P7 - Week Beginning 30 Aug 2010

Reading - Visualization Skill

Read the following extract from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The paper had been sealed in several places with a thimble by way of a seal; the very thimble, perhaps, that I had found in the captain's pocket. The doctor opened the seals with great care, and there fell out the map of an island, with latitude and longitude, soundings, names of hills, and bays and inlets, and every particular that would be needed to bring a ship to safe anchorage upon its shores. It was about nine miles long and five across, shaped, you might say, like a fat dragon standing up, and had two fine land-locked harbours, and a hill in the centre marked "The Spy-glass", There were several additions of a later date; but above all, three crosses of red ink - two on the north part of the island, one in the south-west, and, beside this last, in the same red ink, and in a small, neat hand, very different from the captain's tottery characters, these words: "Bulk of treasure here".

Your task is to create your own treasure map using the information from the above extract. To help, it is a good idea to highlight the words and phrases that describe the location and terrain.

Why do you think the hill is called "Spy-glass"?

P7 - Week Beginning 23 Aug 2010

Reading

Read the following poem by Joe Miller.

If the Earth

Then answer the following. (Remember there is no specific correct answer, you should base your response on your personal thoughts of what the poet is wanting to 'say' to the reader).

1. Why do you think the poet shaped the poem like this?
2. What wonders of the world are described ?
3. Some of the features (wonders) of the world are described by the poet using unusual language, for example, 'big pools of water' refer to the sea. Select one of these unusual terms, what does it mean?
4. Why do you think the poet used the unusual term?
5. What is the overall message (main point) the poet is making to the reader?