Ready Steady Read Together
Boy in the Tower: 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?
One minute, we weren’t calling it ‘the Blucher Disaster’, and the next, it had caught on so much that in the end, people were using it to describe anything horrible that was happening.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Follow as I read
Explore
One day I was watching television and they started talking about ‘the Blucher Disaster’.
They were talking about everything that had been happening and whether or not the army should be sent in. The problem was that they didn’t know what they were fighting, so they didn’t know who or what the enemy was.
I changed the channel and it was someone talking about the number of people who had died so far, and there were their families, crying and talking about how much they missed them.
I turned the television off for a while after that.
One minute, we weren’t calling it ‘the Blucher Disaster’, and the next, it had caught on so much that in the end, people were using it to describe anything horrible that was happening.
This was how the plants first got their name. Bluchers. Someone called them that once on TV and it stuck.
No one knew about the Bluchers for what seemed like a long time. There were all kinds of reasons and ideas about why our buildings were falling down and why people were collapsing. It was a horrible, horrible time.
One day, I thought I’d switch on the news and they’d say that they’d found a way to make it safe for everybody again. It had to happen sooner or later, didn’t it?
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
When I turned the TV back on, the first thing I saw was a Blucher, filling the screen. Of course, I had no idea what it was at that moment, so my first thought was that it looked quite beautiful. It was shiny and had a bit on the top that was shaped like a sunflower seed, with the tip pointing upwards. Except that it was more like a ball; it wasn’t flat. It was about as big as one of my fists, I suppose, with a little stalk holding the top part up. What made me think it was beautiful was its colour. It was almost blue and almost silver. Not like any colour that I could make up with paint or pencils, anyway.
‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’ I guess because they had a little stalk and a bit on top, they were first called a type of plant. Although really they weren’t anything like a plant. They looked like nothing else I had ever seen.
When I realized what it was I was looking at, I could see its beauty dissolve before my eyes. The blue-silver colour reminded me of knives, of grey clouds before a thunderstorm. The way the colour moved and shifted made me think of a predator stalking its prey, silently pacing towards it before it goes in for the kill.
Bluchers weren’t beautiful at all. They were evil, menacing, deadly.
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
collapsing
identified
origin
confirmed
stalking
menacing
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. 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
collapsing
Explore
Find Read Talk
No one knew about the Bluchers for what seemed like a long time. There were all kinds of reasons and ideas about why our buildings were falling down and why people were collapsing. It was a horrible, horrible time.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
collapsing
Your turn
origin
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
identified
confirmed
stalking
menacing
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
One day I was watching television and they started talking about ‘the Blucher Disaster’.
They were talking about everything that had been happening and whether or not the army should be sent in. The problem was that they didn’t know what they were fighting, so they didn’t know who or what the enemy was.
I changed the channel and it was someone talking about the number of people who had died so far, and there were their families, crying and talking about how much they missed them.
I turned the television off for a while after that.
One minute, we weren’t calling it ‘the Blucher Disaster’, and the next, it had caught on so much that in the end, people were using it to describe anything horrible that was happening.
This was how the plants first got their name. Bluchers. Someone called them that once on TV and it stuck.
No one knew about the Bluchers for what seemed like a long time. There were all kinds of reasons and ideas about why our buildings were falling down and why people were collapsing. It was a horrible, horrible time.
One day, I thought I’d switch on the news and they’d say that they’d found a way to make it safe for everybody again. It had to happen sooner or later, didn’t it?
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
When I turned the TV back on, the first thing I saw was a Blucher, filling the screen. Of course, I had no idea what it was at that moment, so my first thought was that it looked quite beautiful. It was shiny and had a bit on the top that was shaped like a sunflower seed, with the tip pointing upwards. Except that it was more like a ball; it wasn’t flat. It was about as big as one of my fists, I suppose, with a little stalk holding the top part up. What made me think it was beautiful was its colour. It was almost blue and almost silver. Not like any colour that I could make up with paint or pencils, anyway.
‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’ I guess because they had a little stalk and a bit on top, they were first called a type of plant. Although really they weren’t anything like a plant. They looked like nothing else I had ever seen.
When I realized what it was I was looking at, I could see its beauty dissolve before my eyes. The blue-silver colour reminded me of knives, of grey clouds before a thunderstorm. The way the colour moved and shifted made me think of a predator stalking its prey, silently pacing towards it before it goes in for the kill.
Bluchers weren’t beautiful at all. They were evil, menacing, deadly.
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’
What did you notice?
Volume
Pace
Smoothness
Phrasing
Expression
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
‘These images are coming live
from the Blucher Disaster area,’
the newsreader was saying,
‘where this plant has just been discovered.’
‘Its origin has not been identified
and scientists have already confirmed
that this is a completely new species.’
