New
New
Year 5

Developing responses to 'Wonder' through rich discussions

I can develop my own response to 'Wonder’.

New
New
Year 5

Developing responses to 'Wonder' through rich discussions

I can develop my own response to 'Wonder’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. By reading from a range of perspectives, readers can discover more about characters and their relationships.
  2. Characters and their relationships change and evolve throughout a narrative.
  3. Making connections and recommendations can significantly enhance a reader's experience with a text.
  4. Connections are ways in which you connect personally with a text; these may differ based on reader's life experiences.

Keywords

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

  • Perspective - refers to the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads, influencing the way events or ideas are portrayed and understood

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

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

Common misconception

Pupils may think that a favourite character should always be someone who embodies positive character traits.

Explain that favourite characters can be characters involved in key moments in the text; characters who change the most in the story; or, characters who remind readers of someone they know.

Pupils must have read the text in advance of this lesson. Encourage pupils to regularly recommend texts for each other. Support discussions around different texts and what they have enjoyed and why.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2022 Corgi Children’s Books edition of ‘Wonder’, written by R.J. Palacio with illustrations by Tad Carpenter, for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who is the illustrator of the front cover and interior illustrations?
Correct Answer: Tad Carpnter, tad carpenter, Tad carpenter
Q2.
Who is the main protagonist of 'Wonder'?
Via Pullman
Jack Will
Correct answer: August Pullman
Summer Dawson
Q3.
Whose perspectives does the reader read from? Select two.
August's mother
Correct answer: August
August's father
Correct answer: Via
Q4.
Match the following character traits to the character that shows them.
Correct Answer:supportive,Mr. Tushman

Mr. Tushman

Correct Answer:rude,Julian

Julian

Correct Answer:funny,August's father

August's father

Q5.
What is the name of August's English teacher?
Correct answer: Mr. Browne
Mr. Pink
Mr. Orange
Mr. Red
Q6.
True or False? August ends the text unhappy.
Correct Answer: False, false

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
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:perspective,the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads

the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads

Correct Answer:recommendation,a suggestion for a text that is well-suited to a reader’s interests

a suggestion for a text that is well-suited to a reader’s interests

Q2.
True or False? August's parents are worried about him starting middle school.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q3.
Match the following characters to their relationship with August.
Correct Answer:Jack Will,one of August's close friends

one of August's close friends

Correct Answer:Justin,Via's boyfriend

Via's boyfriend

Correct Answer:Julian,a boy who bullies August

a boy who bullies August

Correct Answer:Daisy,August’s pet dog

August’s pet dog

Q4.
Which of the following are character traits shown by Via?
mean
unkind
Correct answer: independent
Correct answer: understanding
Q5.
Which of the following are true?
Correct answer: Via’s friend Miranda has always been friendly towards August.
Via doesn’t understand why her parents cannot spend time with her.
Correct answer: Initially, Via does not want August to come to her play.
Q6.
A recommendation is ...
Correct answer: a suggestion for a text that is well-suited to a reader’s age and interests.
a short promotional description of a text, located on the back cover.
the person or character who is telling the story.