Year 8 English
The Silver Sword Ian Serraillier
Multi Storey MEGA Assignment
In order to complete this assignment, you will need to have a very detailed knowledge of the novel The Silver Sword.
This is assignment is differentiated. Like a multistorey building. There are
different levels for you to explore.
Each task has 3 storeys.
Each storey is challenging and unique.
Discuss with your teacher which
storey best suits your needs.
This assignment requires careful planning and good use of class time. You will also need to complete some of the tasks for homework. At the back of this handout
there is a CHECKLIST sheet. You need to fill out the CHECKLIST before you begin each task.
Good Luck
The Silver Sword
Activity One – (Visual Spatial)
--- First Storey
Design a new front cover for The Silver Sword
--- Second Storey
Look at the front cover of the novel. What do you see? In 150 words describe what is taking place.
--- Third Storey
Look at the front cover of the novel. What do you see? In 150 words describe what is taking place. Design a new front cover for The Silver Sword
Activity Two – (Logical/mathematical intelligence) Setting
--- First Storey
In Appendix 1, there is map of Europe. The journey of the Balicki family is mapped out using arrows and shaded dots. Briefly describe what happens in Warsaw & Berlin.
--- Second Storey
Where does the novel take place? When?
Draw up the chart below; make some brief notes about the different settings of the novel.
Where When Problems and
Challenges
Atmosphere Warsaw
Posen Berlin
Lake Constance Appenzell
--- Third Storey
Imagine you are Ruth. Write a diary entry which describes the problems and challenges the family had to overcome at Lake Constance.
Use the 5 senses to bring your diary entry alive.
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Activity Three – (Verbal / Linguistic intelligence) The Plot
First Storey
Read the blurb on the back of the book. In 100 words write your own blurb.
--- Second Storey
Choose a chapter. (Any chapter will do!) In Appendix 2, there is Story Map graphic organiser.
Use this organiser to analyse the chapter.
--- Third Storey
The plot of a novel is the set of events in the story. The Balicki children have to face many challenges.
List 6 challenges which, the Balicki children must overcome before they find safety in Appenzell.
Event/ Effect On Jan’s life Ruth’s Life Edek’s life Bronia’s life Joseph gives Jan
‘The Silver Sword’
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Activity Four – (Interpersonal intelligence)
Characters
--- First Storey
Appendix Three – There is graphic organiser called the ‘Blank Human’
Complete one graphic organiser that looks at your strengths and weaknesses.
Complete another graphic organiser which explores the strengths and weaknesses of Jan ---
Second Storey Understanding Jan
What do you think of Jan as a character?
Do you admire him? If so, why?
What personal qualities does he possess? Do you have evidence to support your point of view?
Find quotes / examples from the novel that support your point of view.
Words for Jan
Words for Jan Why? Events that show this?
Audacious Conniving Vulnerable Passionate Suspicious Compassionate Arrogant
Activity Four – (Interpersonal intelligence) continued...
--- Third Storey
Complete the character study on BOTH Jan and Ruth.
Understanding Ruth
What do you think of Ruth as a character?
Do you admire her? If so, why?
What personal qualities does she possess? Do you have evidence to support your point of view?
Find quotes / examples from the novel that support your point of view.
Words for Ruth
Words for Ruth Why? Events that show this?
Loyal Inspiring Anxious Passionate Honest
Compassionate Strong
Activity Five – (Musical/rhythmical intelligence)
--- First Storey
Write a song titled ‘A New Beginning’
7 lines
--- Second Storey
Select 4 songs which could be used as the official sound track for the film version of ‘The Silver Sword’
Justify your choices.
For example: Battle Scars by Guy Sebastian. I selected this song because....
Third Storey A Letter from Ruth.
Use the theme of “The New Beginning” to write a letter from Ruth to Mr and Mrs Wolff.
Describe all the events that have transpired since you last saw them in Bavaria.
Describe the village in Appenzell Inform them of what has become of
- Bronia - Jan
- Edek
- Your Parents - You (Ruth)
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Activity Six – (Visual Spatial) First Storey
Draw a picture of Joseph hiding inside the Chimney.
--- Second Storey
Use your imagination; draw a floor plan of Mrs Krause’s home. Label each room. Briefly describe how Joseph escapes the Nazis.
--- Third Storey
Exploring the language of Action
Analyse the following passage in the novel:
Page 17 Beginning with...‘Quick – up there!’ & finishing with... ‘I didn’t see them till it was too late’. (page 19)
Investigate how the author (Ian Serraillier) uses language to create graphic descriptions of the events.
Select 10 examples of words, phrases, verbs and similes that describe the Action
Sight Sound
Joseph’s feelings
Which of the above words convey:
Danger, fear, courage, triumph?
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Activity Seven
Unanswered Questions, Gaps and Silences.
First Storey
Every novel has its ‘gaps’ and ‘silences’. Consider the following questions:
What happens to the guard who Joseph knocked out during his escape from Zaknya? (50 words) What happened to Jan’s parents? (50 words)
--- Second Storey
Imagine you are Jan’s father; write a letter from the Zaknya concentration camp explaining the unfortunate events that have split you family apart.
Or...
Imagine you are Hans Wolff; write a letter to your parents explaining how much you miss them.
