THE SKY SONG
SCHEME OF WORK (FOR 8-12 YEARS)
written by the author, Abi Elphinstone, a former English teacher
I regularly visit schools throughout the UK (and abroad) and can deliver talks about my books and the writing process to children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. Currently though, I am not accepting new bookings. I will update this page as soon as that changes.
CONTENTS
Pre-reading activities 1&2: discussing the book cover; designing a new book cover
Pre-reading activity 3: research project on Inuits
Pre-reading activity 4: research project on Kazakh Eagle Hunters
Pre-reading activity 5: creating your own literary map
Pre-reading activity 6: naming places on literary maps
Pre-reading activity 7: using maps to plot stories
Prologue activities: writing a fairytale opening; creating a timeline of events; inventing your own constellation
Chapter 1: illustrating the Ice Queen; comprehension questions on the Ice Queen
Chapter 2: creating a fact file for Flint; dreaming up inventions; creative writing
Chapter 3: learning about Arctic foxes
Chapters 4 & 5: learning about refugee boy, Rami; reading stories that champion tolerance; writing a formal letter
Chapter 6: writing a diary entry; creative writing
Chapter 7: creating ‘den’ settings
Chapter 8: writing dialogue; learning about diverse characters; language analysis
Chapter 9: identifying dramatic language; writing action scenes
Chapter 10: imagining alternative settings
Chapter 11: charting Flint’s character development
Chapter 12: charting Eska’s character development
Chapter 13: looking at the influence of picture books on fiction for 8+ years
Chapter 14: writing film director notes
Chapter 15: comparing characters; exploring themes
Chapters 16 & 17: making a leaflet on polar bears & climate change; getting inspiration from documentaries
Chapter 18: inventing a villain
Chapter 19: inventing a magical creature
Chapter 20: case-study on an inspirational person
Chapter 21: understanding the art of naming characters; naming an ice monster
Chapter 22: writing a haiku
Chapter 23: pre-imagining settings; character spider diagram
Chapter 24: understanding persuasive techniques
Chapter 25: comprehension questions
Chapter 26: writing poetry
Chapter 27: creating unexpected characters
Chapter 28: writing emotive letters
Chapter 29: continuing the story
Chapter 30: exploring child-animal bonds; learning about orcas
Chapter 31: researching Arctic animals
Chapter 32: creating a Wanted! poster
Chapter 33, 34 & 35: just read – it’s too tense for activities now!
Epilogue: writing your own Arctic adventure
My Dreamsnatcher Playlist
1. To get me fired up for a day of writing: Let it Go from Disney’s Frozen
2. When I want to introduce a bit more magic into the plot: Flying by James Newton Howard – from the most recent Peter Pan movie
3. The last few chapters of my book are pretty tense and I wrote them to this song: Narnia battle theme – from the more recent Narnia movie
4. I reward myself with this song after I’ve written a good chase scene: Septimus by Ilan Eshkeri – from the Stardust soundtrack
5. When I’m editing the book and need all my concentration to get it just right: Silence (anything else is distracting)
6. When I want inspiration: BBC Narnia Aslan’s Theme by Geoffrey Burgon (possibly the most magical sounding thing OF ALL TIME)
7. Standard writing day music: anything by Ludovico Einaudi
8. When I’m tired but know I have to write anyway: I’ve Come Home from the Spirit movie
9. When I’m willing Moll on to be brave against Skull: Spark Inside Us from The Princess & The Goblin movie
10. If I were ever to write a kissing scene (at the moment I can’t imagine my characters getting to that point!) I would write it to this song: Storybook Love by Mark Knopfler – The Princess Bride
theme song
1. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
2. The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden
3. Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver
4. Skellig by David Almond
5. The Worst Witch series by Jill Murphy
6. The BFG by Roald Dahl
7. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
8. The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Top 10 Desert Island Reads
Abi Elphinstone Q&A
Abi answers your questions about her inspiration for The Dreamsnatcher
THE DREAMSNATCHER
SCHEME OF WORK (FOR 8-12 YEARS)
WORLD BOOK DAY