Medium Term Plans
Text: The Giver (Lois Lowry)
AF Focus
Session
Learning Intentions
*To be able to explain a
1 writer’s choice of words,
considering the intended
AF5
effect on the reader
*To be able to explain
2 underlying meaning in a
text based on evidence
AF3
*To be able to explain a
3 writer’s use of structure to
withhold information, and
AF4
give reasons for this.
*To be able to identify the
4 viewpoint of a writer
through reading a text
AF6
*To be able to infer
5 information about a text
based on reading
AF3
*To be able to explain the
6 intentions of the writer in
including subtle detail in a
AF6
text.
Subject Links: N/A Term: Spring 1 Class: 7MT Date: January 2011
Reading Key Questions during text Extended Responses Question Evaluation
NB: Do not read What is the difference between being frightened and being AF5: Look at the author’s use of adverbs on pages 1
blurb in advance apprehensive? to 3 of the text. How does she use these to describe
What might the meaning be of the phrase “to be released”? to the reader the nature of the community and the
Read Chapter 1 What is the main character’s understanding of ‘animals’? way in which its citizens behave?
(Remind of commonality of –ly suffix to aid LA)
Do residents in the community celebrate birthdays? AF3: What do we know about the community from
Read Chapter 2 How are families built up in the community? what the author tells us about Lily’s soft toy?
What is the ‘Ceremony of Twelve’?
Why are people described as being “a Twelve” or “a Seven”?
Why would it be considered rude to notice difference in eye AF4: Why did the author make it so difficult for
Read Chapter 3 colour? Is that a good ‘rule’ to have in society? Jonas to understand what had changed about the
What is the meaning of the word “depth” in reference to apple? How does this affect the reader?
Gabriel’s eyes?
Why would bragging be against the rules? What restrictions AF6: What is the community’s view of the role of
Read Chapter 4 does that also place on conversation? Birthmother? Do you think this reflects the view of
What do we know about the role of birthmother? the author?
If not, what is the author trying to achieve?
What are ‘the Stirrings’? AF3: What does the information about the pills tell
Read Chapter 5 Why are they considered a bad thing? us about the ways in which family units must be
Would you tell such a dream so openly at home? Why does constructed? Why might this be?
Jonas do so?
What is the significance of each of the changes made at the AF6: The mention of rear-buttoned jackets is very
Read Chapter 6 annual ceremonies? brief, but highlights a significant difference between
Why would it be important for individuals in the community our society and that of the community. What
to be so easily identifiable, e.g. by buttons, pigtails, etc.? differences are being highlighted here?
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AF Focus
Session
Learning Intentions
*To be able to explain the
7 use of sentence level
features, including
AF5
punctuation
*To recognise that author’s
8 place clues in early stages
of a plot to add relevant
AF4
information and
understanding
*To make links between
9 texts and other experiences
of reading.
AF7
*To be able to infer &
10 deduce additional
information based on what
AF3
is read
11 *To be able to use the
techniques of an author to
write in a similar style
Writing
12 *To be able to ascertain the
viewpoint of a character Read Chapter 12
from inference
AF3
Medium Term Plans
Reading Key Questions during text
Would you consider yourself to be an adult at the age of 12?
Read Chapter 7 Why is it the case in the community? How is education
different?
How do Jonas and the rest of the community feel when his
number is not called?
What is unusual about the giving and receiving of apologies? AF4: Why did Lowry include the reference to the
Read Chapter 8 What might the role of the Receiver be?
How is it perceived by the community? And by Jonas?
What are the qualities needed in a Receiver?
How does Jonas feel about his new assignment?
Read Chapter 9 What is its status in the community?
How would news of the formerly-selected Receiver make
him feel?
Why might he need to be able to lie?
What had the maintenance crew done in the night? What
Read Chapter 10 does this tell us about the community?
What is the significance of the locked door?
How is the treatment of older people different from our own
society?
Why might ‘Sameness’ have been chosen?
Read Chapter 11 What do we know about when the book is set, now?
What is the difference between honour and power?
Is sunburn likely to be the most painful of experiences?
Do other members of the community know what pain is?
What other experiences might Jonas never have had?
Stop near the bottom of page 122 (“it went away again”).
What do we think the revelation is going to be?
Page 2
Extended Responses Question Evaluation
AF5: What is the significance of Lowry’s use of
capital letters for assignments?
apple in this chapter? How might it be significant
throughout the text?
AF7: In what other contexts have you come across
people who must not be named? Is the reasoning
similar?
(e.g. Voldemort in Harry Potter)
AF3: What additional information do we now know
about the community based on Jonas’s experience
with the Giver? What else might you surmise about
the community?
Writing Task:
Follow the technique used in the description of snow
to create a short paragraph to describe a sensation or
experience without revealing the name of it until the
end.
AF3: What is the Giver’s opinion of the change to
‘Sameness’? What clues are there in the text to tell us
this?
(Extension: What might the author’s point of view
be?)
Last Updated: November 11
 Medium Term Plans

