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Learning episode 1Learning goals

To be able to show an understanding of our text ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy RussellI think I can

To be on our way to extending, in this learning episode we need to be able to say yes to the following

What am I learning today?

AO1: Inference and interpretation

Can I identify three things I have learnt about Willy Russell?Can I make predictions about the text based upon what I have learnt about Willy Russell?Can I make inferences about the key events, key characters and key settings?Can I draw upon well-chosen quotations to support my inferences about events, characters and settings?

Do it now

Challenge question: if you could just choose one quality, what would it be and why?

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What makes a good teacher?

Willy Russell is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights of his generation. Born in 1947 he grew up in a working-class family just outside of Liverpool and left school at just 15 with no academic qualifications and went to work as a hairdresser. Aged 20, Willy Russell returned to education and trained as a teacher at St Katherine’s College. Whilst studying he began to write with a collection of his work being performed in 1972 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

After graduating Willy Russell began teaching at a local comprehensive school in his home city. Whilst working as a teacher he continued to write for the theatre and for television, producing several television dramas for the BBC.

Our Day Out, the play we are studying this term, only took five days to write in 1977. It is set in inner-city of Liverpool during the 1970s and is based on Russell’s own experiences at Shorefields Comprehensive School where he taught from 1973-4. In that year, he accompanied the teacher of the remedial department on a trip she ran to Conway Castle.

The original television version, which was broadcast in 1976, was developed into a play for the stage with songs by Willy Russell, Chris Mellor and Bob Eaton. This production, directed by Bob Eaton, was first performed at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool in 1983.

New knowledge: who is Willy Russell?This half term we will be reading the play ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell. This play is about a teacher who takes her pupils on a school trip. Read the information on the next page and then answer the key questions that follow.

Key questions:

1. In what year was Willy Russell born?

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2. What type of family was Willy Russell born into?

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3. How do you know Willy Russell didn’t perform well at school?

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4. What did Willy Russell train to become at the age of 20?

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5. What type of school did Willy Russell teach in?

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6. How many days did it take Willy Russell to write Our Day Out?

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7. What predictions can you make about the play based upon what you have learnt about Willy Russell?

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New knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to begin reading the play ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell, completing our class reading of pages 7 to 16. In this section, we are introduced to Mrs Kay who is taking her class, the Progress class, on a trip.

We will need people to read the parts of

The teachers: Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs, Colin and Headmaster

The kids: Carol, Maurice, Reilly, Digger, Susan, Jackie,

The lollipop man and The Driver

Pen to paper: tracking the text

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We learn that it is the Progress class going on the trip. How do the Progress class feel about themselves?

How do people react to the kids in the Progress class?

What impression do you form of the two teachers?

Mrs Kay Mr Briggs

Reflection At the start of the lesson, we reflected upon what makes a good teacher. If you were to look back at your list of qualities, do you think Mrs Kay or Mr Briggs is more like your ideal? Why is this?

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What do other characters think of Mrs Kay?

Learning episode 2Learning goals

To be able to show an understanding of our text ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy RussellI think I can

To be on our way to extending, in this learning episode we need to be able to say yes to the following

What am I learning today?

AO1: Inference and interpretation

Can I comment upon what I have read and explain the story?Can I make inferences about the key events, key characters and key settings?Can I draw upon well-chosen quotations to support my inferences about events, characters and settings?

Do it nowRecap questions:

1. What are the progress class?

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2. How do the progress class view themselves?

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3. How do other people view the progress class?

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4. Why does the Headmaster not want Mrs Kay to resign?

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5. Identify three adjectives to describe Mrs Kay and explain your choices.

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6. How does Mrs Kay convince the bus driver to let the kids have their sweets on the bus?

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What do we learn about Mrs Kay’s feelings towards Mr Briggs?

How do we know Mrs Kay’s words have had an impact on the bus driver?

7. How does Mr Briggs compare to Mrs Kay?

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New knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to begin reading the play ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell, completing our class reading of pages 16 to 19. In this section, we learn that Mr Briggs will be accompanying Mrs Kay on the trip.

We will need people to read the parts of

The teachers: Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs and Colin

The kids: Reilly, Digga, Susan, Little Kid

The Driver

Pen to paper: tracking the text

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What evidence is there to suggest that Mr Briggs is a disciplinarian?

Identify three reasons why we might deem Mr Briggs as

‘patronising’

Reflection To what extent would you describe the Progress class as delinquents? Weigh up your opinion using evidence from the text we have read so far.

Pupils are delinquents Pupils are not delinquents

Overall, I think the pupils are ___________________________________________

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Learning episode 3Learning goals

To be able to show an understanding of our text ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy RussellI think I can

To be on our way to extending, in this learning episode we need to be able to say yes to the following

What am I learning today?

AO1: Inference and interpretation

Can I comment upon what I have read and explain the story?Can I make inferences about the key events, key characters and key settings?Can I draw upon well-chosen quotations to support my inferences about events, characters and settings?

Do it nowRecap questions:

1. Who has been told to accompany the kids on the trip?

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2. How would you describe the way in which the kids talk to each other and what does this reveal about their characters?

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3. Identify an example where Mrs Kay employs sarcasm when talking to Mr Briggs.

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4. How does Mr Briggs ensure the pupils know he is in charge?

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5. How has Mrs Kay transformed the driver’s attitude?

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6. How do Colin and Susan try to deal with the teasing?

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Identify a textual reference that might see the progress kids being deemed as rude.

New knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to begin reading the play ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell, completing our class reading of pages 19 to 29. In this section, we join the pupils on their journey, taking in the sights and learning a little bit more about them.

