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Year 3

Engaging with the opening of 'The Firework Maker's Daughter'

I can summarise the opening of ’The Firework Maker's Daughter’.

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New
New
Year 3

Engaging with the opening of 'The Firework Maker's Daughter'

I can summarise the opening of ’The Firework Maker's Daughter’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'The Firework Maker's Daughter' is a quest narrative and the protagonist is named Lila.
  2. The story is influenced by South-East Asian culture and there are clues that imply it is set in Indonesia.
  3. The author provides lots of hints in his writing to give the reader clues and help them form predictions about the plot.
  4. Lila wants to be a firework-maker and discover the secret to it but her father Lalchand wants her to find a husband.
  5. Lila's friend Chulak speaks to Lalchand and finds out the secret ingredient for firework-making and where to find it.

Common misconception

Students may find it difficult to understand elements from the opening due to unfamiliar vocabulary, specifically vocabulary that is culturally specific (e.g. 'rupee' or 'rickshaw').

Pre-teach unfamiliar vocabulary from the opening using visual images to support student understanding.

Keywords

  • Quest - a long or difficult search for something

  • Hint - a slight indication or suggestion of something

  • Prediction - making a guess using what we already know

  • Summarise - to pull out key events and ideas from a text

Examine the first paragraph of the story and how this sets the scene with students. Explore the ways in which South-East Asian culture is evident in the opening of the story and immerse students in understanding this.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the 2018 Penguin Random House UK edition of ‘The Firework Maker's Daughter' by Philip Pullman for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

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.
What is a narrative?
writing that is made up or imagined
Correct answer: writing that tells a story
writing that always gives true information
Q2.
What is a fairytale?
a story that only has animal characters
a short story
Correct answer: a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands
Q3.
Which of the following are examples of genre?
Correct answer: fiction
Correct answer: adventure
cookbook
dictionary
Correct answer: fantasy
Q4.
What is a protagonist in a story?
the narrator of the story
Correct answer: the main character in a story and the one whom the plot revolves around
the person who wrote the story
Q5.
Match the word to its definition.
Correct Answer:workshop,a room or building in which goods are made or repaired

a room or building in which goods are made or repaired

Correct Answer:gunpowder,an explosive mixture of powders used in fireworks

an explosive mixture of powders used in fireworks

Correct Answer:scorched,burnt by flames or heat

burnt by flames or heat

Q6.
Match the word to its definition.
Correct Answer:graffiti,writings or drawings scribbled, scratched or sprayed on a surface

writings or drawings scribbled, scratched or sprayed on a surface

Correct Answer:rickshaw,a light, two-wheeled passenger vehicle

a light, two-wheeled passenger vehicle

Correct Answer:rupees,the currency of money used in India and other Asian countries

the currency of money used in India and other Asian countries

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:hint,a slight indication or suggestion of something

a slight indication or suggestion of something

Correct Answer:prediction,making a guess using what we already know

making a guess using what we already know

Correct Answer:summarise,to pull out the key events and ideas from a text

to pull out the key events and ideas from a text

Q2.
What is a quest?
an easy journey
completing tasks
Correct answer: a long or difficult search for something
Q3.
Who is the author of ‘The Firework-Maker’s Daughter’?
Correct answer: Philip Pullman
Philip Palmer
Paul Pullman
Q4.
In Chapter 1, what did Lila learn all about from her father Lalchand?
how to dance
Correct answer: firework-making techniques
every secret there was to making fireworks
Q5.
In Chapter 1, where does Chulak discover the secret ingredient for fireworks is?
hidden in Lalchand’s workshop
in a place called ‘Sulphur’
Correct answer: in the middle of a volcano called ‘Merapi’
Q6.
Select the most likely prediction of what will happen next in ‘The Firework-Maker’s Daughter’.
Chulak will keep Lalchand’s secret to himself & try to become a firework-maker.
Chulak will forget the secret.
Correct answer: Chulak will tell Lila the secret and she will go on a quest to find it.