5th class Novel notes: War Horse teacher’s resources Katherine Paterson NOVEL NOTES 6TH CLASS READING ZONE English Language Programme for Primary Schools 1 Novel Notes Bridge to Terabithia © 2012 Folens Publishers First published in 2012 by: Folens Publishers, Hibernian Industrial Estate, Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Folens books are protected by international copyright laws. All rights reserved. The copyright of all materials in this book, except where otherwise stated, remains the property of Folens Publishers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (stencilling, photocopying, etc.) for whatever purpose, even purely educational, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to change, without notice, at any time the specification of this product. The publisher has made every effort to contact copyright holders but if any have been overlooked we will be pleased to make any necessary arrangements. To the best of the publisher’s knowledge, information in this book was correct at the time of going to press. No responsibility can be accepted for any errors. Contents Synopsis 1 About the Author 2 Objectives 2 Cross-curricular Links 3 Suggestions for Classroom Work 3 Web Links 4 Pre-reading Activities 4 Chapter 1 6 Chapter 2 7 Chapter 3 8 Chapter 4 9 Chapter 5 10 Chapter 6 11 Chapter 7 12 Chapter 8 13 Chapter 9 14 Chapter 10 15 Chapter 11 16 Chapter 12 17 Chapter 13 18 Book Report Sheet 19 Link to Reading Zone Smart Ice Cream: Bridge to Terabithia Unit 17 – Murphy’s Law Synopsis Bridge to Terabithia J ess Aarons and his family live in a small town called Lark Creek. They have a hard family life and Jess’s father leaves home early every morning to travel to work in the city. This leaves Jess to be the man of the house and to do the work. Jess also likes to draw but he seldom gets the chance and is embarrassed to show his father his drawings. The one person he does show them to is Miss Edmunds, an inspirational music teacher at his school. Like Jess, she sticks out from the crowd. Jess eagerly awaits her Friday afternoon class every week. It is during this class that Jess strikes up a friendship with a new girl, Leslie, who has moved into the property next door to his house. In school Leslie is a bright girl who delights her teacher, Mrs Myers. However, when assigned a homework task that involves watching television she embarrasses herself by revealing to the class that her family don’t own a television. Since they’re both outcasts, Jess and Leslie spend a lot of time together. They use a part of a nearby forest as a place to meet up. It’s only accessible by swinging on a rope over the creek, and they name it Terabithia. It is an imaginary land where Leslie is the queen and Jess the king. Terabithia is a secret only to be shared by the two of them. It is their escape from real life. Christmas is a time of great worry for Jess. Money is tight at home and he wants to find the perfect gift for Leslie. After much thought, he gets her a puppy who she names Prince Terrien. She gives Jess paints and paper. Despite a tense family situation Jess manages to have a good Christmas. Jess’s family are unfortunate as Jess’s father loses his job just before Easter. Jess’s sisters are desperate for new clothes as they only attend church once a year and it is a special occasion. Despite their financial struggle the family make it to mass in a presentable condition, along with Leslie who surprises Jess by wanting to attend with his family. After the service, Leslie and Jess, along with Jess’s sister May Belle, argue about whether people go to hell if they don’t believe in the Bible. When some unusually heavy rain comes, it means that the creek is full. Jess becomes increasingly worried about crossing the swollen creek. One day, he thinks it is too dangerous to go to Terabithia. However, he forgets all about it when Miss Edmunds calls and asks him to go with her to a museum in Washington. He goes along, forgetting about Leslie, and has one of the best days of his life. When he comes home he finds out that Leslie went to Terabithia without him and died while attempting to cross the creek. Initially, Jess doesn’t want to believe this terrible news. Over the coming days he slowly begins to understand what he’s lost. He finds it hard to cope and often feel anger towards Leslie for leaving him. While feeling bad, he also realises what he gained by having Leslie as a friend. He goes to Terabithia to try to make some sense of everything, but his little sister follows him and almost falls into the creek herself. In rescuing her, he realises that he’s taken on some of Leslie’s courage. Later, Jess goes back to Terabithia and builds a bridge to cross the creek. When May Belle follows him again, he welcomes her to Terabithia and leads her across the bridge. Themes and issues explored in this novel include family life, school, bullying, stereotypes, growing up, bridges and death. 