New
New
Year 3

Developing an understanding of 'Varjak Paw' through rich discussions

I can discuss the main ideas of ‘Varjak Paw’.

New
New
Year 3

Developing an understanding of 'Varjak Paw' through rich discussions

I can discuss the main ideas of ‘Varjak Paw’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'Varjak Paw' is in the form of an illustrated chapter book, combining words and illustration.
  2. Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue Kitten and has never left home.
  3. During the text, Varjak must leave his home and family and has to survive on his own.
  4. One of the most prominent themes is identity; identity is who you are and what makes you unique.

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.

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.

Pupils must have read the text in advance of this lesson. You may want to check their understanding of the text through some retrieval and discussion tasks ahead of this lesson.
Teacher tip

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

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an author?
Correct answer: a person responsible for crafting the words that make up a text
a person responsible for creating the pictures or artwork that make up a text
a person who translates a text from one language into another
Q2.
What is the role of an illustrator?
a person responsible for crafting the words that make up a text
Correct answer: a person responsible for creating the pictures or artwork that make up a text
a person who translates a text from one language into another
Q3.
A character is ... ?
where the story takes place
what happens in the story
Correct answer: a person or an animal in a story
Q4.
Order the following parts of a story.
1 - opening
2 - build up
3 - climax
4 - resolution
Q5.
True or False? Illustrated chapter books contain both words and illustrations.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q6.
Match the following information from this illustrated chapter book.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:author,Atinuke

Atinuke

Correct Answer:illustrator,Onyinye Iwu

Onyinye Iwu

Correct Answer:title,Too Small Tola

Too Small Tola

Q6 Too Small Tola, Atinuke, Onyinye Iwu, Candlewick Press

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following keywords with their definitions.
Correct Answer:illustrated chapter book,a longer fictional text with illustrations

a longer fictional text with illustrations

Correct Answer:form,the way that a text can be presented

the way that a text can be presented

Correct Answer:theme,a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

Q2.
Who is the author of 'Varjak Paw'?
Correct Answer: SF Said
Q3.
Match the theme with its most suitable definition.
Correct Answer:friendship,caring about someone and helping each other out

caring about someone and helping each other out

Correct Answer:difference,not being the same as someone or something else

not being the same as someone or something else

Correct Answer:loyalty,sticking by someone's side and being there for them no matter what

sticking by someone's side and being there for them no matter what

Q4.
Order the following events in the order that they occur in the text.
1 - The Contessa unexpectedly dies
2 - Varjak climbs the tree and heads off on a dangerous journey to the city
3 - Varjak meets Tam and Holly who feel sorry for him
4 - Varjak takes on Sally Bones and her gang
5 - Varjak frees the cats captured by the Gentlemen
Q5.
Which of the following are features of an illustrated chapter book?
Correct answer: frequent illustrations throughout the text
text written in poetic forms
long extracts of text
Q6.
True or False? Illustrations have to always show what is written by the author.
Correct Answer: False