A Writing Root for The Wilderness

Outcomes:

Character introductions, letter of advice, descriptive poem, SOS message, identification label

Main Outcome:

A guide to enjoying the wilderness

Length:

15 sessions, 3 weeks

Overview and Outcomes:

This is a three-week Writing Root for The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy. The Writing Root begins with children receiving the gift of a book and a discussion around what it means to be a fearless adventurer, followed by an opportunity to discuss some fictional ‘dangers of the wild’. Children go on to meet the family at the heart of the story and to write an introduction of family members. They discover that main character Oktober feels very differently about the great outdoors to the rest of his family and children write letters of advice to help him to feel more brave and confident. Children go on to explore the sights and sounds of the wilderness – both through the book and through a walk in an outdoor area – and write their own poem about what the wilderness means to them. As an extended write, children are tasked with writing a guide to enjoying the wilderness to inspire other children to enjoy getting outdoors in nature.  N.B: For Session 6, children will need access to an outdoor nature area: this could be a nature garden or wooded area on the school grounds or a local park or nature reserve.

Synopsis of Text:

The Vasylenko family are adventurers. They all love the wet and the wild, the thrill of exploring the outside world. All that is ... except Oktober. He prefers the warm and safe comfort of the inside world, and for his adventures to take place between the pages of a book. But tomorrow, Oktober has to join his family on a trek into the slimy, grimy and climby wild, where he sees only danger and worry and fears a creature called "The Wilderness"! Failing to keep his wits about him could be dangerous though – it may even get him a bit ... lost. But perhaps getting lost is just what Oktober needs to find himself and maybe even make an unexpected friend. The Wilderness is a wild and wondrous story of true bravery and discovering friendship in the most unexpected of places, perfect for adventurers and the more timid alike.

Links and themes:

Courage, self-belief, differences, anxiety, nature

Date written: 

Coming soon