Ready Steady Read Together
The Last Firefox: Fiction Lesson 4
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 summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of blackness behind it. The gateway is open.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly.
I half expect to see Teg already waiting for us, but, when we round the curve of the north-west tower, the clearing is empty. The summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of blackness behind it. The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen.
I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement.
“Teg?”
The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers.
Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right.
I glance at the time on my phone – it’s a few minutes after midday. I don’t think Teg’s the sort of person to be late. I step towards the ivy, observing the slivers of black between the ropes of greenery. The gateway leers at me.
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
And that’s when I see the marks in the ground. Except they’re more than just marks – as I creep closer, I realise that they’re more like gouges. Long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy. It’s as if something enormous, something dreadful, dragged itself out of the gateway and into our world. Something with claws the size of kitchen knives. I follow the gashes into the middle of the clearing, where they trail away, their shape changing. They get less deep and narrow and become rounder – like footprints.
I let out a cry when I realise what I’m looking at.
They are footprints. But they’re not human footprints. No, these are pawprints, and they look like they belong to a dog – a hound. And, judging by the size of them, this particular hound is gigantic.
I remember the howls that came through the gateway the night I met Teg. I think back to the conversation I just heard between my pa and Jerry about a big black dog roaming Bryncastell.
Maybe the howl I heard that first night in the tree house wasn’t a dream after all. Maybe the Grendilock really is here, prowling the streets in the shape of a terrible hound. A hound…perfect for hunting foxes.
But how could the Grendilock be here? I saw the gateway close behind Teg.
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
relishing
leers
ricocheting
gouges
slashes / gashes
prowling
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
relishing
Explore
Find Read Talk
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
relishing
Your turn
ricocheting
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
leers
gouges
slashes / gashes
prowling
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly.
I half expect to see Teg already waiting for us, but, when we round the curve of the north-west tower, the clearing is empty. The summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of blackness behind it. The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen.
I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement.
“Teg?”
The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers.
Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right.
I glance at the time on my phone – it’s a few minutes after midday. I don’t think Teg’s the sort of person to be late. I step towards the ivy, observing the slivers of black between the ropes of greenery. The gateway leers at me.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
And that’s when I see the marks in the ground. Except they’re more than just marks – as I creep closer, I realise that they’re more like gouges. Long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy. It’s as if something enormous, something dreadful, dragged itself out of the gateway and into our world. Something with claws the size of kitchen knives. I follow the gashes into the middle of the clearing, where they trail away, their shape changing. They get less deep and narrow and become rounder – like footprints.
I let out a cry when I realise what I’m looking at.
They are footprints. But they’re not human footprints. No, these are pawprints, and they look like they belong to a dog – a hound. And, judging by the size of them, this particular hound is gigantic.
I remember the howls that came through the gateway the night I met Teg. I think back to the conversation I just heard between my pa and Jerry about a big black dog roaming Bryncastell.
Maybe the howl I heard that first night in the tree house wasn’t a dream after all. Maybe the Grendilock really is here, prowling the streets in the shape of a terrible hound. A hound…perfect for hunting foxes.
But how could the Grendilock be here? I saw the gateway close behind Teg.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen. I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement. “Teg?” The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers. Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
The gateway is open.
But Teg is nowhere to be seen.
I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement.
“Teg?”
The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls,
but nobody answers.
Teg isn’t here.
My stomach starts to squirm.
Something doesn’t feel right.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen. I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement. “Teg?” The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers. Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly.
I half expect to see Teg already waiting for us, but, when we round the curve of the north-west tower, the clearing is empty.
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Reveal Explainer
Teg had asked Charlie to return the firefox at midday. Charlie arrives at the castle with just a few minutes to spare. He expects Teg to be there waiting for him by the time he reaches the correct tower. Teg’s absence for such an important meeting immediately suggests that something is wrong.
