Developing an understanding of 'Varjak Paw' through rich discussions
I can discuss the main ideas of ‘Varjak Paw’.
Developing an understanding of 'Varjak Paw' through rich discussions
I can discuss the main ideas of ‘Varjak Paw’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 'Varjak Paw' is in the form of an illustrated chapter book, combining words and illustration.
- Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue Kitten and has never left home.
- During the text, Varjak must leave his home and family and has to survive on his own.
- One of the most prominent themes is identity; identity is who you are and what makes you unique.
Keywords
Illustrated chapter book - An illustrated chapter book is a longer fictional text with illustrations to support and develop understanding.
Form - Form is the way that a text can be presented.
Theme - A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that illustrations always depict exactly what is mentioned in the words the author writes.
Show examples throughout the illustrated chapter book where the illustrations add in additional details, for example, the depiction of a car on pages 90 and 91.
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Developing an understanding of 'Varjak Paw' through rich discussions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Developing an understanding of 'Varjak Paw' through rich discussions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the 'Varjak Paw': book club unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2014 Corgi Childrens edition of ‘Varjak Paw, written by SF Said with illustrations by Dave McKean, for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Atinuke
Onyinye Iwu
Too Small Tola
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a longer fictional text with illustrations
the way that a text can be presented
a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
caring about someone and helping each other out
not being the same as someone or something else
sticking by someone's side and being there for them no matter what