspired by the author’s childhood.
  2. The text explores complex themes including racism, bullying, poverty and justice
  3. The text shares with readers the importance of tolerance and diversity.
  4. Throughout the text, Mia notices how people are judged based on their race, ethnicity or social status.

Common misconception

Everyone is treated fairly and equally.

By exploring the text and reading the author's note, it is clear that not everyone has equal rights. Pupils could explore charities like Amnesty International who campaign for equality.

Keywords

  • Immigrant - An immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

  • Prejudice - Prejudice is holding unfair and unreasonable opinions or feelings based on limited thought and knowledge.

  • Discrimination - Discrimination means treating a person or group of people differently and unfairly because of a certain characteristic.

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

Pupils must have read the text in advance of this lesson. It will be useful if pupils have an understanding of discrimination and prejudice before the session. This can be addressed within a PSHE lesson or group discussion.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2021 Knights Of edition of ‘Front Desk’, written by Kelly Yang, illustrated by Maike Plenzke, for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

Video

Skip video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a suitable definition of a memoir?
a genre in which oral stories are shared and passed down over time
Correct answer: a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge
a brief description accompanying an image
Q2.
What person perspective are memoirs written from?
Correct answer: first person perspective
second person perspective
third person perspective
Q3.
From the front cover, which of the following are likely to be in the genre of non-fiction?
Cloud Busting
Correct answer: What are Refugees and Migrants?
City of Stolen Magic
Correct answer: Real-Life Mysteries
Q4.
True or false? Fiction texts contain imaginary or made-up events.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q5.
Match the following terms of elements usually found in a fictional text to their definitions.
Correct Answer:character,a person or an animal in a story

a person or an animal in a story

Correct Answer:setting,where the story takes place

where the story takes place

Correct Answer:plot,what happens in the story

what happens in the story

Q6.
What is a suitable definition of immigration?
a consideration and interpretation of a reading experience
the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years
Correct answer: the act of living permanently in a foreign country
Q3 image 1 Cloud Busting, Malorie Blackman, Helen van Vliet, Yearling Q3 image 2 Who are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave Their Homes? And Other Big Questions, Michael Rosen, AnneMarie Young, Wayland Books Q3 image 3 City of Stolen Magic, Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, Sandhya Prabhat, Puffin Q3 image 4 Real-Life Mysteries, Susan Martineau, Vicky Barker, b small publishing

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:immigrant,a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country

a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country

Correct Answer:prejudice,holding unfair and unreasonable opinions based on limited knowledge

holding unfair and unreasonable opinions based on limited knowledge

Correct Answer:theme,a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

Q2.
Who is the author of 'Front Desk'?
Correct Answer: Kelly Yang, kelly yang, Kelly yang, kelly Yang
Q3.
How would you best describe discrimination?
the act of supporting or promoting a cause, idea, or person
Correct answer: treating a person unfairly because of a certain characteristic
an effect on the character or behaviour of someone else
Q4.
Which of the following are examples of discrimination?
He admitted to breaking the vase without being asked.
Correct answer: They laughed when she spoke, mocking her accent.
She told the truth about her mistake, even though it was hard.
Correct answer: He didn't get picked because of his disability.
He returned the lost wallet with all the money inside.
Q5.
Put the following events in the order they occur in the story.
1 - Mia's family arrive in the United States.
2 - Mia takes it upon herself to manage the front desk for the first time.
3 - The washing machine breaks. Mr Yao blames Mia's parents.
4 - Mia gets a C- in her first writing assignment. She is dispirited.
5 - Mia finds a way to save the motel from being sold. Her family are the new owners
Q6.
True or false? Life was fair for Mia and her family.
Correct Answer: False, false