Year 4 - English
Discussing a section of 'The Borrowers'
'The Borrowers': narrative writing and reading
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore 'The Borrowers' through reading and writing activities. They sequence key events, analyse the setting and characters and write a descriptive setting piece. Pupils also plan, write, and edit sections of the build-up, developing their narrative writing skills.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to read and discuss a section of the build-up in 'The Borrowers'.
Key Notes
- In the build-up, Pod is "seen" by a human "bean" and this causes concern for the Clock family's safety.
- Arrietty expresses her discontent being trapped under the floorboards and her desire to experience the world above.
- Homily persuades a reluctant Pod to take Arrietty borrowing.
- The Clock family have contrasting feelings about Arrietty going on a borrowing expedition.
- We can infer a character's emotions from their actions, words and expressions.
Vocabulary To Learn
- build up: the building of action and suspense that leads up to the climax in a narrative
- expedition: a journey undertaken for a specific purpose
- infer: to draw conclusions from information and evidence in the text
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Some of the vocabulary and phrases in the text may be unfamiliar and even confusing. E.g. the use of the word "hollow" to describe Arrietty's "excitement".
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
In the build-up, Pod is "seen" by a human "bean" and this causes concern for the Clock family's safety. Arrietty expresses her discontent being trapped under the floorboards and her desire to experience the world above.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'build up'
the building of action and suspense that leads up to the climax in a narrative.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Some of the vocabulary and phrases in the text may be unfamiliar and even confusing. E.g. the use of the word "hollow" to describe Arrietty's "excitement". Correction: Make a bank of unfamiliar vocabulary from the text and provide definitions. Explore interesting phrase choices. E.g. using the word "hollow" to describe Arrietty's "excitement" could imply that this is the only emotion she can feel.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Describing the setting in 'The Borrowers' Study Guide
- Discussing a section of 'The Borrowers' (part 2) Study Guide
- Editing a section of narrative writing based on 'The Borrowers' Study Guide
- Engaging with 'The Borrowers' Study Guide
- Planning a section of a narrative based on 'The Borrowers' Study Guide
- Planning a section of a narrative based on 'The Borrowers' (part 2) Study Guide
- Presenting a narrative based on 'The Borrowers' Study Guide
- Understanding the setting and characters in 'The Borrowers' Study Guide
- Writing a section of a narrative based on 'The Borrowers' Study Guide
- Writing a section of a narrative based on 'The Borrowers' (part 2) Study Guide
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