Ready Steady Read Together
Varjak Paw: Fiction Lesson 5
Quiz Time
Start
Questions about the book so far...
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘deliberately’?
True or False?
Varjak is certain the Elder Paw will succeed against the two black cats.
True
False
Sequence Me
Put the following events from the story in the correct order:
A) The Elder Paw told Varjak about the Way of Jalal.
B) Varjak became restless and tried to sneak out into the garden.
C) Varjak and the Elder Paw were cornered by two black cats.
D) Varjak was excited to attend his first Family Council.
Click if correct
Check
Tick Me
Which is most likely to happen next in the story?
Tick one:
A) The Elder Paw will climb the wall and escape.
B) The other cats in the family will come outside to help Varjak.
Check
C) The Gentleman will help Varjak to climb the wall and escape.
Click if correct
D) The Elder Paw will fight the two black cats.
Speaking Spotlight
Character Monologue
Explore
Character Monologue
Elder Paw
Express yourself
Speak clearly
Practise first
Imagine the scene
Understand your character
Eye contact
Gesture
Be confident
Then perform
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
lurched
sheer
giddiness
taunt
treacherous
shuddered
Explore
From: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Let me read today's text
Explore
Varjak’s stomach lurched. He was going to be sick if he stayed on the wall any longer. Down. He had to get down, and quickly – the black cats would be looking for him. But how? He couldn’t climb down the wall: it was sheer. He’d over-balance and crash if he tried.
There was a tree Outside the wall, just one. He could climb down a tree, if he could only make it that far.
He stretched out a paw. His pad zipped on the wet moss that cloaked the stone. He clung on with his claws and regained his balance. A blast of bitterly cold wind almost pushed him over the edge. Another wave of giddiness washed over him. The wind seemed to taunt him with its song. Too high, it sang. Too high, too soon! Varjak tried to shut it out, but the song was everywhere. You’ve gone too high too soon. You’ll never make it to that tree!
He ignored it, positioned his tail for extra balance and took another step along the mossy stone. It was like walking on ice: treacherous: impossible. In his mind, he saw himself slip, slide, skid off that wall, smash to pieces on the ground below. He shuddered.
Think of something else, he told himself. Think of the Way. What was it? Slow-Time. Moving Circles. Shadow-Walking.
From: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Varjak staggered towards the tree. Too high, whistled the wind. “Slow-Time!” he yelled back. He wasn’t going to let the wind beat him.
“Moving Circles!” He wasn’t going to let the wall beat him.
“Shadow-Walking!” Because he was Varjak Paw, and he knew the Way.
Varjak walked the wall like he’d been walking walls all his life. He was light and springy on his paws. It worked: the Way actually worked! He wasn’t dizzy any more. He didn’t feel sick.
I’d like to see Julius do this, he thought.
Now he just had to step into the tree, and he could climb down easily. He’d done the hard part. Varjak grinned, and pounced onto the nearest branch.
CRACK!
Falling…
Didn’t test it? Stupid!
The wind whipped into his face as he fell towards the ground. He closed his eyes –
– and everything went black.
From: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
Teach
Your turn
Practise & Apply
Use your text
Practise & Apply
1) He stretched out a paw. His pad zipped on the wet moss that cloaked the stone.
Circle the word which best completes the sentence.
The word ‘cloaked’ suggests that the stone is…
moist.
hidden.
green.
slippery.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
2) How can you tell that Varjak’s climb to the top of the wall was challenging for him?
Text Mark Evidence - his pad slipped on the wet moss that cloaked the stone - it was like walking on ice: treacherous…impossible
Varjak felt ill or dizzy from the height
Text Mark Evidence - Varjak’s stomach lurched - he was going to be sick if he stayed on the wall any longer - another wave of giddiness washed over him
the surface is slippery and unsafe
Text Mark Evidence a blast of bitterly cold wind almost pushed him over the edge
the weather conditions add to the danger
Text Mark Evidence he couldn’t climb down the wall… it was sheer
the wall is steep and dangerous
Text Mark Evidence in his mind, he saw himself slip, slide, skid off that wall, smash to pieces on the ground below
Varjak imagines the danger and fears falling
Text Mark Evidence - he’d overbalance and crash if he tried - he clung on with his claws and regained his balance
Varjak struggles to balance and is at risk of falling
Text Mark Evidence Varjak staggered towards the tree
Varjak struggles to move steadily
RevealEvidence & Answers
3) Name two things that caused Varjak to fall.
Accept reference to any two of the following:
- Varjak forgot to test the branch
- the branch cracked or broke
- the branch was too weak to hold Varjak’s weight
Reveal Answer
4) Remembering the whole text, put the following events in order. Write a number 1-5 in each box.
Varjak used his tail to help him balance.
A gust of wind almost pushed Varjak over the edge.
Varjak leaped from the wall towards the nearest tree.
Varjak remembered to use the Way of Jalal.
Varjak's paw slipped on moss.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
set reading goals.
Reveal
Challenge yourself to read a specific number of books or pages.
