Year 7 English

READING TASKS

Refugee Boy

Read Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah

Life is not safe for Alem. His father is Ethopian, his mother Eritrean. Their countries are at war, and Alem is welcome in neither place.

So Alem is excited to spend a holiday in London with his father - until he wakes up to find him gone. What seems like a betrayal is in fact an act of love, but now Alem is alone in a strange country, and he must forge his own path...

Acclaimed performance poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah's honest, wry and poignant story of a young refugee left in London is of even more power and pertinence today than when it was first published.

Coraline

Read Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house....

When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous.

But there's another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.

Coraline will have to fight with all her wit and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life.

Gothic

Read another novel from the gothic genre and think about what gothic features it contains.

Click here for recommendations.

Identity

Read this article about identity and summarise its key points.

Scrooge

Read this article about an alternative interpretation of Scrooge.

Do you agree with it?

Oliver Twist

Read Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

The novel contains many classic Dickensian themes - grinding poverty, desperation, fear, temptation and the eventual triumph of good in the face of great adversity.

Oliver Twist features some of the author's most enduring characters, such as Oliver himself (who dares to ask for more), the tyrannical Bumble, the diabolical Fagin, the menacing Bill Sikes, Nancy and 'the Artful Dodger'.

Goodnight Mr Tom

Read Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Majorian from the Sandringham Reads list.

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian is the unforgettable story of young Willie Beech, evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of the Second World War. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the unlikely care of grumpy old Tom Oakley. But then his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother to return to London. As the weeks pass by Tom begins to worry when William doesn't answer his letters, so he goes to London to find him, and there makes a terrible discovery.

LISTENING TASKS

Listen to Neil Gaiman

Listen to Neil Gaiman here at a live show. He tells stories of his real life events. What do you think makes him a good public speaker?

Life in Victorian England

Listen to this podcast on life in Victorian England

WATCHING TASKS

A Christmas Carol

Watch a performances of A Christmas Carol and bring the text to life Digital Theatre +

Refugees

Watch this short video by a Syrian NHS worker ( who is a refugee) and summarise his key points.

Neil Gaiman

Watch this short clip on Neil Gaiman giving writing advice.

Make notes on any top tips you could take from him to improve your own creative writing.

Identity

Watch this TED Talks video about viewing your identity as a strength.

TRIPS AND VISITS

Charles Dickens Museum

Visit the Charles Dickens museum in London - details are here.

CREATIVE TASKS

Your identity

Fill in the outline here with all the things that make you, YOU!

You could include:

• Physical appearance
• Hobbies and interests
• Heritage
• Personality traits

The Graveyard Book film

The Graveyard Book isn’t yet a film… Create the opening scene of the film by writing a playscript!

A Victorian menu

Create a dinner menu that would typically be served to an upper class Victorian family.

Use this link to help with your research.