Teach
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - the summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of the blackness behind it - the gateway is open - the gateway leers at me
someone or something has opened the gateway
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Text Mark Evidence - Teg is nowhere to be seen - Teg…the word echoes round the clearing…but nobody answers - Teg isn’t here - it’s a few minutes after midday…I don’t think Teg’s the sort of person to be late
the absence of Teg
Go to the next slide for more....
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence - my stomach starts to squirm - something doesn’t feel right
Charlie’s gut feeling
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I see the marks in the ground - they’re more than just marks... they’re more like gouges - long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy - I follow the gashes…their shape changing…like footprints - they are footprints…but they’re not human footprints
scratches and footprints by the gateway
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Text Mark Evidence - it’s as if something enormous, something dreadful, dragged itself out of the gateway and into our world -something with claws the size of kitchen knives - these are pawprints, and they look like they belong to a dog – a hound - judging by the size of them, this particular hound is gigantic
hints of a monster or the Grendilock
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘relishing’?
Find Me
Find three words which mean ‘cuts in a surface made by something sharp’:
Except they’re more than just marks – as I creep closer, I realise that they’re more like gouges. Long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy.
1 Discuss then check
2 Discuss then check
gouges
slashes
Link Me
Link each word with its correct definition:
A bounce off
1 relish
B enjoy greatly
2 ricochet
C glare or glower
Check
3 leer
Click if correct
D stalk or slink
4 prowl
Sequence Me
Put the events in the correct order:
A) Charlie arrives at the castle to meet Teg.
B) Charlie calls for Teg but no one answers.
C) Charlie notices gouges and footprints.
D) Charlie notices the gateway is open.
Click if correct
Check
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
spot themes.
Reveal
Look for big ideas or lessons the story might be teaching.
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 Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
The Last Firefox: Fiction Lesson 4
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 summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of blackness behind it. The gateway is open.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly. I half expect to see Teg already waiting for us, but, when we round the curve of the north-west tower, the clearing is empty. The summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of blackness behind it. The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen. I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement. “Teg?” The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers. Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right. I glance at the time on my phone – it’s a few minutes after midday. I don’t think Teg’s the sort of person to be late. I step towards the ivy, observing the slivers of black between the ropes of greenery. The gateway leers at me.
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
And that’s when I see the marks in the ground. Except they’re more than just marks – as I creep closer, I realise that they’re more like gouges. Long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy. It’s as if something enormous, something dreadful, dragged itself out of the gateway and into our world. Something with claws the size of kitchen knives. I follow the gashes into the middle of the clearing, where they trail away, their shape changing. They get less deep and narrow and become rounder – like footprints. I let out a cry when I realise what I’m looking at. They are footprints. But they’re not human footprints. No, these are pawprints, and they look like they belong to a dog – a hound. And, judging by the size of them, this particular hound is gigantic. I remember the howls that came through the gateway the night I met Teg. I think back to the conversation I just heard between my pa and Jerry about a big black dog roaming Bryncastell. Maybe the howl I heard that first night in the tree house wasn’t a dream after all. Maybe the Grendilock really is here, prowling the streets in the shape of a terrible hound. A hound…perfect for hunting foxes. But how could the Grendilock be here? I saw the gateway close behind Teg.
