River Boy by Tim Bowler - 12-Lesson SOW

Main Approach: Teacher read-aloud, guided discussion, short formative tasks, chapter-based homework.

The overarching aim of this scheme of work is to guide learners through an engaging, reflective reading of Tim Bowler’s ‘River Boy’, developing both their enjoyment of literature and their analytical skills by exploring how themes, symbolism, and character experiences connect to universal ideas such as change, loss, and resilience.

Specifically, the scheme aims to:
• Foster a love of reading through shared experiences, creative responses, and thoughtful discussion.
• Build literary analysis skills with a focus on themes, symbolism, character, and mood.
• Develop Cambridge-aligned skills in comprehension, inference, structured writing, and critical thinking.
• Encourage emotional intelligence by linking the novel’s themes to students’ own experiences.
• Support both collaborative and independent learning through trackers, short tasks, and reflection
activities.

Files include:

• Theme Map (Teacher) (PDF)
• Scheme of Work (PDF)
• Lesson outlines (PPT)
• Symbolism Tracker (PDF)
• Vocabulary list (PDF)
• Vocabulary list (meaning only) (PDF)
• Formative Tasks (PDF)
• Vocabulary Quiz (Ch 1-6) (PDF)
• Guided writing worksheet (PDF)
• Comparison Chart (PDF)
• Reflective Discussion Guide (Teacher) (PDF)
• Final Quiz (Themes and vocabulary) (PDF)