Whole School Story
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
Chapter 2 The Boy with the Lion Eyes - Click Here
Chapter 3 Forty Winks
Chapter 4 What Mr Brown and Mrs Grimsby said
Chapter 5 The Refugee Kid
Trying out a sound file today!
Chapter 6 The Woman in the Silver Scarf
Chapter 7 Mr Irons' nose
Chapter 8 The Unexpected Adventure
Can you answer these questions after listening to Chapter 9?
Vocabulary
What is a sneer?
What does ‘whipped’ tell you about how Brendan was moving the pomegranate.
What was the narrator trying to say when she said ‘I’ve said my piece’?
Detective Thinking - Retrieval
Why does the narrator like pomegranates so much?
Why doesn’t Ms Hemsi come out any more?
Why does Ahmet smile?
Why did Ahmet punch Brendan?
Why will Ahmet be famous?
Predict
Predict why there will be a big fight.
Predict why Ahmet will become famous.
Explain
Why is the picture included in this chapter?
Detective Thinking - Retrieval
What does Brendan take off Ahmet?
Who breaks up the fight?
What happened to the pomegranate?
Gist
Summarise why the fight happened by telling Mr Irons from the narrator’s perspective, in fewer than fifty words.
Chapter 10 War and Missing Pieces
Click on 10.1 first and then listen to 10.2 second (there was a bit of a technological issue during recording!!)
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Chapter 10
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Vocabulary
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What is ‘ransom money’?
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Define ‘scowl’.
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why does Brendan scowl more than ever?
Who do the children suspect is doing nasty things to Ahmet?
Why couldn’t they prove it was Brendan?
Why do you think Ahmet likes his bag so much?
Why do Ahmet’s eyes become watery?
Why do you think the children didn’t clap as loudly as normal?
Why doesn’t Mrs Khan want the children to ask Ahmet questions about the war?
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Predict
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Predict whether any of the attitudes of Brendan and his friends will now change towards Ahmet.
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Explain
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What do Ahmet’s drawings tell you about him?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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What do people start to call Ahmet?
Why did Ahmet get a golden star?
What happened to Ahmet’s pot?
What was in Ahmet’s tray?
What were in Ahmet’s backpack?
Who was missing from the boat picture?
Where was the first place that the boat took Ahmet?
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Gist
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Summarise Ahmet’s story in fewer than 70 words.
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Chapter 11 The Game of Scrabble
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Chapter 11
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Vocabulary
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Define ‘blustery’.
What does the word ‘tyke’ mean?
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Find evidence that the two of them don’t want Jacob and the aunt to come to the house?
Why does the narrator hide her toys when Jacob comes over?
What makes her smile?
Why do Mum and Uncle Lenny look up sharply?
Why does Uncle Lenny say ‘all yours’?
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Predict
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Predict if the narrator will tell her friends about her grandmother.
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Explain
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Why does the author italicise ‘immediately’?
What is the twist in this chapter? Why do you think it was included?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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What does Josie suggest doing with the questions?
How many questions does she have now?
What has Uncle Lenny cooked?
What is Uncle Lenny’s job?
What does Uncle Lenny call Ahmet?
Where did the grandma run away from?
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Gist
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Summarise the story of the grandma in fewer than sixty words.
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Chapter 12 Syrah and the Sea
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Chapter 12
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Vocabulary
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What is a raft?
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Detective
Thinking
- Infer
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Why do you think nobody kept their promise to Mrs Khan?
Why didn’t Mr Irons say anything to Victor?
Why was she surprised that Ahmet recognised Tintin?
What happened to Syrah?
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Predict
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Predict why she was forced to break her promise?
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Explain
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How did this chapter make you feel? Why?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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What was Ahmet now famous for?
What are Messengers?
How did Brendan react to Ahmet’s story?
Why isn’t Ahmet’s dad with him?
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Gist
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Choose one word to sum up this chapter and explain your choice of word.
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Chapter 13 - The Something That Changed Everything
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Chapter 13
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Vocabulary
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What does it mean to drift off?
What is gurgling?
What is a racist?
What is tutting?
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Detective
Thinking
- Infer
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Why do you think she couldn’t sleep?
Why was her heart beating really fast?
Why don’t the children invite Ahmet to their meeting?
Why do you think Ms Hemsi thinks it’s a very good thing
that Ahmet spoke about his sister?
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Predict
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Predict what the something that changed everything will be.
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Explain
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Why does the author capitalise immediately and emergency?
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Detective
Thinking
- Retrieval
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Why weren’t her friends on the bus with her?
What do the people on the bus say might happen to refugees?
What story were they studying in class?
Where do the children meet?
Who is the deputy head teacher?
Who is the woman in the red scarf?
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Summarise
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Summarise the events of this chapter in fewer than forty words.
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Chapter 14 - The Three Plans
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Chapter 14
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Vocabulary
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What is a ‘government’?
What is an ‘appeal’?
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Detective
Thinking
- Infer
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Do you think the Prime Minister has heard of Ahmet? Why?
Why were they excited about the last plan?
Why does Josie’s face turn pink?
Why does the narrator feel the worst?
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Predict
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Predict what the three plans are.
Predict if the narrator will come up with a plan.
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Explain
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Why did the author include spelling mistakes in the letters?
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Detective
Thinking
- Retrieval
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Who did Tom write to?
Why doesn’t Michael think Tom’s plan will work?
Who did Josie want to ring?
Why doesn’t Tom think Josie’s plan will work?
Who does Michael want to write to?
Who is the librarian?
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Summarise
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Summarise the third plan in fewer than twenty words.
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Chapter 15 - The Greatest Idea in the World
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Chapter 15
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Vocabulary
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What does ‘pitch black’ mean?
