Noughts and Crosses

Malorie Blackman
Week 1- before reading and prologue

Read the blurb and discuss your predictions. Write them here.
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What themes do you think this book will cover?

1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .

Read the prologue together. Write a mindmap of all the characters

mentioned so far.
 Noughts and Crosses
Week 2- chapters 1, 2 and 3

‘Sephy, do you ever dream about … escaping?’

What dreams do you have for the future? Do you think Callum and
Sephy will ever fulfil their dreams? Why?
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This book deals with Callum starting a new school. What might
happen on Callum’s first day at school? What predictions can you
make?
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What do you think about the author’ style of writing? Does it help?
Why?
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Can you pick three characters and describe their personalities so far? Use evidence from the book to help
back up your ideas.
 Noughts and Crosses
Week 3- chapters 3-12

We find out a bit more about Lynette. Why do you think she thinks
she is a Cross?
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Sephy is shocked to see her friends and sister in the crowd outside the
school. How would you feel in this situation?
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Metalinguistics (Chapter 5)
Palpable

Surged

Virulent

Spontaneous
Pick one of these words to write in your own sentence.
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Why does Sephy feel the advice, “Sticks and stones may break my
bones but words will never hurt me”, is bad advice? What has
happened to make her say this?
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Can you comment on how the author changes how she writes so that
Callum and Sephys’ chapters are different?
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What is the Liberation Militia? Why do you think they have formed?
Does this give you a clue as to what might happen?
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What real life terror attacks can you think of? Do you think something
similar will happen?
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Noughts and Crosses
Week 4- chapters 13 - The Picnic

What metaphor does Sephy use in chapter 13? Do you think it is

effective?
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Metalinguistics

Mundane

Menial

Lank

Biased
Billow

Flitted

Callum brings up religion for the first time in chapter 14. What do
you find interesting about what he is saying?
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Sephy says, in chapter 15, “There’s a proverb which says, “Be careful
what you wish for, you might get it!””
What is a proverb? Can you think of any others? Use the iPads to
research a few more.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Why do you think the author called this section of the book, “The
Turning”? What is happening?
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What are your predictions for the Picnic? What makes you say this?
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Noughts and Crosses

Week 5- The Picnic- chapter 31

Were your predictions about the Picnic correct? Was anything

different?
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How did the officers on the train show racism towards Callum? Use
evidence from the text to support your answers.
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We start to learn a bit more about Jude’s personality. Can you think of
5 adjectives to describe him?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

We find out what happened to Lynette. Discuss this as a group and

write your thoughts and feelings below.

Sephy hints that she doesn’t have the perfect life we thought she does.
What evidence is there that she isn’t happy (chapter 27)?
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Who are the General and Alex Luther?

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Callum is beginning to speak of taking action and speaking out about

the inequalities. What might this lead to?
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