Activities

Chapter 5

LEVEL 2

The Search for the Copper Scroll

by Saviour Pirotta

Father, Father

Working with the text:

READ £ Guided reading notes

Reading lab £ Reading comprehension

WRITE £ Inspire words

Writing workshop £ Word families

TALK £ Your opinion

Space for debate

Write your own adventure story

In the last part of the project:

PROJECT Finish and proofread your story. Create a front and back
Specific tasks
cover. Read a partner’s story and give feedback.

£ Create your cover

£ Partner feedback

Review the Project sheet and download the activities provided for it alongside each chapter.
Work on the project progressively by completing these specific tasks.

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ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father
READ Name:
Reading lab
Guided reading notes
Here you can find some tips to help you in your reading sessions.
1 2
Recap on the end of the last chapter.
Speculate on who the guardians are
and how they live. Read the first section.
Ask: Who do the guardians think Mr
Scorpion is? (their father; someone who
will rescue them) Which words make it
sound like there are many guardians?
(surge, swarm) Read the next section.
3 4
Remember other scorpions in the book.
(Mr Scorpion, the necklace) Ask: Why do
the guardians destroy the copper scroll?
(They destroy it to protect the secret
and set themselves free; the people
who come for it only want money.)
Read to the next section. Imagine the
drama of the collapsing cave.
5 6
Ask: When is the final section set? (in
the present day) When was the rest
of the story set? (1951) Ask: How much
time has passed? (71 years) How old is
Sarah? (about 85 years old) Ask: If the
guardians destroyed the scroll, would
Sarah be right to reveal its contents?
(perhaps, as it wouldn’t be for money)
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Find the point when the guardians turn
on Mr Scorpion. Ask: Which words make
them seem scary? (bared his pointed
teeth, angry hiss, scorpions, closed
in) Ask: Which clues tell us that the
guardians aren’t human? (We’ve been
waiting for hundreds of years, scorpions
appeared in their hands)
Reread the description of the floating
guardians. Ask: How did they know
this would set them free? (from the
ancient writings) What impression does
precious stones give? (The guardians
were special.) Read to the end. What
do we learn? (The children have lived a
happy life; they have kept in touch.)
Ask the children to share their final
thoughts about the story. Talk about
the way the author created settings (the
desert, the rooms in the cave, the hotel)
and adventure. Ask: What themes have
we found in the story? (greed, secrets,
kindness) Share what the children liked
about the story.
2
ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father

READ Name:
Reading lab

Reading comprehension
Answer the following questions about the chapter and explain your answers.

1 How do the guardians feel about Mr Scorpion when they first see him?

2 What scary things do the guardians do when they turn on Mr Scorpion?

3 Why do the guardians destroy the copper scroll?

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ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father

READ Name:
Reading lab

4 Why does the cave collapse?

Do you think Sarah would be right or wrong to try and solve the secret of
5 the scroll? Explain your answer.

6 How is the theme of greed important in this story?

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ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father

WRITE Name:
Writing workshop

Inspire words
Find these words in the chapter. Look at how they are used.
Make up a sentence for each word.

billowing brimming

flaming glitter

hissed pearly

scurried swooping

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ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father

WRITE Name:
Writing workshop

Word families
Match each word with its meaning and write it in the correct box.

disorganised organ organisation

organise organising reorganise

1 2

A business or a large group of To sort things out so that

people who work together they are easy to use

3 4

Sorting out or putting things

In a muddle or mess
or people in order

5 6

Part of the body that has Change the way things are set out
a particular task or change their order

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ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father

TALK Name:
Space for debate

Your opinion
Did you enjoy The Search for the Copper Scroll? Discuss your opinions in a small group.
Ask these questions in your group to get the discussion going:
) What did you like about the story?
) Who was your favourite character?
) Who would enjoy reading the story?
) How would you change the story?
) Did you like the ending?

) What do you think could happen in a sequel?

As you discuss, remember to share your opinions with the group. Remember to listen to
other people’s opinions and ask your classmates to explain why they think that. If you
disagree with someone, say so politely and tell them why.

After you have finished your discussion, use your ideas to write a review of the story on the
Fiction Express website.

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ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father

PROJECT Name:
Specific tasks

Create your cover

Now it is time to finish your own adventure story. After you have written the ending,
proofread your whole story to check for errors. Then design a cover in the space below,
making it appealing for a reader. Don’t forget to include the title of the story and your name.
Design your back cover, including your blurb, on a separate piece of paper.

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ACTIVITIES LEVEL 2. The Search for the Copper Scroll
Chapter 5. Father, Father

PROJECT Name:
Specific tasks

Partner feedback
Read a partner’s story. Use this chart to give your feedback to your partner. Remember to
focus on the things that you like. Use the feedback you get to make your own story better.

The book title

Author

Main plot Characters

What
What’s thewas the
story story Did
about? about?
you like Who
Which were thedid
characters main
youcharacters?
like the most?
Which part was the most
the main argument? Why?exciting? What made them interesting?
Why? Highlights its characteristics.

Overall rating

RateRate
the book fromfrom
the book 1 to 5 by5filling
1 to in the
by filling in the stars.
stars and explain your rating.
Say one thing that would make the story even better.

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