the kites are flying by michael morpurgo vicky symes chawton primary school
TRANSCRIPT
The Kites are Flyingby Michael Morpurgo
Vicky SymesChawton Primary School
Overview
• Written from two perspectives, covering the conflict in the West Bank, between Israel and Palestine
• Viewpoint is crucial throughout the story– Israeli / Palestinian– Occupier / Occupied– Child / Adult
• Viewpoints are often in conflict, yet have commonalities, too
• Huge issues raised – very emotive• Be prepared to face and discuss
issues– PSHE– Racial– Political– Cultural
Cross-Curricular Activities• D.T. – create a kite• Music – compose music based on
war/peace, air/kites• Geography/History – look at key areas,
political figures, key moments in the struggle
• Art – endless opportunities–War / peace– Kites– Nightmares / dreams
Cross-Curricular Activities
• RE – discuss the different religions involved in the conflict and how they impact on daily life
• PHSE – massive scope for discussions, debates etc. MUST BE HANDLED WITH SENSITIVITY.
Immersion
• Slow reveal of illustrations from the book• Discussions based on looking at examples
of illustrations• Text extracts– Group into information about characters,
events, themes etc
• Mini pics presentation– No sound– With music
• Discuss reactions• What could the book be about?
Activate Prior Learning
• Does it remind them of anything they’ve ever read before?
• Discuss themes that may have arisen e.g. CONFLICT
Introduce Book
• Explain background• Read opening chapter / diary entry
– Stress it is written by each character, from their own viewpoint
• Introduce children’s diary– Their personal responses to what they have read– Written as a diary entry– Diary entry to be made after each reading of a
chapter / work on a book– A personal journey
Key Elements• Focus on character viewpoint– Who is ‘right?’– Take on character and hot-seat key moments
e.g. the shooting of Mahmoud– Would all the characters see the events in the
same way?
• Class debates / discussions– Role of soldier– Occupier / Occupied
Suggested Literacy Activities
• Report on initial accident from both perspectives – Israeli and Palestinian
• Report ‘shooting incident’ from both viewpoints
• Diary entry by the girl in the wheelchair– Prior to Mahmoud’s death– At the end, after all the kites have flown
• Write a poem of peace/hope• Write a prayer for peace
This is one of the most moving books I’ve ever read…
“Friendship knows no barriers”
Websites of interest
• http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/books/the-kites-are-flying/
• http://www.childrenslaureate.org.uk/previous-laureates/books/3/29650/
• http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/3914/The-Kites-are-Flying-by-Michael-Morpurgo.html