1 6th Class Novel Notes About the Author K atherine Paterson was born in 1932 to Christian missionaries living and working in China. During her childhood her family moved fifteen times. This constant moving, along with having Chinese as her native language, led to difficulties with speaking and writing in English. However, despite these difficulties, Paterson persevered and studied English at college. She later became a teacher. Paterson began writing novels in the 1960s and has written more than 30 books for children, many of them receiving prestigious awards. Her awards include the National Book Award (The Master Puppeteer, 1976; The Great Gilly Hopkins, 1979); the Edgar Allan Poe Special Award (Master Puppeteer, 1977) and the Newbery Medal (Bridge to Terabithia, 1977; Jacob Have I Loved, 1981). Paterson’s most famous and controversial book, Bridge to Terabithia, has been both praised and criticised for its frank treatment of death and has been adapted for the big screen twice. Bridge to Terabithia was inspired by a real life event, the death of a childhood friend of Paterson’s son. Objectives Curriculum Objectives The children should be enabled to become self-reliant, confident, independent readers, having time in class for sustained silent reading; develop study skills such as skimming, scanning, note-taking and summarising; support arguments and opinions with evidence from the text; relate personal experience to the ideas and emotions conveyed in the text. Learning Outcomes 2 Draw a comic strip showing a conversation between Jess and Leslie. 2 Write a newspaper report about Leslie’s death based on an interview with a character from the story. 2 Formulate an argument for a class debate to decide who the hero/heroine of the story is. 2 Write an agony aunt column for three of the characters in this novel. Respond to their problems as the agony aunt. 2 Create another character for the story and discuss how this would impact the novel. 2 Plan a sequel to this novel including information about the plot, the main events, the characters and the setting. 2 Redesign the front and back covers of the novel. 2 Compare and contrast the book with the movie version. 2 Bridge to Terabithia Cross-curricular Links Visual Arts The children could do artwork based on the theme of magical kingdoms. Inspiration can be taken from the Irish artist Harry Clarke. Examples of the types of work children could do include making a diorama of a magical kingdom, drawing a picture, painting, etc. SPHE Different feelings and emotions such as anger, grief, sadness, happiness, fear, worry, and loneliness can be explored as they relate to emotions and feelings dealt with by the characters in the book. The class can discuss times when they felt these emotions and how they coped with them. PE The children can develop their athletic abilities by learning better techniques for running, jumping, throwing, etc. The teacher can introduce the element of competition by having heats and finals for running. Geography The class could develop their mapping skills by creating a map of Lark Creek using clue from the book, e.g. placing Jess’s house close to Leslie’s, locating Terabithia, etc. Further map work can be done in relation to Washington D.C. using a street map. Can you locate museums and other public attractions? How would you travel between them, etc? History Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, is mentioned by Leslie. The children could research the life of the author and of other influential children’s authors who have written about magical kingdoms. Science Death forms a big part of this novel. Children can learn about the life cycle of different animals from birth to death. Suggestions for Classroom Work 2 Draw a comic strip set in Terabithia showing an imaginary conversation between Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. 2 Pretend you are a newspaper reporter whose job it is to interview one of the characters about Leslie’s tragic death. Write the interview. 2 Have a class debate to decide who the hero/heroine of the story is. 2 Create an agony aunt column for three of the characters in this novel. Write the letters that they might write about their problems, then respond to their problems as the agony aunt. 2 Create another character for the story. How would things change with this character’s presence? 3 6th Class Novel Notes 2 Write an outline for a sequel to this novel. Include information about the plot, the main events, the characters and the setting. 2 Redesign the front and back covers of the novel. Include any important information (e.g. comments from critics, awards, etc.) as well as a short summary on the back. Draw the picture for the new cover. 2 Watch the movie version of Bridge to Terabithia. Compare and contrast the book with the movie. Which did you prefer and why? Web Links A website for a charity that helps young people cope with grief: http://www.rainbowsireland.com/ Activities that explore some of the themes in the book in a creative way: http://www.trulymovingpictures.org/movies/bridge-to-terabithia-the/ A quiz based on the novel: http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz611307023b8.html Pre-reading Activities Oral Pre-reading Questions Chapter One From reading the title and looking at the cover, what do you think this book will be about? 