Define ‘tiptoed’.
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why do you think she had that nightmare?
Why does she think it’s such a good idea?
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Predict
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Predict what the greatest idea in the world is.
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Explain
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Explain what the picture shows.
Predict what trouble the letter might get them in.
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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Why does she like working in the kitchen?
When is the ‘Magic Hour’?
What animals had they found in the kitchen wall?
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Summarise
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Summarise the greatest idea in fewer than forty words.
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Chapter 16 - The Royal Letter
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Chapter 16
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Vocabulary
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Define ‘eagerly’.
What are ‘duties’?
Define ‘reassuringly’.
Define ‘anxiously’.
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why are the children so excited?
Why do the children think they might meet the queen?
Why do the children lie to Ahmet?
Why did the afternoon feel so long?
Why does she tell the queen about Syrah?
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Predict
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Predict if the queen will get the letter.
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Explain
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Should the narrator have told the Queen about Syrah? Why do
you think this?
Do you think the plan is good? Explain your answer.
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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Why does she think the queen will definitely get the letter?
Why does the narrator write the letter?
How do they address the queen in the letter?
Why do they use purple?
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Summarise
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Choose one word to describe the plan and explain
your choice of word.
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Chapter 17 - The Emergency Plan
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Chapter 17
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Vocabulary
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Define ‘regaining your balance’.
Define ‘expelled’.
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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How was she feeling after she posted the letter?
How do those feeling change across the week and why?
Why do they need an emergency plan?
What is the emergency plan?
Why is Josie the one who won’t be going?
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Predict
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Predict if the children will meet the queen.
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Explain
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What does the picture show?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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What does Michael walk into?
Where did the narrator’s family take her?
Why does Ahmet show the children his bag?
Which two will try and meet the queen?
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Summarise
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Summarise the emergency plan in fewer than thirty words.
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Welcome back after half - term are you ready for......
Chapter 18 - Stan the Taxi Man
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Chapter 18
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Vocabulary
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Define ‘exact’.
She calls it the ‘used-less drawer’. What would Mum’s actual name for it be?
Define ‘eagerly’.
What does ‘chauffeuring’ mean?
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why did she look puffy like a blowfish?
Why are the children delivering the excuse to Mrs Khan and not the parents?
Why do you think Tom says the tube is good?
Why do you think the taxi driver doesn’t charge them?
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Predict
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Predict if the children will meet the queen.
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Explain
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Why does the author italicise ‘exact’?
Why does the author write ‘beh-er’ on the final page?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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How could she tell Tom hadn’t slept much?
What present did Tom bring for the queen?
How much money did the children have?
What excuse did the children send to Mrs Khan?
Why do they eat the queen’s biscuits?
What excuse do they give to the taxi driver?
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Summarise
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Describe the plan in one word and explain your choice of word.
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Chapter 19 - The Queen's Palace
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Chapter 19
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Vocabulary
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What does ‘zigzagged’ tell you about the way they moved?
Define ‘shimmering’.
Define ‘clambering’.
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why are there so many police?
Why do they think something is happening?
‘I felt as though I was running underwater’ – what could this mean?
What happens at the end of the chapter?
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Predict
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Predict what will happen next.
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Explain
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What impression of Buckingham Palace does the picture give you?
Research the changing of the guard and see if you think this chapter
gives an accurate portrayal of it.
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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Why do the guards say ‘hut’?
What time is it?
What could the children hear in the distance?
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Summarise
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Summarise the events of this chapter in fewer than fifty words.
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Chapter 20 The Cold Stream Guards
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Chapter 20
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Vocabulary
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What is a ‘blur’?
What is ‘combat’?
What is ‘concussion’?
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why was Tom crying?
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Why doesn’t she want to go to hospital?
Why might the children be famous?
Why couldn’t she eat the biscuit?
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Predict
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Predict how their parents will react?
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Explain
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This is the first time we learn for definite that the main character
is a girl.
How has not knowing affected the story?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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What was the name of the paramedic?
Who is going to take the children home and how?
Where is the Queen?
What is a Coldstream Guard?
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Summarise
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Give one word to describe how the adults felt about the children and
explain your choice.
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Chapter 21 The Neighbours and the News
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Chapter 21
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Vocabulary
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What is a reporter?
Define ‘hesitated’.
Define ‘formal’.
What is bigotry?
Define ‘transpired’.
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why did Mum hug her tight?
Why does Mr Rashid’s voice go heavy and wobbly?
Why does Mum’s face go white?
How did Stan make Mum laugh?
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Predict
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Predict what the response will be from Buckingham Palace.
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Explain
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Why does the author capitalise Deep Thought?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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Why was the girl confused?
Why did Mrs Gillingham know what was happening?
Why does Mum not say hello to Mr Greggs?
How does the girl look different to her peers?
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Summarise
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Summarise the events of this chapter in fewer than thirty words.
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Chapter 21
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Vocabulary
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What is a reporter?
Define ‘hesitated’.
Define ‘formal’.
What is bigotry?
Define ‘transpired’.
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Detective
Thinking -
Infer
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Why did Mum hug her tight?
Why does Mr Rashid’s voice go heavy and wobbly?
Why does Mum’s face go white?
How did Stan make Mum laugh?
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Predict
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Predict what the response will be from Buckingham Palace.
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Explain
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Why does the author capitalise Deep Thought?
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Detective
Thinking -
Retrieval
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Why was the girl confused?
Why did Mrs Gillingham know what was happening?
Why does Mum not say hello to Mr Greggs?
How does the girl look different to her peers?
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Summarise
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Summarise the events of this chapter in fewer than thirty words.
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