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
One day I was watching television and they started talking about ‘the Blucher Disaster’.
They were talking about everything that had been happening and whether or not the army should be sent in. The problem was that they didn’t know what they were fighting, so they didn’t know who or what the enemy was.
Reveal Explainer
Ade is confused by the Bluchers because no one understands what they are or what they are fighting. The text says that “they didn’t know what they were fighting… who or what the enemy was,” which shows there is no clear explanation for what is happening. This suggests that at this point, Ade feels uncertain and unsettled because the situation is unknown and difficult to understand.
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Teach
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. 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 do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Pairedreading first
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Before he sees a Blucher:
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - they didn’t know what they were fighting…who or what the enemy was - there were all kinds of reasons and ideas
confused and unsettled about what is happening
Text Mark Evidence - the number of people who had died…their families, crying - I turned the television off
disturbed by the danger and loss of life
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
When he first sees a Blucher:
Text Mark Evidence - my first thought was that it looked quite beautiful - almost blue and almost silver…not like any colour
finds it beautiful and interesting
Go to the next slide for more...
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence - a completely new species - looked like nothing else I had ever seen
amazed by how unusual it is
Acceptable Answers
When he realises what it really is:
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Text Mark Evidence I could see its beauty dissolve before my eyes
his view changes from beauty to fear and threat
Text Mark Evidence - reminded me of knives…a predator stalking its prey - evil, menacing, deadly
now sees it as dangerous and deadly
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Quiz Time
Start
Which One's Right?
I turned the television off for a while after that.Why did Ade turn the television off?
B) because he did not understand what the news was explaining
A) because he was bored of hearing the same news repeated
D) because he wanted to watch something else instead
C) because he felt upset watching people talk about those who had died
True or False?
The name ‘Bluchers’ was given by the scientist who first discovered the species.
True
False
Link Me
Link each part of the Blucher with what Ade compared it to:
A) his fist
1) the top bit
B) knives
2) the colour
3) how the colour moved
C) a predator
Check
Click if correct
D) a sunflower seed
4) its size
Fill the Gaps
origin
identified
confirmed
Its has not been and scientists have already that this is a completely new species.
Discuss then check
Click if correct
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.
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: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
origin
identified
confirmed
RSRT Y6 L4 The Boy in the Tower
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
Boy in the Tower: 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?
One minute, we weren’t calling it ‘the Blucher Disaster’, and the next, it had caught on so much that in the end, people were using it to describe anything horrible that was happening.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Follow as I read
Explore
One day I was watching television and they started talking about ‘the Blucher Disaster’. They were talking about everything that had been happening and whether or not the army should be sent in. The problem was that they didn’t know what they were fighting, so they didn’t know who or what the enemy was. I changed the channel and it was someone talking about the number of people who had died so far, and there were their families, crying and talking about how much they missed them. I turned the television off for a while after that. One minute, we weren’t calling it ‘the Blucher Disaster’, and the next, it had caught on so much that in the end, people were using it to describe anything horrible that was happening. This was how the plants first got their name. Bluchers. Someone called them that once on TV and it stuck. No one knew about the Bluchers for what seemed like a long time. There were all kinds of reasons and ideas about why our buildings were falling down and why people were collapsing. It was a horrible, horrible time. One day, I thought I’d switch on the news and they’d say that they’d found a way to make it safe for everybody again. It had to happen sooner or later, didn’t it?
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
When I turned the TV back on, the first thing I saw was a Blucher, filling the screen. Of course, I had no idea what it was at that moment, so my first thought was that it looked quite beautiful. It was shiny and had a bit on the top that was shaped like a sunflower seed, with the tip pointing upwards. Except that it was more like a ball; it wasn’t flat. It was about as big as one of my fists, I suppose, with a little stalk holding the top part up. What made me think it was beautiful was its colour. It was almost blue and almost silver. Not like any colour that I could make up with paint or pencils, anyway. ‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’ I guess because they had a little stalk and a bit on top, they were first called a type of plant. Although really they weren’t anything like a plant. They looked like nothing else I had ever seen. When I realized what it was I was looking at, I could see its beauty dissolve before my eyes. The blue-silver colour reminded me of knives, of grey clouds before a thunderstorm. The way the colour moved and shifted made me think of a predator stalking its prey, silently pacing towards it before it goes in for the kill. Bluchers weren’t beautiful at all. They were evil, menacing, deadly.
