KS: Lower KS2, Upper KS2
Year Group: Year 5
Literary Theme: Mystery & Truth
Author(s): Alex Bell
This is an 18-session Literary Leaf for The Polar Bear Explorers' Club by Alex Bell. Children begin by making inferences about the main characters in order to predict what might happen to them, then move on to retrieving facts and studying vocabulary in context. Throughout the leaf, children will be encouraged to use textual evidence to summarise, explain, compare and give opinions. There will also be opportunities to consider events from the point of view of specific characters and consider what the next instalment of the series might entail...
We chose this book for a Literary Leaf as it is an excellent example of a cross-genre text, being part-fantasy and part-adventure. It also refers to themes of magic, friendship, teamwork and endurance and includes a whole host of characters for children to get to know.
Stella has always wanted to be an explorer like her adoptive father, Felix, who is a member of The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club. The problem is that girls aren’t allowed to join The Club. When the chance arises to join Felix, Stella is determined to prove she can be as good an explorer as anyone.
She soon finds herself on an expedition to find the coldest part of the Icelands. But it doesn’t go to plan, as she and her fellow junior adventurers get separated from the group and have to find their way across the Icelands together. While the Icelands are full of incredible places and creatures to discover, it’s equally full of danger. Will they make it back on their own?
Polar bears, expeditions, adventure, explorers, conservation
KS: Upper KS2
Year Group: Year 5
