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Year 5

Building comprehension of 'Oliver Twist' through rich discussion

I can answer a range of comprehension questions on 'Oliver Twist'.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 5

Building comprehension of 'Oliver Twist' through rich discussion

I can answer a range of comprehension questions on 'Oliver Twist'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Oliver is beginning to settle into life with Mr. Brownlow in Pentonville, London.
  2. Readers can form an impression of a range of characters by focusing on how a character is described or depicted in text.
  3. A prediction is a statement about what you think will happen in the future.
  4. Predictions can be justified using information from the text or readers’ prior knowledge about the characters &context.
  5. Searching for keywords or specific types of words can support readers in answering retrieval questions.

Common misconception

Pupils may find it challenging to identify keywords in the question.

Rehearse answering retrieval questions by modelling the process out loud. Encourage children to underline the keyword in the question and use skimming and scanning to find the answer.

Keywords

  • Impression - An impression refers to initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a text.

  • Prediction - A prediction is an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge.

  • Retrieval - Retrieval is finding key details or information in the text and extracting them.

When referring to questions which ask pupils to identify a character's name, model skimming and scanning for proper nouns and capital letters. Before the following lesson, read the remainder of Chapter 8. Children can read independently or have this read to them.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2014 Oxford University Press edition of ‘Oliver Twist’ written by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Jeff Anderson, for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • 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

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the adjectives to the character in 'Oliver Twist'.
Correct Answer:happy, giggly,Nancy

Nancy

Correct Answer:honest, trusting,Oliver

Oliver

Correct Answer:vicious, mean,Bill Sikes

Bill Sikes

Q2.
When reading, what is meant by a making a prediction?
a list of technical or subject-specific terms with brief explanations
when you find and remember specific information or details from the text
Correct answer: a guess or inference about what might happen next in the story based on clues
Q3.
Who is the illustrator of this adaptation of 'Oliver Twist'?
Correct Answer: Jeff Anderson, Jeff anderson, jeff anderson
Q4.
Order the following events from Chapter 4 of 'Oliver Twist'.
1 - The Artful Dodger leads Oliver to Fagin.
2 - Fagin feeds Oliver and teaches him how to pickpocket.
3 - Oliver is introduced to Nancy and Bill Sikes.
4 - Oliver goes out on the streets with the Artful Dodger & Charlie. He gets caught.
Q5.
True or False? Fagin shares all of his wealth with the boys.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q6.
Why does Mr. Brownlow think that Oliver has stolen from him?
Correct answer: He is missing a handkerchief.
Oliver had his hand in his coat pocket.
He is missing some money.
Correct answer: Oliver has a guilty-looking face and runs away.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:impression,refers to initial feelings about a person, place or thing

refers to initial feelings about a person, place or thing

Correct Answer:prediction,an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge

an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge

Correct Answer:retrieval,finding key details or information in the text and extracting them

finding key details or information in the text and extracting them

Q2.
What is the name of the gentleman who disagrees with Mr. Brownlow about Oliver?
Mr. Quilp
Correct answer: Mr. Grimwig
Mr. Haversham
Q3.
How much does Mr. Brownlow give to Oliver to pay the bookseller?
four pounds
Correct answer: five pounds
six pounds
seven pounds
Q4.
Order the following events from Chapter 7.
1 - Oliver is sent to the bookshop to return books and pay five pounds.
2 - Nancy spots Oliver and pretends to be his sister.
3 - Bill Sikes threatens Oliver.
4 - Bullseye keeps watch to check Oliver does not move.
Q5.
Which of the following can be helpful strategies to use when being asked to retrieve information?
reading the entire text again
Correct answer: underline keywords
Correct answer: read the sentence before or after the keyword
Correct answer: search for a type of word e.g. a proper noun
referring to connections that readers make from one text to another
Q6.
Which character is having second thoughts about helping Fagin?
Correct answer: Nancy
Bill
Artful Dodger