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
relishing
leers
ricocheting
gouges
slashes / gashes
prowling
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
relishing
Explore
Find Read Talk
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
relishing
Your turn
ricocheting
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
leers
gouges
slashes / gashes
prowling
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly. I half expect to see Teg already waiting for us, but, when we round the curve of the north-west tower, the clearing is empty. The summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of blackness behind it. The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen. I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement. “Teg?” The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers. Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right. I glance at the time on my phone – it’s a few minutes after midday. I don’t think Teg’s the sort of person to be late. I step towards the ivy, observing the slivers of black between the ropes of greenery. The gateway leers at me.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
And that’s when I see the marks in the ground. Except they’re more than just marks – as I creep closer, I realise that they’re more like gouges. Long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy. It’s as if something enormous, something dreadful, dragged itself out of the gateway and into our world. Something with claws the size of kitchen knives. I follow the gashes into the middle of the clearing, where they trail away, their shape changing. They get less deep and narrow and become rounder – like footprints. I let out a cry when I realise what I’m looking at. They are footprints. But they’re not human footprints. No, these are pawprints, and they look like they belong to a dog – a hound. And, judging by the size of them, this particular hound is gigantic. I remember the howls that came through the gateway the night I met Teg. I think back to the conversation I just heard between my pa and Jerry about a big black dog roaming Bryncastell. Maybe the howl I heard that first night in the tree house wasn’t a dream after all. Maybe the Grendilock really is here, prowling the streets in the shape of a terrible hound. A hound…perfect for hunting foxes. But how could the Grendilock be here? I saw the gateway close behind Teg.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen. I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement. “Teg?” The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers. Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
The gateway is open.
But Teg is nowhere to be seen.
I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement.
“Teg?”
The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls,
but nobody answers.
Teg isn’t here.
My stomach starts to squirm.
Something doesn’t feel right.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
The gateway is open. But Teg is nowhere to be seen. I turn in a circle, searching for a hint of movement. “Teg?” The word echoes round the clearing, ricocheting off the walls, but nobody answers. Teg isn’t here. My stomach starts to squirm. Something doesn’t feel right.
Explore
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
We arrive at the castle a few minutes before midday. There’s no one about, so I fish Cadno out of the backpack and put him down. Immediately, he starts bouncing around, relishing the freedom. I laugh as he chases a butterfly. I half expect to see Teg already waiting for us, but, when we round the curve of the north-west tower, the clearing is empty.
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Reveal Explainer
Teg had asked Charlie to return the firefox at midday. Charlie arrives at the castle with just a few minutes to spare. He expects Teg to be there waiting for him by the time he reaches the correct tower. Teg’s absence for such an important meeting immediately suggests that something is wrong.
Teach
From: The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - the summer breeze brushes through the curtain of ivy, revealing glimpses of the blackness behind it - the gateway is open - the gateway leers at me
someone or something has opened the gateway
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Text Mark Evidence - Teg is nowhere to be seen - Teg…the word echoes round the clearing…but nobody answers - Teg isn’t here - it’s a few minutes after midday…I don’t think Teg’s the sort of person to be late
the absence of Teg
Go to the next slide for more....
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence - my stomach starts to squirm - something doesn’t feel right
Charlie’s gut feeling
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I see the marks in the ground - they’re more than just marks... they’re more like gouges - long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy - I follow the gashes…their shape changing…like footprints - they are footprints…but they’re not human footprints
scratches and footprints by the gateway
How does the author create a sense of danger or suspense?
Text Mark Evidence - it’s as if something enormous, something dreadful, dragged itself out of the gateway and into our world -something with claws the size of kitchen knives - these are pawprints, and they look like they belong to a dog – a hound - judging by the size of them, this particular hound is gigantic
hints of a monster or the Grendilock
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘relishing’?
Find Me
Find three words which mean ‘cuts in a surface made by something sharp’:
Except they’re more than just marks – as I creep closer, I realise that they’re more like gouges. Long, violent slashes that lead from the darkness behind the ivy.
1 Discuss then check
2 Discuss then check
gouges
slashes
Link Me
Link each word with its correct definition:
A bounce off
1 relish
B enjoy greatly
2 ricochet
C glare or glower
Check
3 leer
Click if correct
D stalk or slink
4 prowl
Sequence Me
Put the events in the correct order:
A) Charlie arrives at the castle to meet Teg.
B) Charlie calls for Teg but no one answers.
C) Charlie notices gouges and footprints.
D) Charlie notices the gateway is open.
Click if correct
Check
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
spot themes.
Reveal
Look for big ideas or lessons the story might be teaching.
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 Last Firefox by Lee Newbery © 2022 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.