4 Chapter Five Who or what do you think giant killers are? Chapter Two Who do you think Leslie Burke might be? Chapter Six Do you think Janice will find out who was behind the letter? Chapter Three Look at the title. Do you think Jess will be the fastest kid? Why?/Why not? Chapter Seven Where do you think the golden room is? Why? Chapter Four What do you think Terabithia is? Chapter Eight Do you think Terabithia will remain a secret? Bridge to Terabithia Chapter Nine What do you think might happen next? Chapter Ten Do you think Terabithia will have been destroyed by the rains? Chapter Twelve Look at the title. What do you think the mood of this chapter will be? Chapter Thirteen How do you think the novel will end? Chapter Eleven How do you think Jess will feel in this chapter? Vocabulary Get children to select five new words from each chapter, define them and write sentences to show the children their meaning. Get children to explore the similes and metaphors used. The children can imagine their own magical kingdoms and describe them using a range of adjectives, similes and metaphors. Bridge to Terabithi a: Comprehension Chapter1 Activity sheet Comprehension Activity Sheets Presented on the following pages are a selection of both lower and higher order questions for each section of this novel, which the teacher may choose from. 1 ns, Jr’ 1. Who is Miss Bess ie? How do you know? 2. Name Jess’s siste rs. 3. How do the girls 4. What news does get out of doing chores? May Belle share with Jess in the bean 5. How is Jess’s family different to your 6. How do you think 6 Activity Sheet 1 ‘Jesse Oliver Aaro NAME: Photocopiables © Folens Jess feels at the patch? family? end of the chapter? DATE: 5 Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 1 Activity sheet Chapter 1 1 ‘Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr’ 1. Who is Miss Bessie? How do you know? 2. Name Jess’s sisters. 3. How do the girls get out of doing chores? 4. What news does May Belle share with Jess in the bean patch? 5. How is Jess’s family different to your family? 6. How do you think Jess feels at the end of the chapter? 6 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 2 Chapter 2 Activity sheet Activity sheet ‘Leslie Burke’ 1. Why is the kitchen like a hellhole? 2. What does Jess like to draw? 2 3. Who is Leslie Burke? 4. What do you think the author means when she says that Jess draws the way some people drink whiskey? 5. How do you think Jess feels about not being able to show his drawings to his father? 6. How important do you think it is for Jess to have Miss Edmunds in his life? 7. Why do you think Jess seems uninterested in making friends with Leslie? NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: 7 Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 3 Activity sheet Chapter 3 ‘The Fastest Kid in the Fifth Grade’ 1. How many children are in Mrs Myers’ class? 2. On the first day, how is Leslie shown to be different to the other children? 3. Why are the boys surprised by the results of Jess’s heat? 3 4. If you were Jess, how would you feel after the race? 5. Why does Jess try to avoid Leslie, do you think? 6. What is your opinion of Leslie? Why do you feel that way? 7. Imagine you are Leslie. Write a diary entry at the end of your first day at Lark Creek Elementary. 8 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 4 ‘Rulers of Terabithia’ Chapter 4 Activity sheet 1. Why is running not as fun anymore? 2. How was Leslie’s old school different to Lark Creek Elementary? 3. What unusual hobby does Leslie write about? 4 4. What do Leslie and Jess do in the woods? 5. Leslie’s parents moved to the country to reassess their values. What things do you value most? Why? 6. Why do you think Jess and Leslie have become such close friends? NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: 9 Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 5 Activity sheet Chapter 5 ‘The Giant Killers’ 1. Why would Jess not beat up Janice Avery? 2. How do Jess and Leslie plan to get Janice back for stealing May Belle’s Twinkies? 3. What is the most difficult part of the plan to get Janice Avery? 4. How does Leslie distract Mrs Pierce in order to protect Jess? 5 5. How does Jess feel about leaving the letter for Janice? How does Leslie feel? 6. Do you think Leslie and Jess were wise to tell May Belle about who wrote the letter to Janice Avery? 7. If you were May Belle’s brother or sister what would you have done? Explain your answer. 10 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 6 ‘The Coming of Prince Terrien’ Chapter 6 Activity sheet 1. Why do Brenda’s comments annoy Jess so much? 2. Why does May Belle need something special this year? 3. Name two of the presents Jess thinks about getting for Leslie. 4. What present does Jess give to Leslie for Christmas? What present does Leslie give to Jess? 6 5. Describe the scene at Jess’s house on Christmas Day. 6. In what ways does Jess try to make Christmas better at his house? 