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Year 4

Developing responses to 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane' through rich discussions

I can develop my own response to 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’.

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New
New
Year 4

Developing responses to 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane' through rich discussions

I can develop my own response to 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Character traits can be explored through the text’s illustrations or words used by the characters.
  2. Different readers may interpret a text in different ways.
  3. Discussing books by building on other books and our own views can help us to deepen our understanding of a text.

Common misconception

Edward isn't a likeable protagonist.

Edward Tulane is an anti-hero. An anti-hero is a flawed protagonist, often with ambiguous morals.

Keywords

  • Character trait - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.

  • Coda - A coda is a concluding passage of text that adds closure to a piece of writing, after the text’s ending.

  • Connection - How a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world can be called a connection.

  • Recommendation - A recommendation is a suggestion for a text that is well-suited to a reader’s age and their interests.

Bull is described as a 'tramp' in the text. For these sessions, he is referred to as homeless - of no fixed abode. Pupils could track how Edward's character changes throughout the story by completing a role on the wall or emotions graph.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2015 Walker Books edition of ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’, written by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive 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.
In 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane', what is the name of the girl Edward lives with on Egypt Street?
Lolly
Nellie
Sarah Ruth
Correct answer: Abilene
Q2.
Who is the illustrator of 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane'?
Correct Answer: Bagram Ibatoulline, bagram ibatoulline, Bagram, ibatoulline
Q3.
Who fixed Edward's head when he was broken?
Bull
Lawrence
Bryce
Correct answer: Lucius
Q4.
Which of the following character traits are shown by Edward in the text?
manipulative
Correct answer: empathetic
reckless
Correct answer: resilient
Q5.
Match Edward's owners to what they call him in the text.
Correct Answer:Nellie and Lawrence,Susanna

Susanna

Correct Answer:Bull,Malone

Malone

Correct Answer:Sarah Ruth,Jangles

Jangles

Correct Answer:Abilene,Edward

Edward

Q6.
Which of the following events in 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane' take place in Memphis?
Correct answer: Edward helps Bryce earn some money by dancing as a marionette.
Edward is thrown overboard on a ship.
Correct answer: Edward is thrown into a wall at a diner. His head shatters into lots of pieces.
Edward is found underneath a mound of rubbish.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who is Sarah Ruth's brother in the text?
Correct Answer: Bryce, bryce
Q2.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:character trait,the qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting

the qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting

Correct Answer:connection,how a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world

how a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world

Correct Answer:recommendation,a suggestion for a text that is suited to a reader's age and interests

a suggestion for a text that is suited to a reader's age and interests

Q3.
True or false? Pellegrina's story is a fairytale that soothes Abilene.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q4.
What is a purpose of a coda?
Correct answer: to summarise the text
to add illustrations that give greater meaning to the text
to set up a sequel to the text
Correct answer: to add closure to a text after the story has ended
Q5.
Match the following characters to their descriptions in the text.
Correct Answer:Lawrence,Finds Edward in a fishing net; brings him to Nellie.

Finds Edward in a fishing net; brings him to Nellie.

Correct Answer:Lucy,Bull's canine companion.

Bull's canine companion.

Correct Answer:Sarah Ruth,A young girl who is very poorly.

A young girl who is very poorly.

Q6.
What new information does the reader find out in the coda?
Edward travelled on a ship.
Edward was buried under a mound of rubbish.
Correct answer: Edward played with Abilene's daughter and was happy.
Edward is mended by Lucius.