Ready Steady Read Together
The House with Chicken Legs: Fiction Lesson 2
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
The house lives for the dead. Baba too.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Today's Question(s)
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway.
Baba talks to him softly in the language of the dead, as I fill the table. Bowls and spoons, thick black bread, a basket of dill, pots of sour cream and horseradish, mushroom dumplings, an assortment of tiny glasses and a large bottle of spirit trost – the fiery drink for the dead. Baba says it’s named trost after a walking stick because it helps the dead on their journey.
My mind keeps drifting to the town. Baba nudges me gently as she helps the old man into a chair. “Would you get a bowl of borsch for our guest please?”
More dead flood in. Daydreams loiter at the edge of my mind as I serve, arrange chairs and bring cushions, and try to reassure the dead with smiles and nods. Soon they relax, warmed by food and drink and the lick and crackle of flames in the hearth. The house gives them energy and they become more solid, until they almost seem alive. Almost.
Laughter echoes around the rafters and the house murmurs with satisfaction as the dead reminisce about their prides and joys, and sigh at their sorrows and regrets. The house lives for the dead. Baba too. She flits from guest to guest, her twisted old body now nimble as a hummingbird.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
On the few occasions the living have wandered close to the house, I have heard their whispers. I’ve heard them call Baba ugly, hideous, a witch, or a monster. I’ve heard them say she eats people. But they’ve never seen her like this. She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease. The dead come here lost and confused, but they leave calm and peaceful and ready for their journey. Baba is a perfect Guardian. Far better than I will ever be. But then, I don’t want to be a Guardian. Being a Guardian means being responsible for The Gate and all the guiding of the dead, for ever. And while guiding makes Baba happy, seeing the dead drift away every night makes me feel even more alone.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
hovering
loiter
fiery drink
rafters
reminisce
flits
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
hovering
Explore
Find Read Talk
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
hovering
Your turn
fiery drink
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
loiter
rafters
reminisce
flits
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway. Baba talks to him softly in the language of the dead, as I fill the table. Bowls and spoons, thick black bread, a basket of dill, pots of sour cream and horseradish, mushroom dumplings, an assortment of tiny glasses and a large bottle of spirit trost – the fiery drink for the dead. Baba says it’s named trost after a walking stick because it helps the dead on their journey. My mind keeps drifting to the town. Baba nudges me gently as she helps the old man into a chair. “Would you get a bowl of borsch for our guest please?” More dead flood in. Daydreams loiter at the edge of my mind as I serve, arrange chairs and bring cushions, and try to reassure the dead with smiles and nods. Soon they relax, warmed by food and drink and the lick and crackle of flames in the hearth. The house gives them energy and they become more solid, until they almost seem alive. Almost. Laughter echoes around the rafters and the house murmurs with satisfaction as the dead reminisce about their prides and joys, and sigh at their sorrows and regrets. The house lives for the dead. Baba too. She flits from guest to guest, her twisted old body now nimble as a hummingbird.
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
On the few occasions the living have wandered close to the house, I have heard their whispers. I’ve heard them call Baba ugly, hideous, a witch, or a monster. I’ve heard them say she eats people. But they’ve never seen her like this. She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease. The dead come here lost and confused, but they leave calm and peaceful and ready for their journey. Baba is a perfect Guardian. Far better than I will ever be. But then, I don’t want to be a Guardian. Being a Guardian means being responsible for The Gate and all the guiding of the dead, for ever. And while guiding makes Baba happy, seeing the dead drift away every night makes me feel even more alone.
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy.
I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose,
and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf.
I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs.
I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease.
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease.
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway. Baba talks to him softly in the language of the dead, as I fill the table.
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Baba is very welcoming towards the dead. She is gentle and understanding and has special abilities that allow her to speak with the dead.
Reveal Explainer
Teach
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Find the answers
Text mark
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - helps the old man into a chair... “Would you get a bowl of borsch for our guest please?” - flits from guest to guest; bringing comfort and joy
welcoming and hospitable
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
soothing/ reassuring
Text Mark Evidence - ability to make everyone feel at ease - bringing comfort and joy - dead come here lost and confused, but they leave calm and peaceful
Go to the next slide for more....
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
loves being a guardian and is good at it
Text Mark Evidence - the house lives for the dead... Baba too - Baba is a perfect Guardian - guiding makes Baba feel happy
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - her twisted old body now nimble as a hummingbird - dancing among the dead
moves gracefully despite her age
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Text Mark Evidence - ugly, hideous, a witch, or a monster - wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair - comfortable fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs
her appearance
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which picture is the best match for the word 'rafters'?
Link Me
Link each word with its correct definition:
A to move quickly and lightly
1 hover
B to stand and wait somewhere for no reason
2 loiter
C to think or talkabout happy memories
Check
3 reminisce
Click if correct
D to stay in one place above something or in the air
4 flit
True or False?
Baba gives the dead a walking stick to help them on their journey.
True
False
Tick Me
The ceremony when the dead pass through The Gate...
Tick two
A is full of laughter and memories
B involves taking a fishing boat on a lake
Check
C is full of tears and sadness
Click if correct
D includes good food, drink and a warm fire
Tick Me
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
pick books you love.