If you like this book, you might like...
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: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
Varjak Paw: Fiction Lesson 5
Quiz Time
Start
Questions about the book so far...
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘deliberately’?
True or False?
Varjak is certain the Elder Paw will succeed against the two black cats.
True
False
Sequence Me
Put the following events from the story in the correct order:
A) The Elder Paw told Varjak about the Way of Jalal.
B) Varjak became restless and tried to sneak out into the garden.
C) Varjak and the Elder Paw were cornered by two black cats.
D) Varjak was excited to attend his first Family Council.
Click if correct
Check
Tick Me
Which is most likely to happen next in the story?
Tick one:
A) The Elder Paw will climb the wall and escape.
B) The other cats in the family will come outside to help Varjak.
Check
C) The Gentleman will help Varjak to climb the wall and escape.
Click if correct
D) The Elder Paw will fight the two black cats.
Speaking Spotlight
Character Monologue
Explore
Character Monologue
Elder Paw
Express yourself
Speak clearly
Practise first
Imagine the scene
Understand your character
Eye contact
Gesture
Be confident
Then perform
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
lurched
sheer
giddiness
taunt
treacherous
shuddered
Explore
From: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Let me read today's text
Explore
Varjak’s stomach lurched. He was going to be sick if he stayed on the wall any longer. Down. He had to get down, and quickly – the black cats would be looking for him. But how? He couldn’t climb down the wall: it was sheer. He’d over-balance and crash if he tried. There was a tree Outside the wall, just one. He could climb down a tree, if he could only make it that far. He stretched out a paw. His pad zipped on the wet moss that cloaked the stone. He clung on with his claws and regained his balance. A blast of bitterly cold wind almost pushed him over the edge. Another wave of giddiness washed over him. The wind seemed to taunt him with its song. Too high, it sang. Too high, too soon! Varjak tried to shut it out, but the song was everywhere. You’ve gone too high too soon. You’ll never make it to that tree! He ignored it, positioned his tail for extra balance and took another step along the mossy stone. It was like walking on ice: treacherous: impossible. In his mind, he saw himself slip, slide, skid off that wall, smash to pieces on the ground below. He shuddered. Think of something else, he told himself. Think of the Way. What was it? Slow-Time. Moving Circles. Shadow-Walking.
From: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Varjak staggered towards the tree. Too high, whistled the wind. “Slow-Time!” he yelled back. He wasn’t going to let the wind beat him. “Moving Circles!” He wasn’t going to let the wall beat him. “Shadow-Walking!” Because he was Varjak Paw, and he knew the Way. Varjak walked the wall like he’d been walking walls all his life. He was light and springy on his paws. It worked: the Way actually worked! He wasn’t dizzy any more. He didn’t feel sick. I’d like to see Julius do this, he thought. Now he just had to step into the tree, and he could climb down easily. He’d done the hard part. Varjak grinned, and pounced onto the nearest branch. CRACK! Falling… Didn’t test it? Stupid! The wind whipped into his face as he fell towards the ground. He closed his eyes – – and everything went black.
From: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
Teach
Your turn
Practise & Apply
Use your text
Practise & Apply
1) He stretched out a paw. His pad zipped on the wet moss that cloaked the stone. Circle the word which best completes the sentence. The word ‘cloaked’ suggests that the stone is…
moist.
hidden.
green.
slippery.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
2) How can you tell that Varjak’s climb to the top of the wall was challenging for him?
Text Mark Evidence - his pad slipped on the wet moss that cloaked the stone - it was like walking on ice: treacherous…impossible
Varjak felt ill or dizzy from the height
Text Mark Evidence - Varjak’s stomach lurched - he was going to be sick if he stayed on the wall any longer - another wave of giddiness washed over him
the surface is slippery and unsafe
Text Mark Evidence a blast of bitterly cold wind almost pushed him over the edge
the weather conditions add to the danger
Text Mark Evidence he couldn’t climb down the wall… it was sheer
the wall is steep and dangerous
Text Mark Evidence in his mind, he saw himself slip, slide, skid off that wall, smash to pieces on the ground below
Varjak imagines the danger and fears falling
Text Mark Evidence - he’d overbalance and crash if he tried - he clung on with his claws and regained his balance
Varjak struggles to balance and is at risk of falling
Text Mark Evidence Varjak staggered towards the tree
Varjak struggles to move steadily
RevealEvidence & Answers
3) Name two things that caused Varjak to fall.
Accept reference to any two of the following:
Reveal Answer
4) Remembering the whole text, put the following events in order. Write a number 1-5 in each box.
Varjak used his tail to help him balance.
A gust of wind almost pushed Varjak over the edge.
Varjak leaped from the wall towards the nearest tree.
Varjak remembered to use the Way of Jalal.
Varjak's paw slipped on moss.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
set reading goals.
Reveal
Challenge yourself to read a specific number of books or pages.
If you like this book, you might like...
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: Varjak Paw by S. F. Said © 2003 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.