The Firework Maker's Daughter - Chapter 2 - Double Lesson!

This engaging and comprehensive reading lesson develops children’s understanding of Chapter 2, Escape, of Philip Pullman’s The Firework-Maker’s Daughter, whilst building their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Through an illustrated slideshow and accompanying worksheet, children explore Lila’s decision to leave home, infer characters’ feelings and motives, and analyse the vivid descriptions of the volcano, jungle and river. Activities encourage children to retrieve key information, identify descriptive techniques and explain the effects of the writer’s language using evidence.

The lesson includes:
-Vocabulary activities to clarify unfamiliar language;
-Two sets of retrieval questions with answers;
-Discussion and inference tasks exploring Lila’s note, Lalchand’s reaction and the clues about the pirates;
-A structured analysis worksheet covering quotations, techniques and their effects;
-Model responses, sentence starters and an additional challenge;
-A final learning review with self-assessment and an exit question.

Answers, suggested responses and teaching ideas are provided in the slideshow notes and on the second page of the worksheet.

Ideal for whole-class or guided reading in Years 3 and 4, with opportunities for paired discussion and independent written responses. Children will need access to Chapter 2 of the novel.