Skellig 1

SKELLIG #1

Written by David Almond

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When you work:

- Use full sentences in every answer

- Check the story carefully for your answers

- Be ready to explain your answers

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Week 1 - 2: Chapters 1 to  15

Front Cover: List all the thing you can see on the front cover. (On the front cover I can see an angle shut up in a glass dome)

Prediction: What do you think this story is going to be about? (I think that this story is going to be about an angel who is called Skelling) )Chapter 1:

1. What does the narrator discover in the shed? In the shed, the narrator discovers a dried up  body and thought it was dead.    √

2. What happened to the previous owner of the house?     The previous owner was found dead under the table in the kitchen.     √

Chapter2

1. In your reading book, draw a SMALL sketch of the shed and label at least 5 of the things described in this chapter.

2. Why wasn’t Michael allowed in the shed? Michael was not allowed in the shed because it was not safe.    √

3. Read the last chapter. Why is Michael annoyed at the baby? Michael is annoyed at the baby because it came to early.     √

Chapter 3:

1. Why does Michael call the doctor Doctor Death? Michael called him Doctor Death because his face was gray and there where black spots on his hands.    √

2. What do YOU think that Michael finds in the shed? I think that Michael finds a body that looks dead but it is not     √

Chapters 4 and 5:

1. What are three things that have now changed in Michael’s life? Three things that have changed in Michael’s life are:

1.  He is having bad dreams about the body     √

2.  His baby sister it going to die     √

3.  he has to take the bus from home to school    √

Chapters 6 and 7:

1. The author mentions death several times in these chapters (eg. Page 17: ‘He sighed like he was sick to death of everything’). Why do you think he writes about these things so early in the book?

I think that the author is writing about death because something is about to happen to do with death.    √

Chapter 8:

1. Why did Michael order ’27 and 53’ from the Chinese takeaway? Michael ordered 27 and 53 because he wanted to give the dude in the garage the leftovers.    √

Chapter 9:

1. What sort of person is Mina (her personality, her looks, her interests) These words describe Mina

     Personality interesting    √

    Interests drawing,birds    √

    Looks black hair and eyes that you can see through.   √ She sounds very interesting!

2. What colour is a blackbird? Do some research. A blackbird has these colours females are brown often with spots and streaks on their breasts. The bright orange-yellow beak and eye-ring.         √ Great detail here Hannah.

3. What does this tell us about the difference between Michael and Mina they

    Mina looks more closely.

    Michael sees  what is just there. Or is it the other way around. Please be more specific.

Chapters 10, 11 and 12:

1. What does Michael now notice about the blackbird? Michael now notices that the blackbird has yellow beck and gold and blue.    √

2. What information do we now learn about the person in the shed in this chapter? In this chapter we learn that he used to be someone and now he is half someone else.    √ AHA!!

3. Why is Michael so interested in shoulder blades? Michael is interested in shoulder blades because he felt something on the shoulder blades of the dude in the garage.    √ Great!

4. What do other people tell him about shoulder blades? Other people tell Michael that they're there for nothing.    √

Chapter 13:

1. What does Mina show Michael? Mina shows Michael the tawny owls.   √

2. Why do you think she shows him? Mina shows Michael because she sees that he is starting to see.    √ A thoughtful answer, Hannah.

Chapter 14 and 15:

1. Why are Michael and his dad tidying up the back yard? They are tidying the back yard so that his mum will be happy when she gets home from the hospital.     √

2. What does Mina tell Michael about shoulder blades at the end of the chapter? Mina tells Michael that it's where your wings where and where they will go.    √

3. How does Mina feel about homeschooling?  Mina feels that homeschool is a way to spread your wings.    √

4. How does Mina feel about Michael’s school?  Mina feels that his school is very glommy X Michael’s school.

4. Interview two people plus yourself (3 in total) in your reading group about what they think about home school and ‘normal’ school. Use PMI (plus, minus and interesting) and write the responses below.