Overview and Outcomes:

This is a 12-session Literary Leaf for the short story, Eric, which begins by examining some of the unusual word choices in the text and picking out how they are relevant. The leaf continues to look at word choices and how to to make simple inferences using these and other evidence presented. We finish by using some activities to help the children sequence and summarise.

Synopsis of Text:

We chose this book for a literary leaf as we adore Shaun Tan and we have always loved the story of Eric and the themes it presents.

A foreign exchange student comes to stay and is welcomed by his host family. His ways are a little unusual but the family accept the differences putting it down to ‘culture’. Eric - the exchange student - is very curious about his new surroundings but doesn’t quite ask the questions that the host family expected. Nor does he wish to sleep in the carefully redecorated spare room, instead preferring to spend most of his time sleeping and studying in the pantry. It is the littlest things that seem to spark Eric’s curiosity the most. And only when Eric leaves suddenly do the family realise the gift that he has left for them.

Links:

Visitors, aliens, difference