Reveal
Choose books that excite you and spark your curiosity.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
RSRT Y6 L2 The House with Chicken Legs
Literacy Counts
Created on February 28, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Essential Business Proposal
View
Project Roadmap Timeline
View
Step-by-Step Timeline: How to Develop an Idea
View
Artificial Intelligence History Timeline
View
Mind Map: The 4 Pillars of Success
View
Big Data: The Data That Drives the World
View
Momentum: Onboarding Presentation
Explore all templates
Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
The House with Chicken Legs: Fiction Lesson 2
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
The house lives for the dead. Baba too.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Today's Question(s)
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway. Baba talks to him softly in the language of the dead, as I fill the table. Bowls and spoons, thick black bread, a basket of dill, pots of sour cream and horseradish, mushroom dumplings, an assortment of tiny glasses and a large bottle of spirit trost – the fiery drink for the dead. Baba says it’s named trost after a walking stick because it helps the dead on their journey. My mind keeps drifting to the town. Baba nudges me gently as she helps the old man into a chair. “Would you get a bowl of borsch for our guest please?” More dead flood in. Daydreams loiter at the edge of my mind as I serve, arrange chairs and bring cushions, and try to reassure the dead with smiles and nods. Soon they relax, warmed by food and drink and the lick and crackle of flames in the hearth. The house gives them energy and they become more solid, until they almost seem alive. Almost. Laughter echoes around the rafters and the house murmurs with satisfaction as the dead reminisce about their prides and joys, and sigh at their sorrows and regrets. The house lives for the dead. Baba too. She flits from guest to guest, her twisted old body now nimble as a hummingbird.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
On the few occasions the living have wandered close to the house, I have heard their whispers. I’ve heard them call Baba ugly, hideous, a witch, or a monster. I’ve heard them say she eats people. But they’ve never seen her like this. She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease. The dead come here lost and confused, but they leave calm and peaceful and ready for their journey. Baba is a perfect Guardian. Far better than I will ever be. But then, I don’t want to be a Guardian. Being a Guardian means being responsible for The Gate and all the guiding of the dead, for ever. And while guiding makes Baba happy, seeing the dead drift away every night makes me feel even more alone.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
hovering
loiter
fiery drink
rafters
reminisce
flits
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
hovering
Explore
Find Read Talk
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
hovering
Your turn
fiery drink
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
loiter
rafters
reminisce
flits
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway. Baba talks to him softly in the language of the dead, as I fill the table. Bowls and spoons, thick black bread, a basket of dill, pots of sour cream and horseradish, mushroom dumplings, an assortment of tiny glasses and a large bottle of spirit trost – the fiery drink for the dead. Baba says it’s named trost after a walking stick because it helps the dead on their journey. My mind keeps drifting to the town. Baba nudges me gently as she helps the old man into a chair. “Would you get a bowl of borsch for our guest please?” More dead flood in. Daydreams loiter at the edge of my mind as I serve, arrange chairs and bring cushions, and try to reassure the dead with smiles and nods. Soon they relax, warmed by food and drink and the lick and crackle of flames in the hearth. The house gives them energy and they become more solid, until they almost seem alive. Almost. Laughter echoes around the rafters and the house murmurs with satisfaction as the dead reminisce about their prides and joys, and sigh at their sorrows and regrets. The house lives for the dead. Baba too. She flits from guest to guest, her twisted old body now nimble as a hummingbird.
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
On the few occasions the living have wandered close to the house, I have heard their whispers. I’ve heard them call Baba ugly, hideous, a witch, or a monster. I’ve heard them say she eats people. But they’ve never seen her like this. She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease. The dead come here lost and confused, but they leave calm and peaceful and ready for their journey. Baba is a perfect Guardian. Far better than I will ever be. But then, I don’t want to be a Guardian. Being a Guardian means being responsible for The Gate and all the guiding of the dead, for ever. And while guiding makes Baba happy, seeing the dead drift away every night makes me feel even more alone.
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy.
I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose,
and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf.
I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs.
I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease.
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
She’s beautiful, dancing among the dead, bringing comfort and joy. I love her wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair that floats out from under her skulls-and-flowers headscarf. I love her comfortable, fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs. I love her ability to make everyone feel at ease.
Explore
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
“They’re here!” Baba exclaims and she sweeps across the room, arms outstretched. An old man is hovering in the doorway. Baba talks to him softly in the language of the dead, as I fill the table.
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Baba is very welcoming towards the dead. She is gentle and understanding and has special abilities that allow her to speak with the dead.
Reveal Explainer
Teach
From: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018. Licensed under CLA. Do not share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Find the answers
Text mark
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - helps the old man into a chair... “Would you get a bowl of borsch for our guest please?” - flits from guest to guest; bringing comfort and joy
welcoming and hospitable
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
soothing/ reassuring
Text Mark Evidence - ability to make everyone feel at ease - bringing comfort and joy - dead come here lost and confused, but they leave calm and peaceful
Go to the next slide for more....
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
loves being a guardian and is good at it
Text Mark Evidence - the house lives for the dead... Baba too - Baba is a perfect Guardian - guiding makes Baba feel happy
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - her twisted old body now nimble as a hummingbird - dancing among the dead
moves gracefully despite her age
What impressions do you get of Baba from this text?
Text Mark Evidence - ugly, hideous, a witch, or a monster - wide, crooked-toothed smile, her big warty nose, and her thinning white hair - comfortable fat belly and her bowed, stumpy legs
her appearance
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which picture is the best match for the word 'rafters'?
Link Me
Link each word with its correct definition:
A to move quickly and lightly
1 hover
B to stand and wait somewhere for no reason
2 loiter
C to think or talkabout happy memories
Check
3 reminisce
Click if correct
D to stay in one place above something or in the air
4 flit
True or False?
Baba gives the dead a walking stick to help them on their journey.
True
False
Tick Me
The ceremony when the dead pass through The Gate...
Tick two
A is full of laughter and memories
B involves taking a fishing boat on a lake
Check
C is full of tears and sadness
Click if correct
D includes good food, drink and a warm fire
Tick Me
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
pick books you love.
Reveal
Choose books that excite you and spark your curiosity.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson © 2018 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.