TP-Issue14.5

AuthorVashtiHardy’s bookWildspark recently wonBest Story in theBluePeterBookAwards 2020. This lesson focuses onher previous titleBrightstorm, anadventure storywhichsees twinsMaudie and Arthur set off onamission toSouthPolaris to restorehonour to their familyname. Read the novel as a class thenspenda lessoncreating fantasymaps, beforeusing these as a springboard forwriting your ownadventure stories. This is also theperfect opportunity to introduce children to the features of real-worldmaps. 1 | FANTASY PLACES Begin by looking at the map of the ‘Great Wide’ in Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy. Write some of the major plot points from the story in the appropriate location on the map. Discuss what the crew’s goal was (to be the first to reach South Polaris). Next, consider the different goals in adventure quests, such as searching for a magical object, mythical creature or missing person. Consider what might be in the ‘unknown’ regions of the Brightstorm map. What are the different environments that the explorers could come across in the Wide? Consider the different climates and environments that are in our world, such as deserts and rainforests, and how we could show these on a map. Can pupils think of a new fantasy climate? Consider how the names of places in fantasy worlds evoke a sense of time and place. How can we expand on this when creating our own maps? Can we draw from real life to come up with the names of places and evoke a sense of atmosphere? For example, in Brightstorm, ‘Lontown’ draws on ‘London’ to create a sense of ‘similar but different’. 2 | HAZARDS AHEAD Look at images of potential obstacles that could get in your characters’ way during the adventure. These could include natural hazards such as volcanoes, earthquake zones and 70 | www.teachwire.net START HERE MAIN LESSON WHAT THEY’LL LEARN l Use map drawing to plot out a fantasy story l How to create action scenes in a story l Imaginatively select vocabulary to evoke a sense of time and place l Apply geographical map features such as direction and landmarks English, geography, art & design KS 2 LES SON PLAN Begin with an exploration of fantasy maps from novels. Aside from Brightstorm, other examples you might like to look at include The Chronicles of Narnia, How To Train Your Dragon and the Marauder’s Map in the illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Lead a class discussion about how maps might help readers to navigate and visualise a story world, and how they can also help to move a plot along – the Marauder’s Map enables Remus Lupin to discover the truth about Peter Pettigrew, for example. Link to geography by also exploring the features of real maps. @vashti_hardy vashtihardy.com Draw your own fantasy story map Venture intoworlds unknown by drawing imaginary landscapes andwriting stories based on them, says author Vashti Hardy