7. What sort of person is Jess’s mother, do you think? NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: 11 Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 7 Activity sheet Chapter 7 ‘The Golden Room’ 1. What is Leslie helping her father with? 2. How do May Belle and Joyce Ann disrupt Jess when he is painting? 3. How does Jess feel towards Bill, Leslie’s father? 4. Jess thinks the Burkes are smart in a different way to other people he knows. Do you think there are different ways to be smart? 5. Compare the relationship between Leslie and her father with the relationship between Jess and his father. 7 6. Do you think Leslie’s advice to Janice Avery is good advice? Give a reason for your answer. 7. Why do you think it’s so important to Jess that Terabithia be kept secret? 12 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 8 ‘Easter’ Chapter 8 Activity sheet 1. Why do the Aarons only attend church once a year? 2. Why would there be no new clothes for church this year? 3. What does Leslie wear to church? How is this different to her normal clothes? 4. How does Jess feel towards his older sisters? 5. How might Jess’s father’s unemployment affect the family in the future? 8 6. Leslie questions what Jess and his family believe. How do you think this makes Jess feel? NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: 13 Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 9 Activity sheet Chapter 9 ‘The Evil Spell’ 1. What scene from the Bible is referred to when the children see the flooded creek? 2. Who do Leslie and Jess pray to to save their kingdom? 3. Why do you think Jess continues to go to Terabithia when he is afraid of the swollen creek? 4. If you were Jess would you continue to go to Terabithia? Why?/Why not? 5. Do you think Jess should be embarrassed about being scared to go to Terabithia? Why?/Why not? 6. Do you think fear is a good or bad thing? Why? 9 7. Write about a time when you were afraid. Describe the event and how it affected you. 14 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 10 Chapter 10 ‘The Perfect Day’ Activity sheet 1. Why can’t May Belle go back to sleep? 2. What is May Belle going to tell on Jess for? 3. Where does Jess go with Miss Edmunds? 4. What buildings does Jess see in Washington? 5. Do you think it is wrong for Jess to enjoy being alone with Miss Edmunds, without Leslie? 6. How does Jess know that something is wrong when he returns? 7. How, do you think, will Jess react to the news? 10 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: 15 Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 11 Activity sheet Chapter 11 ‘No!’ 1. What is Jess’s reaction to the bad news? 2. How does his father try to comfort him? 3. What behaviour does Jess display which surprises his sisters? 4. Why does May Belle want to go to the neighbours’ house? 5. Do you think Jess’s parents handle the situation well? Give a reason for your answer. 6. Jess tries to pretend that Leslie hasn’t died in this chapter. Why do you think he does that? 7. If you were Jess, what would you say to Leslie’s parents? 11 16 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 12 ‘Stranded’ Chapter 12 Activity sheet 1. How does Jess expect to be treated at school when he returns? 2. Why does Bill thank Jess? 3. How does Jess react to the news that Leslie is to be cremated? 12 4. What does Jess mean when he says that Leslie has left him stranded like an astronaut on the moon? 5. Why do you think Jess says he hates Leslie when he doesn’t mean it? 6. Does Jess’s behaviour towards May Belle surprise you? Why?/Why not? 7. Imagine you are Jess. Write a short note to May Belle to say you are sorry and explain why you acted the way you did. NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: 17 Bridge to Terabithia: Comprehension Activity Sheet 13 Activity sheet Chapter 13 ‘No!’ 1. What makes Jess return to the creek? 2. What illness does Jess think he has? Why does he think that he has it? 13 3. Why does May Belle follow Jess? 4. How do you think Leslie would have felt about the funeral wreath that Jess makes for her? 5. Jess says that Leslie took him from the cow pasture to Terabithia and turned him into a king. What do you think Jess means by this? 6. At the end of the novel Jess starts to build a bridge to Terabithia. Why do you think he is doing this? 7. Do you think the ending was a good ending? Why?/Why not? 18 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Under the Hawthorn Tree: Comprehension Activity Sheet 1 Book Report Sheet If you don’t have enough space to write your answers, use the notes section on the next pages. Activity sheet Pupil’s Name: Title of Book: Class: Author: Date: Illustrator: book report sheet Setting (where the story took place): 1 List the main characters: 1. 2. 3. 4. Describe: Your favourite character: The plot: The climax: The ending: Write four interesting words to describe this book: 1. 2. 3. 4. Did you like the book? Why?/Why not? Grade the book ( Tick one) Easy to read Just right Rate the book out of ten: A little difficult Difficult /10 19 Photocopiables © Folens Bridge to Terabithia: Notes Notes Notes 20 NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: Bridge to Terabithia: Notes Notes Notes NAME: Photocopiables © Folens DATE: 21