We love this verse novel because it is:
a beautiful heart-warming & heart-wrenching verse novel
inspires children to write their own stories and poems
a powerful story about finding your place and your friends
about changing relationships
about the importance of family & safe adults
Learning opportunities:
Reading ~ use of metaphors, similes, onomatopoeia, repetition, rhythm and rhyme
Writing ~ write a diary entry as Nate when he discovers he is in a different class to PS / write a diary entry of the same moment from PS’s pov
S&L ~ pg 111 The SATs Talk - how do you feel about SATs? Are you excited, nervous… Tell your partner about how you feel.
Reading ~ On The Last Day of School (pg 276). Compare this poem with On The Last Day of Year 5. What has changed? How important is Mr Joshua to Nate? Who are Nate’s People and how have they help him through?
Writing ~ find out about Bob Marley and write a biography
Geography ~ the story is set in Manchester. Study the city and find out about the areas where Nate might live.
Music ~ Bob Marley
PSHE: poverty
PSHE: dealing with anxiety
PSHE: seriously ill family members
PSHE: absent fathers
PSHE: changing friendships
Reading ~ read Skellig alongside The Final Year. Can you draw any comparisons?
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