Developing understanding of 'When Stars are Scattered' through rich discussions
I can discuss the main ideas of ‘When Stars are Scattered’.
Developing understanding of 'When Stars are Scattered' through rich discussions
I can discuss the main ideas of ‘When Stars are Scattered’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 'When Stars are Scattered' is a graphic novel memoir of Omar Mohamed's experience of living in a refugee camp in Kenya.
- Omar and his brother, Hassan, have lived in Dadaab refugee camp for seven years.
- Omar's brother, Hassan, has complex needs which are depicted and handled sensitively.
- Gender inequality is noted in the early chapters; inequality is an important theme of the text.
Keywords
Graphic novel - A graphic novel is a type of text combining words and images in long-form, sequential art panels.
Refugee - Refugees are people who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and have crossed an international border to find safety in another country.
Theme - A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
Common misconception
Pupils may consider the text as telling Omar's story in one continuous narrative.
The graphic novel has two significant jumps in time, page 114 (two years later) and page 221 (four years later). The afterword and author's note both describe what happened to Omar after arriving in the United States.
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Developing understanding of 'When Stars are Scattered' through rich discussions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Developing understanding of 'When Stars are Scattered' 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 'When Stars are Scattered': book club unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2020 Faber & Faber edition of 'When Stars are Scattered’, created by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
a close-knit group sharing bonds of kinship and support
learning and skill development in academic or practical contexts
a group sharing common interests, values, or location
assistance and support provided for the well-being of people in need
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a text combining words and images in long-form, sequential art panels
people who have fled war, violence or conflict to find safety
a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
represents what/how something is said
represents inner thoughts and feelings
represents the character's perspective through storytelling