ONCE pages 1-57

Once by Morris Gleitzman · Stop & think at p. 57

What we will do – step by step

SB

You have read Once to page 57. Now we stop and think. Only use pages 1–57 – do not read ahead! When you use the book, always write the page number.

Step 1

Alone

Sheet 1

Remember & predict

• Close your book. Write from memory.
• Write 3 things you like and 3 things you don’t like about the book.
• Write one thing you wonder about. Then write what you think will happen next.
• Keep the sheet for step 2. After that, hand it in to your teacher.

Step 2

Groups of 3

Sheet 2

Share and Let’s talk!

• Take turns. Tell your group what you wrote on Sheet 1. Are your ideas the same or different?
• On your desk you will find cards to talk about. Pick a card, read it aloud and start the talk.
• Everybody talks. Listen, ask follow-up questions and give examples. Act as if it is the National Exams.
• Speak English all the time. Use the useful phrases.

Step 3

Groups of 3

Sheets 3, 4, 5

The characters and the truth

• It is okay to help each other, but write individually.
• Sheet 3 – Meet Felix: find proof in the book for each box (Says, Does, Thinks & feels, Looks, Others react). What does it show? Use a trait word. Then write Claim – Evidence – Explanation.
• Sheet 4 – Zelda & Mother Minka: answer the questions on each card. Choose three trait words for each person, with page numbers.
• Sheet 5 – What Felix believes vs reality: read the example. For each row, write what is really happening and how you know (clue + page). Add one example of your own.

Step 4

Whole class

Sheet 6

ACR questions

• We do the ACR questions together.
• Think alone. Talk to a partner. Share with the class. Then write your answer.
• There is no single right answer – but you must show proof from the book.

What is a trait word?

A word that describes what a person is like – not what they do. Example: brave, hopeful, stubborn.
Felix is hopeful because… (p. __)

Before you hand in

☐ Name on every sheet
☐ Page numbers
☐ Full sentences
☐ I explained, not only retold

                                                                            

STEP 1 

Once by Morris Gleitzman · Work alone · Hand in

Remember & predict

Close your book. Write from memory – what do you remember from pages 1–57? Write full sentences and say why.
First, write individually and then share your thoughts with your group.

Hand in

Share it with your group first. Then give it to your teacher.

3 things I like about the book

I like… because…

1

2

3

3 things I don't like about the book

I don't like… because… / I think it is hard when…

1

2

3

I wonder…

One question you have about the story.

I predict…

In the next part, I think… will happen because…

Once · 1

STEP 2

Once by Morris Gleitzman · Speaking · Groups of 3

Let's talk!

1 Start: tell each other what you wrote on Sheet 1 – 3 things you like, dislike etc.

2 Take turns to pick a card and read it aloud. Remember to use linking words and motivate your opinions.

3 The reader starts. The others respond and ask follow-up questions.

4 Give reasons and examples – from the book and from real life.

1Hope

Felix keeps hoping that his parents will come back, even when things look bad. Is it always good to be hopeful? When can hope help us – and when can it be a problem?

Follow-up: Can you think of a time when hope helped you or someone you know?

2Truth

Mother Minka does not tell Felix the whole truth. Is it ever right to keep the truth from someone to protect them? Why or why not?

Follow-up: Would you rather know a hard truth or be protected from it?

3Stories

Felix makes up stories to feel better and to help others. How can stories – in books, films, games or music – help people in difficult times?

Follow-up: Is there a story that has helped you or made you see things differently?

4Books & freedom

In the book, people in power burn books. Why do you think some leaders want to control what people can read, say or think?
Why is this a huge problem?

Follow-up: What could happen in a country where certain books were banned today?

5Helping others

Felix decides to take care of Zelda, even though he is in danger himself. Why do some people choose to help strangers even if it is risky?

Follow-up: What would you have done in Felix’s place? Be honest!

Useful phrases

Give your opinion: I think… / In my opinion… / I'm not sure, but…

Give an example: For example, in the book… / This reminds me of…

Agree / disagree: I agree, because… / I see what you mean, but…

Bring others in: What do you think, …? / Why do you say that?

