The Firework Maker's Daughter - Chapter 3 - Double Lesson!

This engaging and comprehensive reading lesson develops children’s understanding of Chapter 3 of Philip Pullman’s The Firework-Maker’s Daughter, whilst building their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Through a newly illustrated slideshow and accompanying worksheet, children explore Lila’s encounter with the pirates and tiger, Hamlet’s secret escape and Rambashi’s latest business venture. Activities encourage children to retrieve key information, infer characters’ feelings and motives, and explain how Pullman creates humour through comic contrasts, repeated complaints and the narrator’s comments.

The lesson includes:
-Vocabulary activities to clarify unfamiliar language;
-Two sets of retrieval questions with answers;
-Discussion and inference tasks exploring Lila’s bravery, the pirates’ behaviour and Lalchand’s regret;
-A structured humour analysis worksheet covering evidence, 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 3 of the novel.