Year 6 - English
Reading and engaging with 'Blackberry Blue'
'Blackberry Blue': reading
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read and explore the collection of fairytales, 'Blackberry Blue'. They explore how 'Blackberry Blue' addresses and challenges stereotypes through its storytelling and characterisation. Finally, pupils identify connections in the traditional fairytale, 'Cinderella'.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand the features of a contemporary fairy tale.
Key Notes
- 'Blackberry Blue' is a collection of six fairy tales, with characters from various backgrounds and cultures.
- Each tale contains magical elements and fantastical occurrences, which is a key feature of the genre.
- 'Blackberry Blue' leans on traditional fairy tales for inspiration.
- The theme of good and evil is explored in 'Blackberry Blue'.
- 'Blackberry Blue' begins with a prologue: a paragraph that sets the stage for the fairy tale that is about to follow.
Vocabulary To Learn
- preface: an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope or aims
- fairy tale: a story that typically involves magical or supernatural elements, often with a hero or heroine who overcomes challenges to achieve their goals
- features: distinctive characteristics that belong to a text type
- prologue: an introductory section that sets the stage for the stories within a text
- prediction: an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils might recognise common features or character types from other fairy tales leading them to think that the characters must conform to a stereotype.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'Blackberry Blue' is a collection of six fairy tales, with characters from various backgrounds and cultures. Each tale contains magical elements and fantastical occurrences, which is a key feature of the genre.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'preface'
an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope or aims.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils might recognise common features or character types from other fairy tales leading them to think that the characters must conform to a stereotype. Correction: 'Blackberry Blue' uses a range of fairy tales for inspiration. Use the text to discuss how characters do not always conform to stereotypes.
More Lessons In This Unit
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