Introduction
We are going to read and study one story from Morris Gleitzman's book, Snot Chocolate. It is a book of short stories that are very funny and will often make you laugh out loud. However the stories also touch on some important life issues and have a moral/message that is explored in a light-hearted way. We are going to read and study the story, "The Tortoise and the Hair". Morris Gleitzman has used the traditional tale of The Hare and the Tortoise as the basis for his story but he has given it his own twist!! Naturally!
Step 1: Read the story!
morrisgleitzman.com/snot-chocolate-chapter-1.htmRemember, you only need to read one story from this book, The Tortoise and the Hair. You can read it yourself, listen to the recording or do both!
Click here to access this story.
Click here to access this story.
Step 2: Take some notes!
Use the following questions to guide your note taking and the words in yellow could be your headings;
- Who is the main character/s?
- What other characters are in the story and what is their relationship to the main character/s?
- Find words in the story that describe these characters and write them next to their name. For example in The Tortoise and the Hair: Vic: Always wanting to please; Hard-working; etc
- What is the setting? Where does the story take place? There may be more than one setting throughout a whole story, so choose the main ones. Try to write down some specific information. For example in The Tortoise and the Hair one of the settings was in Uncle Riad's hair salon.
- What are the main events in the story? This will be easier for a short story, but still write it down. These are the things that happen. For example in The Tortoise and the Hair: Vic runs into the hair salon to get his grandma's wig trimmed. We learn from Vic's uncle that Vic's parents were killed in a car accident from going to fast and not stopping at a red light.
- What are some things of interest? It might be the colour of something, a name or nickname given to something etc etc. For example in The Tortoise and the Hair: Vic had written his phone number on the tummy of his tortoise! Try to pick out the interesting bits of information that might make a good question for Readers' Cup Day!
- Write some questions about the story to ask other members of your team. See if they can remember the same things that you can. This is one of the most important activities you and your team can do to prepare for the competition. For example: After Vic had dropped off his tortoise at the pet shop, how much time did he have left until the athletic team's bus was due to leave?
Extra Information!
- Morris Gleitzman website