Title : Stitch Head by Guy Bass (planned by Claire Miller Year 3/4)
Objective:
 Authors can create imaginary worlds; look for evidence of small details that are used to evoke time, place and mood. Look for evidence of the way that
characters behave in different settings.
 Develop understanding of story structure: recognise the stages of a story: introduction – build-up – climax or conflict – resolution; appreciate that chronology
does not always run smoothly, (e.g.) some events are skimmed over, others are told in more depth.
Targets: 7/8 Understanding and interpreting texts, Engaging and responding to texts.
 Show awareness of the point of view being presented in a text. (Yr 4 3b)
 Identify and make straightforward inferences based on evidence from texts. Identify main purpose of texts. (Yr4 3a)
Assessment progression: L3 AF3 bp 1 and 2, L3 AF2 bp1 and 2, L3 AF6 bp1 and personal response.
Guided Reading (throughout reading of novel)
LA: Reading key chapters and extracts with tch, annotating and highlighting evidence, point of view, discuss insights and
character development. Evidence for Stitch Head’s desires.
MA: Re-read supported in depth focus on character development, how they change. Readers initial expectations of Creature
etc and how author creates this, how they change and why. Locating evidence in text. How author develops plot and story
structure.
HA: Point of view of characters and author and evidence to support, Inference and deduction using evidence and personal
opinions from understanding.
Differentiated Journal activities ongoing include - insights as reading, predictions, character study and development
annotations, describe what they think before reading (settings, people etc), comprehension, notes from drama activities, follow
up reading with LSA and insights.
Automatic writing – random page, random line and start before reading
text.
Opening sentence writing – memories/feelings/thoughts from opening
sentences.
Watch Book trailer (you tube) and create own (link to persuasion)
Illustration people in Grubber’s nubbin – who are they? Their issues and
dilemmas? Writing from one character as starting point – inference from
illustration.
After: GUY BASS VISIT to school
– display prepared, questions, art work
and make own Stitch Head’s/dress up
etc.
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Visit to Frankenweenie and links,
Frankenstein reading extracts –
comparisons of plot, characters,
author style etc.
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Adapting for film and writing scenes.
Scripts, storyboarding etc.
After:
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Before:
Look at image on front
cover, talk about what they
think the book will be
about, mood, tensions,
tone and why? Style of
writing, character clothes,
author etc.
Find out about Guy Bass –
you tube clips and
interviews/performances.
Book Illustrations – display
and ch’n add post it notes
of their ideas, what has
happened? Will happen?
Who are they|? Where are
they? Questions?
Chapter headings – clues.
Describe setting and
character from image (later
read text and
compare/change what do
they now know? How?)
During:
Class/group discussions
Book talk – likes, dislikes, thoughts, puzzles.
Reading as a Writer – effect on reader and how
writer achieved this.
Writing in different genres.
Annotate details that are used to evoke time, place
and mood
Story structure – emotion charts and
rollercoaster’s with Stitch Head – character
posters, dialogue about 1 character between 2
others etc. write what could happen next at key
dramatic moments.
Heroes and Villains – Fulbert Freakfinder/The
Professor etc – predictions, justify actions
aurally/drama and in writing letters and recounts –
point of view change.
Small section of text – analyse and continue/use
as stimulus for own genre writing.
Drama:
Role-Play, Creature and Stitch Head
dialogue and feelings, hot seta,
conscience alley – motives and
consequences, issues and villager
dilemma – the boy in illustration from the
village.
Arabella.
Retelling and summarising.
Spk and List:
‘I can see it’ Setting of Grubber’s Nubbin,
Castle Grotteskew or the Professor’s
Study.
Change point of view and retell scene. –
Interviews news reporters about events
at the castle, events at the end, record
then write. Radio interviews.
Time line to verbalise what they saw,
heard, felt – own writing/paired talk.
Association game using word from text
and new/interesting vocabulary.
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Independent group
work.
LA: how author created world –
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evidence in text. Create own.
MA: point of view – evidence what
and how author shows you. Own
writing – changing POV or from
character.
HA: Book 2 using inferences from
reading 1. Continue in authors
style.
Write the prequel – what happened
before? How did the professor
come to create Stitch Head?
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Photostory/PowerPoint/mediator – Guy Bass,
Stitch Head, Our work based on the book
including talk sessions.
Books 2 and 3 – what could happen next?
Plots. How could the writer develop story lines
– main/arks and characters?
Arabella’s diary/past – her story.
Advert to stay at Castle Grotteskew –
persuasion, to visit Grubber’s Nubbin or
Fulbert Freakfinders travelling carnival etc.
Poetry – Stitch Head lonely theme, the ghost
of castle Gr, creation, Monsters.
E-mails from characters to the author and to
each other, responses/letters etc.
The lost diary of…character,
Own settings and narrative based on
scenes/characters/ or settings from text.
Research and debate linked to
cloning/creating monsters. Circus etc. For and
Against.
Reviews.
Autobiography and biography – professor etc.
Cartoon of story and animate.
Favourite characters and why.
Writing blurbs – Stitch Head and books 2 and
3.
Create own Monsters from the castle.
Instructions for potions that are used in the
text or create own concoction.
Explanation for how professor’s items in his
study work.