The Firework Maker's Daughter - Chapter 5 - Double Lesson!

This engaging and comprehensive reading lesson develops children’s understanding of Chapter 5, Razvani, of Philip Pullman’s The Firework-Maker’s Daughter, whilst building their vocabulary, comprehension and empathy skills.

Through an illustrated slideshow, children retrieve key information, infer hidden meanings and explore the changing emotions of Lila, Chulak and Hamlet. The main task is a carefully structured hot-seating activity, in which children become the characters and answer questions about their experiences, feelings and motives, using evidence from the chapter.

The lesson includes:
-Vocabulary activities to clarify unfamiliar language;
-Two sets of retrieval questions with answers;
-Discussion and inference tasks exploring fear, determination, friendship and concern;
-Activities tracking characters’ changing and conflicting emotions;
-Step-by-step hot-seating instructions, preparation prompts and question banks for all three characters;
-Model responses, follow-up questions and guidance for listeners;
-A final learning review with self-assessment and an exit question.

Answers, suggested responses and teaching ideas are provided in the slideshow notes. No worksheet is required.

Ideal for whole-class or guided reading in Years 3 and 4, with opportunities for paired discussion, collaborative preparation and speaking and listening. Children will need access to Chapter 5 of the novel.