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Year 5 - English

Developing responses to 'Front Desk' through rich discussions

'Front Desk': book club

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils explore and discuss the fictional novel, 'Front Desk'. They share their opinion on the text and explore the key themes of prejudice and discrimination. Finally, pupils discuss the characters in the text, as well as making personal connections and recommendations.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to develop your own response to 'Front Desk'.

Key Notes

  • Different readers may interpret a text in different ways.
  • Readers can interpret their own big idea or message from a narrative.
  • Discussing books by building on others and our own views can help us to deepen our understanding of a book.
  • Reading between the lines can allow readers to make connections and parallels to their own lives.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • character traits: Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.
  • impression: An impression refers to initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a text.
  • connection: How a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world can be called a connection.
  • recommendation: A recommendation is a suggestion for a text that is well-suited to a reader's age and their interests.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • A favourite character is always someone who embodies positive character traits.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Different readers may interpret a text in different ways. Readers can interpret their own big idea or message from a narrative.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'character traits'

Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: A favourite character is always someone who embodies positive character traits. Correction: Favourite characters can be characters involved in key moments in the text; characters who change the most in the story; or, characters who remind readers of someone they know.

More Lessons In This Unit

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