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Year 6

Building comprehension of 'Shackleton’s Journey' through rich discussion

I can answer a range of comprehension questions on 'Shackleton's Journey'.

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Year 6

Building comprehension of 'Shackleton’s Journey' through rich discussion

I can answer a range of comprehension questions on 'Shackleton's Journey'.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The structure and features of a text can help identify keywords or key information.
  2. A glossary can define technical or subject-specific vocabulary to support readers with understanding the text.
  3. Predictions can be justified using information from the pages.

Keywords

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

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

  • Glossary - A glossary is a list of technical or subject-specific terms with brief explanations, usually located at the back of a non-fiction text.

Common misconception

Pupils may form predictions without basing their ideas on evidence within the text.

Model making predictions based on information provided in the text or wider reading and research.


To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Building comprehension of 'Shackleton’s Journey' through rich discussion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

To support predictions, a mind map about Shackleton and the Endurance could be completed, in small groups or as a whole class, prior to Task B.
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Teacher tip
content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
What was the name of the ship that Shackleton and his crew hoped to navigate Antarctica in?
Correct answer: Endurance
Survival
Determination
Collaboration
Q2.
True or false? Ernest Shackleton took 69 cats with him on his expedition.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q3.
Which of the following is a suitable definition for how readers use retrieval skills.
reading around the text to develop a greater awareness of context
Correct answer: finding key details or information in the text and extracting them
making an educated guess based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
Q4.
What is the name of a non-fiction text feature where readers can understand key terms and their meanings?
index
Correct answer: glossary
contents page
Q5.
Which of the following are usually features found within non-fiction texts?
Correct answer: glossary
plot twists
Correct answer: an introduction or preface
fantasy elements
Correct answer: a list of contents
Q6.
Which of the following items were taken by Shackleton and his crew on board the Endurance?
Correct answer: sledges
mosquito netting
Correct answer: skis
swimwear
Correct answer: blankets

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:retrieval,finding key details or information in the text
tick

finding key details or information in the text

Correct Answer:prediction,an educated guess based on evidence in the text
tick

an educated guess based on evidence in the text

Correct Answer:glossary,a list of technical terms with brief explanations
tick

a list of technical terms with brief explanations

Q2.
Which of the following are strategies we can use to help us develop our comprehension of a non-fiction text?
Skip over challenging or complex sections.
Passively read the text without engaging with the context.
Correct answer: Identify keywords in the question, skim and scan the text to locate the answer.
Correct answer: Use layout features to locate the appropriate section of text.
Q3.
Where do Shackleton and his crew set sail to before they arrive in Antarctica?
Sandwich Islands
South Georgia
Correct answer: Buenos Aires
Elephant Island
Q4.
What was the name of the stowaway that joined the crew between Plymouth and Argentina?
Correct Answer: Percy Blackborrow, Percy, percy blackborrow
Q5.
True or false? Ernest Shackleton tried to keep his crew's morale high.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q6.
When the Endurance became stuck, which of the following changes were made to improve life for the crew and animals?
Correct answer: Dog igloos were built on the ice - named ‘Dog Town’.
Ice sculptures were made to occupy the crew at this time.
Correct answer: McNeish made a stove where crew hung out.
Correct answer: Living quarters on the Endurance were remodelled.
The crew were able to stay in a hotel, called 'The Ritz'.