THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO – MATRIX OF ACTIVITIES
YEAR 9 ENGLISH – MR. BLAZESKI
Throughout the course of the next two weeks, you need to complete at least 15 points of activities using the matrix of activities below.
It is your choice which activities you complete: you can do three 5-point activities, three 4-point and one 3-point activities, or any other combination you choose,
as long as the combination is worth at least 15 points.
The objective of the range of activities below is for you to engage with The Knife of Never Letting Go in a more meaningful way, and by completing these tasks
you will have a more substantial understanding of the ideas and issues explored in the text, the author’s purposes in producing the text, and the ways it works
to engage readers.
Each activity below has a corresponding resource on Compass, the title of which is included in italics under each activity’s description.
Activities
One Point
Two Points
Three Points
Four Points
Five Points
Map of life: create a
character chart, mapping the
identity of one of the main
characters in the novel.
Intensity lever: plot the
novel’s events onto a
detailed Freytag’s pyramid
(plot map).
Big ideas: create a concept
map exploring one of the
themes,
issues,
ideas
explored in the text.
Perspective shift: rewrite a
section of the novel from the
perspective
of
another
character.
Voicing Viola: reimagine the
novel with Viola’s noise
audible to other characters.
How would it change things?
001 Map of Life
002 Intensity Lever
003 Big Ideas
004 Perspective Shift
005 Voicing Viola
Imaging imaginings: create
a storyboard of panels from
one of the pivotal chapters in
the novel.
Wade the depths: think
deeply about the novel by
exploring deep questions
about the author and
themes.
What if: consider the impact
of a number of changes to
the events and responses in
the novel.
Fall in line: would Todd
have been better off joining
the mayor? Write a short
passage about why/why not.
In the minority: write a short
story (not a section from the
novel) from the perspective
of a Spackle.
003 What If Template
004 Fall in Line Template
005 In the Minority
001 Imaging Imaginings
002 Wade the Depths
More than words: create a
vocabulary list of unfamiliar
and interesting words, define
them, and using them in a
sentence.
Close considerations: think
about important quotes from
the novel by brainstorming
literal,
symbolic,
and
thematic ideas.
Invisible meaning: analyse
the figurative language in the
novel, finding examples and
considering their meaning
and effect.
Where and why: compare
the details of the settings in
the text, thinking about how
they are presented in the
novel.
Book review: write a book
review of the novel, sharing
your thoughts as a critical
reader for an imagined
audience.
001 More Than Words
002 Close Considerations
003 Invisible Meaning
003 Where and Why
005 Book Review