STEP 3

Once by Morris Gleitzman · Stop & think at p. 57

Meet Felix

Felix tells his own story, so we see everything through his eyes. What kind of person is he? Use only pages 1–57 – no spoilers!

1  Five ways the author shows Felix

How?	Evidence from the text (page)	This shows that Felix is…
Says What does he say about the carrot, his parents or the books?
Does What does he decide to do  and why?
Thinks & feels What does he hope, fear and imagine?
Looks What do we learn about how he looks or what he carries?
Others react How do Mother Minka and the other children treat him?

Trait words= words that describe what a person is like:hopefulimaginativenaivebraveloyaldeterminedcaringstubborncuriousinnocentlonelyprotective

2  Describe Felix in a C-E-E paragraph

Choose the trait you think matters most. Claim – Evidence (quote + page) – Explanation.

3  Once…

Every chapter starts with the word Once. Write one new Once… sentence Felix could write about pages 1–57.

★ Go further

Has Felix changed since page 1? Compare how he thinks at the start with how he thinks around page 57.

STEP 4 

Once by Morris Gleitzman · Stop & think at p. 57

Zelda & Mother Minka

Two important people in Felix's life so far. Remember: we only know what Felix sees and understands. Fill in each card with evidence from pages 1–57.

Z

Zelda

First met on page ____

Where and how does Felix find her?

What does she say and do?

How does she react to Felix?

What do I wonder about her?

Three trait words + page (words that describe what a person is like)

M

Mother Minka

First met on page ____

Who is she and where do we meet her?

What does she say about the carrot?

How does she treat Felix?

What do I wonder about her?

Three trait words + page (words that describe what a person is like)

Felix and Zelda

How does Felix act towards Zelda? Why do you think he decides to take care of her? Use one quote.

★ Go further

Mother Minka knows more than she tells Felix. Why do you think she keeps things from him? Do you think that is right? Motivate your opinions.

STEP 5

Once by Morris Gleitzman · Stop & think at p. 57

What Felix believes vs reality

Felix often explains the world with a hopeful story. As readers we can see that the truth is different. When the reader understands more than the character, it is called dramatic irony.

På svenska
dramatic irony – dramatisk ironi
believe – tro
reality – verklighet
naive – naiv
(någon som tror gott om alla och är lätt att lura eftersom hen saknar erfarenhet.)

Compare and contrast

What Felix believes	What is really happening	How do I know? (clue + page)
Example The carrot in his soup is a sign from Mum and Dad.	A nun put it there because she felt sorry for him.	Mother Minka tells him. p. ___
His parents are away and will soon come back to fetch him.
The men with armbands are librarians tidying the library.
Mum and Dad are in danger because they sell books.
The bangs in the forest are hunters shooting rabbits.
When he gets home, he will find Mum and Dad and warn them about the book burners.
My own example:

STEP 6 

Once by Morris Gleitzman · Stop & think at p. 57

ACR questions

Author Centric Reading means asking why the author made a choice. There is no single right answer, but every answer needs evidence from pages 1–57 – write the page number in brackets.

Whole class
1 Think alone
2 Talk to a partner
3 Share with the class
4 Write

1

ACR · Narrator

The author could have written this book from the perspective of an adult who knows exactly what is happening. Why did he choose a naive child to tell the story? How does this choice create dramatic irony – where the reader understands the danger, but the character does not?

Start like this: I think the author chose Felix as the narrator because… For example, on page __ Felix thinks… but as readers we understand that…

2

ACR · Structure

Why do you think the author built the whole story around the word "Once" by using it at the start of every chapter? What kind of stories usually start with "Once upon a time"? How does this choice change what we expect as readers?

Start like this: Stories that start with "Once upon a time" are usually… By starting every chapter with "Once", the author makes us expect… but the story so far is…

3

ACR · Symbols

Look at how the author uses food, like the carrot, in the story so far. How does the meaning of food change when Felix leaves the orphanage and enters the ruined world outside?

Start like this: At the orphanage, the carrot means… to Felix. Outside the orphanage, food becomes… This shows that…

© Sara Bruun · sarabruun.seOnce · 6

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