Looking at the Start of Treasure Island

This lesson resource, “Looking at the Start of Treasure Island,” is designed for KS2 pupils to engage with classic literature through evidence-based learning (EBL) techniques. Here’s an overview to help you decide if it’s suitable for your class:

Key Features:

1. Textual Engagement: Pupils explore an extract from the beginning of Treasure Island, answering questions that range from basic recall to higher-order thinking, fostering both comprehension and critical analysis.

2. Creative Writing: The lesson encourages pupils to write an alternative opening for the story, focusing on descriptive techniques such as powerful verbs and adjectival phrases. This supports creativity and language skills.

3. Collaborative Learning: Pupils work with partners for a thinking skills activity, where they discuss and agree on answers, which helps reinforce teamwork and communication.

4. Peer and Self-Assessment: Through peer assessment activities, pupils review each other’s work, enhancing feedback skills and reflective thinking. A self-assessment activity encourages personal reflection on writing strengths and areas for improvement.

5. Teacher CPD: Included is a five-minute CPD for teachers, focusing on understanding higher and lower-order questioning, making this resource valuable for both pupil learning and teacher development.

Skills Developed:

The lesson is crafted to build multiple EBL skills, including collaborative, thinking, self-assessment, and peer assessment, which align with research-based practices to enhance pupil learning outcomes.

This resource would suit a classroom looking to balance literary analysis, creativity, and collaborative skills within a structured, research-supported framework.