We will need people to read the parts of

The teachers: Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs and Colin

The kids: Reilly, Digga, Little Kid, Andrews, Carol, Linda, Maurice, Milton

The Driver

Pen to paper: tracking the text

What do we learn about the progress kids and the relationship they have with their parents?

What do we learn about the progress kids and the relationship they have with staff?

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What impression is created of Liverpool as the Progress class set off on their trip?

How is Carol different from the other progress kids?

What else do we learn about the progress kids in this section?

How does Mr Briggs interact with Linda?

Reflection At times the progress kids are very rude – in terms of their behaviour, they way they speak to each other and the way they speak to staff.

Who is most responsible for the progress kids and their behaviour?

The progress pupilsAre they most responsible?They should be able to control themselves after all.

The parentsAre their parents most responsible?They clearly haven’t brought them up well.

SocietyIs society responsible?Society hasn’t helped the progress pupils and their families. The education system has also failed them.

What do you think?

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Learning episode 4Learning goals

To be able to show an understanding of our text ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy RussellI think I can

To be on our way to extending, in this learning episode we need to be able to say yes to the following

What am I learning today?

AO1: Inference and interpretation

Can I comment upon what I have read and explain the story?Can I make inferences about the key events, key characters and key settings?Can I draw upon well-chosen quotations to support my inferences about events, characters and settings?

Do it nowRecap questions:

1. What do we learn about the streets of Liverpool as the pupils set off on their trip?

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2. What are the pupils attempting to do at the back of the coach?

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3. What do we learn about Carol through her conversation with Mrs Kay?

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4. What do we learn about Reilly’s home life?

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5. Why does Mr Briggs reprimand Linda?

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6. What kind of relationship does Andrew have with his father?

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7. How do we know Colin is more like Mrs Kay?12

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New knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to begin reading the play ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell, completing our class reading of pages 29 to 39. In this section, the pupils make a stop at a café before deciding the next stop on their trip will be the zoo.

We will need people to read the parts of

The teachers: Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs and Colin

The kids: Ronson, Maurice, Milton, Jackie, Linda

The Driver and the Café Owner

Pen to paper: tracking the text

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VS

How do Mrs Kay and Mr Brigg’s attitude towards the stop contrast?

What feelings does Mrs Kay present towards Mr Briggs?

What feelings does Mr Briggs present towards Mrs Kay?

What does Mr Briggs think of Mrs Kay’s educational approach?

How is the action outside the café and inside the café contrasted?

What does Linda hope for? What does her friend Jackie think? What does this suggest about the future for the progress kids?

What does Mrs Kay announce as they arrive at the zoo?

Reflection Let’s continue to reflect upon the two teachers: Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs. Who is the better teacher do you think and why? List your reasons why both are good teachers below before explaining who you think makes the better teacher.

Evidence to suggest Mrs Kay is a brilliantteacher

Evidence to suggestMr Briggs is a brilliant teacher

I think the progress pupils would do best to be with

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Learning episode 5Learning goals

To be able to show an understanding of our text ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy RussellI think I can

To be on our way to extending, in this learning episode we need to be able to say yes to the following

What am I learning today?

AO1: Inference and interpretation

Can I comment upon what I have read and explain the story?Can I make inferences about the key events, key characters and key settings?Can I draw upon well-chosen quotations to support my inferences about events, characters and settings?

Do it nowRecap questions:

1. How do the reactions of Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay to the stop differ?

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2. How do you know Mrs Kay doesn’t teach according to the book?

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3. Do you think Mrs Kay’s expectations of the pupils are high enough when she says ‘That’s one thing they’ll never look’?

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4. Why do you think getting the pupils in line is so important to Mr Briggs?

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5. How do the pupils react to the price of the sweets? Why do you think they react in this way?

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6. Is Mr Briggs right? Do you think they should have been supervising the pupils in the café?

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7. What view does Jackie have about Linda’s future? What do you think Russell is trying to suggest here?

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8. What does Mr Briggs think of Mrs Kay’s educational philosophy?

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9. What reason does Colin give for Mrs Kay’s organisation of the trip?

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10. Where are the class stopping off next?

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New knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to begin reading the play ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell, completing our class reading of pages 39-47. In this section, we see what happens when the Progress class visit the zoo.

We will need people to read the parts of

The teachers: Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs and Colin and Susan

The kids: Andres, Ronson, Jimmy, Kevin

The Driver and the Keeper

Pen to paper: tracking the text

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What do the progress class think of the zoo?

Reflection By the end of Act One, do you think watching events unfold that the Progress group will ever change their ways? Do you think they need to? Will Mr Briggs ever learn to be patient with the kids? Or do you think Mrs Kay needs to develop some discipline? What would you like to see happen in Act Two?

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How does Mr Briggs start to engage with the pupils?

How do we see Mr Briggs’ perspective changing as he chats with Mrs Kay?

What happens whilst Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs are

How has Mr Briggs reverted back to his old self by the end of Act One?

Learning episode 6Learning goals

To be able to show an understanding of our text ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy RussellI think I can

To be on our way to extending, in this learning episode we need to be able to say yes to the following

What am I learning today?

AO1: Inference and interpretation

Can I comment upon what I have read and explain the story?Can I make inferences about the key events, key characters and key settings?Can I draw upon well-chosen quotations to support my inferences about events, characters and settings?

Do it nowRecap questions:

1. How do the girls react to being at the zoo?

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2. What changes do we begin to see in Mr Briggs as he interacts with the pupils?

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3. Do you think Mr Briggs really trusts the pupils? Why? Why not?

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4. What does Mr Briggs ask Mrs Kay over coffee?

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5. What do Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay discover upon their return to the coach?

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6. How does Mr Briggs react?

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Recapping knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to review our learning by watching the first Act of Our Day Out.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC94IOtTJrc (0.00-37.00)

Notes page:

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