KS3 Whole-Class Reading - Summer 1 (Lesson 1-2)

KS3 Whole-Class Reading – Spring 1 (Lessons 3–4)
Year Group: 7–8
Genre: Fiction (Historical Novel)
Core Texts: Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

Lessons 1 and 2 of this Summer 1 whole-class reading unit build on pupils’ prior knowledge of fiction by exploring how language and vocabulary choices create atmosphere and meaning in horror texts. Pupils study the extract Goodnight Mister Tom.

Through guided reading and structured discussion, pupils develop their ability to retrieve explicit information and use inference to interpret meaning that is not directly stated. Contextual information about each author and novel supports understanding of how background and genre conventions influence writing choices.

Oracy-focused activities encourage pupils to communicate ideas clearly, respond thoughtfully to others and use evidence from the text to justify interpretations. Pupils are also supported to summarise extracts both collaboratively and independently, consolidating comprehension and key ideas.

By the end of these lessons, pupils will:

Understand how language and figurative techniques shape atmosphere
Analyse vocabulary choices and their impact on meaning
Use inference to interpret implicit information
Develop knowledge of the authors and context of each novel
Contribute effectively to discussion and produce concise summaries

This resource aligns with the KS3 National Curriculum reading aims, supporting pupils’ development of comprehension, inference, vocabulary and spoken language through high-quality whole-class reading.