Elaborate on how you long to see Rudolph (Brother), Ludwig (dog) and your village in Bavaria.
--- Third Storey
Write the sequel to the ‘The Sliver Sword’ – 1000 words
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Activity Eight First Storey
Describe each picture. 3 dot points per picture.
--- Second Storey
Briefly describe what is happening in the above pictures. (Point of view): Through whose eyes do you view these scenes?
--- Third Storey
Briefly describe what is happening in the above pictures. (Point of view): Through whose eyes do you view these scenes? Who might be involved in all four sketches and why?
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Activity Nine - Grammar Chapter 1: find 5 abstract nouns
(Abstract nouns refer to a visible, tangible object or behaviour that can be observed. It is also something you feel in your heart. For example; love, enthusiasm
Chapter 2: find 10 common nouns / 5 proper nouns Chapter 3: 6 pronouns
Chapter 4 & 5: 20 adjectives Chapter 6: 3 adverbs
Chapter 7 & 8: 5 prepositions Chapter 9: 4 conjunctions
Chapter 10 & 11: 4 interjections
Parts of Speech:
The words that we use can be divided into these classes:
noun - A noun is a type of word that represents a person, thing, or place, like mother, apple, or valley.
verb - A verb is a type of word that describes an action or a state of being, like wiggle, walk, run, jump, be, do, have, or think.
pronoun - A pronoun is a substitute for a noun. Some pronouns are: I, me, she, hers, he, him, it, you, they, them, etc.
adjective - An adjective is a word that describes something (a noun). Some adjectives are: big, cold, blue, and silly. One special type of adjective is an article, a word that introduces a noun and also limits or clarifies it; in English, the indefinite articles are a and an, the definite article is the.
adverb - An adverb is a word that tells "how," "when," "where," or "how much". Some adverbs are:
easily, warmly, quickly, mainly, freely, often, and unfortunately.
preposition - A preposition shows how something is related to another word. It shows the spatial (space), temporal (time), or logical relationship of an object to the rest of the sentence. The words above, near, at, by, after, with and from are prepositions.
conjunction - A conjunction is a word that joins other words, phrases, clauses or sentences. Some conjunctions are: and, as, because, but, or, since, so, until, and while.
interjection - An interjection is a word that expresses emotion. An interjection often starts a sentence but it can be contained within a sentence or can stand alone. Some interjections are oh, wow, ugh, hurray, eh, and ah.
Activity Ten - Parsing Parsing
The word parsing comes from the Latin word pars meaning ‘part’. When you parse a sentence you say what you know about each part of speech in it; you identify what each word is doing. That is, you state its function.
Parse the following sentences:
Sentence A:
“The village of Zaknya was a mile below the camp.”
Sentence B:
“Spring was bursting when Ruth, Jan and Bronia left Warsaw on the first stage of their long journey to Switzerland.”
Sentence C:
“Edek seized him by the ear and pulled him to his feet. ‘Have you ever looked under a truck?’
Sentence D:
The current was swift. In the darkness the great wooded hills swept by.
--- First Storey
Parse sentence A and sentence B. Underline the nouns and verbs.
--- Second Storey
Parse each word in sentences: A, B & C
--- Third Storey
Parse each word in sentences: A, B, C & D
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Activity Eleven - Poetry
Old news by Laura Jan Shore It’s old news, so old it flakes in our hands.
The bomb. The bodies burnt past recognition.
In the promised land, it happens daily.
Another bus, a bar, a shopping centre.
The family’s disbelief.
I wait for new news.
--- First Storey
What is this poem about?
--- Second Storey
Who is the speaker (persona) in the poem? How would you describe this persona?
What is the speaker’s tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic?
What is the theme (the central idea) of this poem? Can you state it in a single sentence?
--- Third Storey
Who is the speaker (persona) in the poem? How would you describe this persona?
What is the speaker’s tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic?
What images does the poet use? How do the images relate to one another? Do these images form a unified pattern (a motif) throughout the poem?
Are there any symbols? What do they mean? Are they universal symbols or do they arise from the context of this poem?
What is the theme (the central idea) of this poem? Can you state it in a single sentence?
How important is the role of sound effects, such as rhyme and rhythm? How do they affect tone and meaning?
Activity Twelve
Oral Presentation - Bodily Kinaesthetic
--- First Story
In groups of two interview a character from The Silver Sword
One person will be the interviewer; the other person will be the interviewee. (Character from the novel)
You will need to work as a pair and come up with at least 10 questions.
--- Second Story
Prepare a PowerPoint, which explores the major events of WW II Or
Select a scene from the book. Act out the scene. Use props, music etc. Lots of drama, lots of action!
--- Third Story
Select a character from the novel and deliver a speech on the following topic.
Ripple effect: How World War II changed my life - The aftermath
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Activity Thirteen Creative Writing Task
Using the roller coaster technique, select one of themes from the novel and construct a short story.
You will need to use the roller coaster diagram in appendix 4.
Love
Loyalty
War
Death
Destruction
Hate
Family
Hope
You can also negotiate with your teacher, if you have an original idea. (Good luck) --- First Storey
200 words
--- Second Storey
450 words
--- Third Storey
700 words
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