Reading 'The Halfmen of O' by Maurice Gee

I am reading the book  ‘The Halfmen of O’ by Maurice Gee to the class. Each of the three groups have their own learning intentions. Summarising the main ideas when reading a text is our main focus but the children should also be able to

• ·      Identify the structural features of the text.
• ·      Determine the important details in a text.
• ·      Combine and condense the ideas.
• ·      State them in their own words.
• ·      Order the key ideas to develop a succinct statement that captures the essence of a text.

My learning intention is: After reading a chapter I focus on summarizing and putting the main ideas in order so that I give my audience a clear description of what is happening in the text and what the main ideas were.

In the first chapter, we are introduced to Susan and Nick who are cousins. They have an odd relationship and don’t get along too well. One evening while out by the river, Nick comes across an old stinky and ragged-looking man. He looks like a gold miner and he talks really weird. The old stranger gives Nick a peculiar stone to give to Susan. What would Susan need with a stone? What does it mean? ‘The message from the stranger’ is the most important aspect of this chapter which leaves us wondering what will happen next.