The activities in On Location can be used to meet the NC requirements in KS2 English to develop an understanding and appreciation of literary texts, including modern fiction by significant authors. And in particular it can help children to understand how setting is created. It can also be used to meet the NC requirements in KS2 Geography to investigate a variety of people, places and environments in the UK and abroad, through using geographical questions, skills and resources. In particular, to: * identify and describe what places are like * understand the location of places and describe where they are * explain why places are like they are * identify how and why places change.

The activities in Investigating Names can be used to meet the NC requirements in KS2 English to develop an understanding and appreciation of literary texts, including modern fiction by significant children’s authors. And in particular it can help children to: * recognise the choice, use and effect of figurative language, vocabulary and the effects of language * identify how character is created, and how plot, narrative structure and themes are developed * evaluate ideas and themes that broaden perspectives and extend thinking * respond imaginatively, drawing on the whole text.

The activities in Publishing Skulduggery can be used to meet the NC requirements in KS2 English to develop an understanding and appreciation of literary texts, including modern fiction by significant authors. And in particular to: * evaluate ideas and themes that broaden perspectives and extend thinking * respond imaginatively, drawing on the whole text and other reading. This activity can also be used as for a piece of practical work in KS2 Art and Design. In particular to use a variety of methods and approaches to communicate observations, ideas and feelings to make images and artifacts.

Imagine that Spock can speak English. Write a recount of the evening’s events in the style of a newspaper report, written from Spock’s perspective. Remember to write in the first person.

Write your own story about the next adventures of Spock and the boat-raft full of guinea pigs!

What would you wish for? Write a poem about your own shooting star wish. Aim to include some techniques often used in poetry such as metaphors, similes, imagery, rhyme and alliteration to enhance the style and effect of your poem.

Think about mystery stories and poems that you have already read or listened to and films with elements of mystery that you have watched. What ingredients (features) do you expect to find in the mystery story that you are about to read? Put your ideas in the text boxes below. Add more boxes if you need to. When finished compare your ideas with a partner.

With a partner work on the graph below: 1. To begin this work you first of all need to discuss how you both feel about Ivy and Scarlet in each of the situations taken from the novel that are presented in the boxes. 2. Looking at your result do you empathise with one of the twins more than the other? Why do you think that is?

These beautifully designed teaching resources are based on Toto, written by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark. They provide a great variety of fun, curriculum-based activities for children to enjoy and learn from at the same time!