Extract 1
VOCABULARY
What does the word “incident” mean in this extract?
In this extract, “incident” means…
In this extract, “incident” means an event that has happened. The narrator makes it sound very important because they call it an “EXTREMELY IMPORTANT” incident.
VOCABULARY
What does the phrase “my feet feel jumpy inside” tell us about how the narrator feels?
The phrase "my feet feel jumpy inside" suggests that the narrator feels…
The phrase "my feet feel jumpy inside" suggests that the narrator feels very excited. Their body feels restless because they cannot wait to choose their new school supplies.
VOCABULARY
What does the phrase “the plane roared and climbed into the arms of the sky” suggest about the take-off?
The phrase, “the plane roared and climbed into the arms of the sky” suggests that the plane…
The phrase suggests that the plane takes off with great power and speed. The word “roared” makes it sound loud and forceful, while “arms of the sky” makes the plane seem as if it is being pulled upwards.
RETRIEVAL
What did the narrator do with the crisp that looked like Mrs Cunningham?
The narrator…
The narrator put the crisp in an envelope and posted it through Mrs Cunningham’s letter box. They did this because they thought the crisp looked exactly like her.
RETRIEVAL
What does the narrator usually do with Mum before the new school year begins?
Before the new school year, the narrator and Mum…
Before the new school year, the narrator and Mum travel into the city to buy new school supplies. The narrator describes this as an “Extra-Special Adventure”.
RETRIEVAL
What three controls does Fred watch the pilot use?
Fred watches the pilot use…
Fred watches the pilot use the fuel gauge, throttle and joystick. He follows each movement carefully because he is fascinated by how the plane works.
INFERENCE
What do you think about the narrator’s personality?
I think the narrator is… because…
I think the narrator is imaginative and funny because they believe a crisp can look exactly like Mrs Cunningham. Calling it a “crisp twin” shows that they enjoy silly ideas and take them seriously.
INFERENCE
What can you infer about the narrator’s relationship with Mum?
I think the narrator and Mum have a… relationship because…
I think the narrator and Mum have a close and caring relationship because they have a special tradition together every year. Mum also takes the narrator into the city so they can choose school supplies they really like.
INFERENCE
What can you infer about Fred from his behaviour in the cockpit?
Fred seems… because...
Fred seems curious and very interested in flying because he watches the pilot’s fingers closely and follows every control. His “jaw was set with concentration”, showing that he is completely focused.
EXPLAIN
How does the author make this extract funny?
The author makes this extract funny by…
The author makes the extract funny by treating something silly as if it is very serious. The narrator even posts the crisp through Mrs Cunningham’s letter box instead of eating it.
EXPLAIN
Why does the author begin the extract by telling us about the empty chair?
The author begins with the empty chair because…
The author begins with the empty chair because it makes the reader curious. We are told that something very exciting began with that chair, so we want to find out who is going to sit there and what will happen.
EXPLAIN
How does the author show that the children react differently to the flight?
The author shows that the children react differently by…
The author shows that the children react differently through their actions. Fred presses against the window because he is interested, one girl sings quietly while looking at the water, and the pale girl refuses to look out of the window at all. This suggests that some are excited while others feel nervous.
PREDICTION
What do you predict the narrator and Zach are going to tell Mum about?
I predict that they are going to tell Mum about…
I predict that they are going to tell Mum about something strange that happened at school. They ran home and called it “EXTREMELY IMPORTANT”, which shows they are excited or worried about it.
PREDICTION
Who do you think might sit in the empty chair, and why might they be important?
I predict that the empty chair will…
I predict that a new pupil will sit in the empty chair. The narrator says that something very exciting began with it, so this new person is probably going to change what happens in the class.
SUMARRY
Summarise what we learn about the passengers in this part of the extract.
In this part of the extract, we learn that…
In this part of the extract, we meet Fred and three other children travelling on the plane. Fred is interested in flying, one girl appears shy, her little brother behaves playfully, and another girl seems uncomfortable or nervous about the journey.