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
collapsing
identified
origin
confirmed
stalking
menacing
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. 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
collapsing
Explore
Find Read Talk
No one knew about the Bluchers for what seemed like a long time. There were all kinds of reasons and ideas about why our buildings were falling down and why people were collapsing. It was a horrible, horrible time.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
collapsing
Your turn
origin
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
identified
confirmed
stalking
menacing
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
One day I was watching television and they started talking about ‘the Blucher Disaster’. They were talking about everything that had been happening and whether or not the army should be sent in. The problem was that they didn’t know what they were fighting, so they didn’t know who or what the enemy was. I changed the channel and it was someone talking about the number of people who had died so far, and there were their families, crying and talking about how much they missed them. I turned the television off for a while after that. One minute, we weren’t calling it ‘the Blucher Disaster’, and the next, it had caught on so much that in the end, people were using it to describe anything horrible that was happening. This was how the plants first got their name. Bluchers. Someone called them that once on TV and it stuck. No one knew about the Bluchers for what seemed like a long time. There were all kinds of reasons and ideas about why our buildings were falling down and why people were collapsing. It was a horrible, horrible time. One day, I thought I’d switch on the news and they’d say that they’d found a way to make it safe for everybody again. It had to happen sooner or later, didn’t it?
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.
When I turned the TV back on, the first thing I saw was a Blucher, filling the screen. Of course, I had no idea what it was at that moment, so my first thought was that it looked quite beautiful. It was shiny and had a bit on the top that was shaped like a sunflower seed, with the tip pointing upwards. Except that it was more like a ball; it wasn’t flat. It was about as big as one of my fists, I suppose, with a little stalk holding the top part up. What made me think it was beautiful was its colour. It was almost blue and almost silver. Not like any colour that I could make up with paint or pencils, anyway. ‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’ I guess because they had a little stalk and a bit on top, they were first called a type of plant. Although really they weren’t anything like a plant. They looked like nothing else I had ever seen. When I realized what it was I was looking at, I could see its beauty dissolve before my eyes. The blue-silver colour reminded me of knives, of grey clouds before a thunderstorm. The way the colour moved and shifted made me think of a predator stalking its prey, silently pacing towards it before it goes in for the kill. Bluchers weren’t beautiful at all. They were evil, menacing, deadly.
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’
What did you notice?
Volume
Pace
Smoothness
Phrasing
Expression
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
‘These images are coming live
from the Blucher Disaster area,’
the newsreader was saying,
‘where this plant has just been discovered.’
‘Its origin has not been identified
and scientists have already confirmed
that this is a completely new species.’
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
‘These images are coming live from the Blucher Disaster area,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘where this plant has just been discovered. Its origin has not been identified and scientists have already confirmed that this is a completely new species.’
Explore
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
One day I was watching television and they started talking about ‘the Blucher Disaster’. They were talking about everything that had been happening and whether or not the army should be sent in. The problem was that they didn’t know what they were fighting, so they didn’t know who or what the enemy was.
Reveal Explainer
Ade is confused by the Bluchers because no one understands what they are or what they are fighting. The text says that “they didn’t know what they were fighting… who or what the enemy was,” which shows there is no clear explanation for what is happening. This suggests that at this point, Ade feels uncertain and unsettled because the situation is unknown and difficult to understand.
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Teach
From: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015. 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 do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Pairedreading first
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Before he sees a Blucher:
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - they didn’t know what they were fighting…who or what the enemy was - there were all kinds of reasons and ideas
confused and unsettled about what is happening
Text Mark Evidence - the number of people who had died…their families, crying - I turned the television off
disturbed by the danger and loss of life
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
When he first sees a Blucher:
Text Mark Evidence - my first thought was that it looked quite beautiful - almost blue and almost silver…not like any colour
finds it beautiful and interesting
Go to the next slide for more...
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence - a completely new species - looked like nothing else I had ever seen
amazed by how unusual it is
Acceptable Answers
When he realises what it really is:
How do Ade’s views of the Bluchers change?
Text Mark Evidence I could see its beauty dissolve before my eyes
his view changes from beauty to fear and threat
Text Mark Evidence - reminded me of knives…a predator stalking its prey - evil, menacing, deadly
now sees it as dangerous and deadly
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Quiz Time
Start
Which One's Right?
I turned the television off for a while after that.Why did Ade turn the television off?
B) because he did not understand what the news was explaining
A) because he was bored of hearing the same news repeated
D) because he wanted to watch something else instead
C) because he felt upset watching people talk about those who had died
True or False?
The name ‘Bluchers’ was given by the scientist who first discovered the species.
True
False
Link Me
Link each part of the Blucher with what Ade compared it to:
A) his fist
1) the top bit
B) knives
2) the colour
3) how the colour moved
C) a predator
Check
Click if correct
D) a sunflower seed
4) its size
Fill the Gaps
origin
identified
confirmed
Its has not been and scientists have already that this is a completely new species.
Discuss then check
Click if correct
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.
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: Boy In The Tower by Polly Ho-Yen © 2015 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
origin
identified
confirmed