AF Focus
Session
Learning Intentions Reading Key Questions during text Extended Responses Question Evaluation

13 *To be able to identify how Chapter 13 Lowry uses the phrase “hueless shade” on p126. She also AF5: Look at the detail on pages 127/128 that shows
a writer uses language and used this phrase to compare the children’s tunics in chapter 3 the debate about the change to Sameness. Does the
punctuation to illustrate a (p24). Why does she use this word? How does it prepare the Giver agree with Jonas about the risks of allowing
point. reader (or not!)? people to make their own choices? How do we know
What is meant by “a new perception of the colour he knew as he feels differently? (Note question mark at “Not
AF5

red” on p130. What does this tell us about his sessions with safe?”)
the Giver?

14 *To be able to select Chapter 14 Is it a surprise that Jonas still suffers pain of the fractured leg AF2 - Discussion point: If you could rid the world
evidence from the text after the memory has stopped? of pain, would you choose to do so?
What might it be like not to be able to discuss such things (Use examples from the text to support either view as
AF2 / S&L

with family? appropriate)

Can you predict why the Giver begins telling the story of
increasing the birthrate?
What is the link between the possible release of Gabriel and
that of Larissa? (i.e. implies death)

15 *To be able to explain the Chapter 15 This chapter contains lots of long sentences: why? AF6 – Why did Lowry choose to create this is a
author’s choice of chapter Why does The Giver as for forgiveness at the end of the single short chapter, rather than incorporating into
length chapter? another. What is the effect of this on the reader?
Why does Lowry describe the colours of warfare as
AF6

“grotesquely bright”? What is the meaning, and why is it

unusual?

16 *To consider the Chapter 16 What are the “joys of being an individual”? AF5 – Lowry has focussed this chapter on an
significance of vocabulary How does Jonas reach his decisions about risk and danger in understanding of the word ‘love’. Is the word as
in story-telling the community? vague as it appears?
What is The Giver’s opinion of how well the system for old Do we use language with precision? Could we?
AF5

people works?
Why does Jonas throw the pill away?

17 *To infer the reasons for Chapter 17 How does the family’s use of words like ‘anger’ and ‘sad’ AF3 – Why does Mother cut off Lily’s story?
actions of characters in a compare to our own? Or to younger children’s?
text How does the use of apology compare to that taught in
AF3

today’s society? Meaning of words vs meaning of feeling.

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 Medium Term Plans

AF Focus
Session
Learning Intentions Reading Key Questions during text Extended Responses Question Evaluation

18 *To be able to infer Chapter 18 What gave away Rosemary’s feelings / change of view? AF3 – How does The Giver feel about the loss of
meaning What gives away The Giver’s feelings at the end of the Rosemary and its implications?
chapter?
AF3

What is being considered at the end of the chapter?

19 *To explain the way in Chapter 19 Why is the question “Do you want to see this morning’s AF4 – Why does Lowry leave it until this stage of
which elements of a story release” in italics? the book to fully explain what “release” is? What is
are held back from the Why does The Giver speak so sternly to Jonas? the impact on the reader? Is it a complete surprise?
AF4

reader Where had Jonas seen the reactions before? What about for Jonas?

20 *To understand the use of Chapter 20 Is it a surprise that the community has no music? Why might AF5 - There is repeated use of the word “would” in
modal verbs this be? this chapter. What is the significance of the word?
What is the significance of the final sentence of the chapter? What does it imply? (i.e. lack of certainty that the
AF5

plan will work)

21 *To explain the use of Chapter 21 What might have changed to alter Jonas’s plans? AF4 – How does Lowry use the layout of the page to
layout to organise text for What does it tell us that even Lily agrees to the release? organise the text?
effect AF4 – There are several single-sentence paragraphs
AF4

in this chapter; why?

22 *To understand the way in Chapter 22 What new features and experiences arise during this chapter? AF5 – What is the difference between Jonas’s
which dual meanings of Read the story of Tantalus. How does this knowledge help us experience of starving now, and the experience of
words can be used for effect to better understand Jonas’s experience of conjuring up starving within the community?
AF5

“tantalising fragments” of food?

23 *To consider the Chapter 23 Why has the author left the ending open to
effectiveness of ending interpretation?
choices

Post-reading activity Watch “The Explore the similarities and differences between the
Truman Show” experiences of Truman and Jonas

Page 4 Last Updated: November 11