TR&W Issue 20

50 | www.teachwire.net POETRY ABOUT ARRIVING ON THE THIRD CONTINENT There are some stunning videos available online which are taken from ships arriving in Antarctica for the first time. Watching these with the pupils and then coming up with related vocabulary lists ( what I saw, what I heard, how I felt ) as a class can provide inspiration for poetry based around Arthur and Maudie’s first experiences of South Polaris. INVESTIGATE POLAR EXPLORERS Most people have some knowledge of Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton, three of the more famous polar explorers, but there are many lesser-known figures whose stories are equally interesting. Matthew Henson (now commonly believed to be the first person to reach the North Pole, in 1909) was, until quite recently, marginalised in history books due to his ethnicity. His story can be discovered in the gripping short novel Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson. Female explorers such as Ingrid Christensen, the first woman to visit Antarctica, and Ann Bancroft, the first woman to reach both poles and to ski across Antarctica, also offer fascinating life stories. Providing the children with names of polar explorers and then showing them how to do research and then create a fact file or timeline of their lives would help provide some real-life context around the book and the world of exploration. Take it further However, as they fly further away from the safety of the First Continent, they realise that they’re not the only crew in the race, and the odds look increasingly stacked against them… It’s an ideal book to read with a Year 5/6 class, as the action starts almost immediately and doesn’t let up. Pupils quickly begin to side with the Brightstorm twins, and are often outraged by the injustice of the situation the children find themselves in. The chapters are short and punchy, with more being revealed about the Brightstorm world and characters as the story moves forward. The cast of characters is relatively small, but this works in the book’s favour, as the personality and motivation of each of them receives enough time in the spotlight. The story’s ending beautifully sets up the sequels, Darkwhispers and Firesong , which pupils are often desperate to read immediately after Brightstorm . There’s also now a fourth book in the series, Serpent of the Sands , which features some favourite characters from the third book but can also be read as a stand-alone story. Activities Although the main reason for reading Brightstorm is simply the fact that it’s a wonderfully engaging book, it can be used as inspiration for some exciting curriculum opportunities. It could also act as a springboard into a topic on explorers and exploration. Front cover Using the front cover as an opening point for discussion can often engage and excite the pupils before they even start reading. Book topic able to find the newspaper in which it allegedly appeared.) Getting pupils to think about the skills and experience needed to join a dangerous expedition to South Polaris is a great chance for them to produce some high-quality persuasive writing, especially when a clear structure is provided ( why I’m applying for the job, the skills I have, my relevant experience, what I can add to the crew, etc) and the type of formal language needed is modelled. Expedition equipment Once the children’s applications to join The Aurora have been successful and they’re part of the crew, it’s time to start thinking about the equipment that they’ll need on the journey. I’ve Brightstorm ’s front cover is perfect for this as it includes several clues about the story. Using a variation of the ‘Tell Me’ grid by Aidan Chambers (things I observe, wonder and infer), will lead to lots of excited speculation about what’s inside. How is Ernest Brightstorm perceived? After having read the first few chapters, it quickly becomes clear that Arthur and Maudie’s opinion of their father is very different from that of the general public. Asking questions such as, “Was Ernest Brightstorm a good explorer?”, “Was he a good father?”, “How did he die?” and “How might he be remembered?” can provide some interesting conversation starters. The pupils will probably have several other suggestions. The book also provides a chance to talk about fake news and how the media can influence what people think. Applying to join the crew of The Aurora The job advert on page 61 of the book is based on Ernest Shackleton’s famous advert, which featured in London newspapers in the early 20th century. (There is now significant debate about whether the original advert is actually genuine, as nobody is