Overview and Outcomes:

This three-week Writing Root begins with the arrival of a Royal Tea –Taster in class seeking apprentice tea-tasters. The children experience an immersive session where they smell and taste a range of different teas before creating descriptive statements to describe a tea. A basket is then delivered and inside is a magical and moving story about Cloud Tea and how monkeys save a young girl and her mother. As the text is read, the children are exposed to range of language activities to stimulate grammatical development and reading comprehension skills. The children then write letters of thanks to the monkeys. Using the authors’ note as further stimulus, children research, plan and then write a non-chronological report on tea, the tea-trade and traditions relating to tea.

Synopsis of Text:

Tashi lives in a tiny village below the tea plantations where her mother earns a living. One day her mother falls ill, and Tashi must pick tea to earn the money for a doctor. But she is too small to reach the tender shoots and the cruel Overseer sends her away empty-handed. Tashi needs a miracle. Then, on the mountains high above the plantation where only monkeys live, something extraordinary happens that will change her life for ever…

Text Rationale:

This is a legend set in another culture in the centuries-old past but with close links to fair-trade and the food industry. The strong female protagonist fights to overcome traditional ideals in the name of family and eventual triumph.  Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal, the text has clever use of language and a powerful narrative which carry important messages about loyalty and respect.  

Links and themes:

Tea, fair-trade, plantations, monkeys, power

Date written: December 2016

Updated: February 2024