The Golden Acorn Education Resource Pack CONTENTS Questions and activities 3 Prologue to Glasruhen Gate 11 Linking the book to the curriculum 14 Glossary 19 Who’s who in The Golden Acorn 20 What’s what in The Golden Acorn 25 Where is it in The Golden Acorn 34 Activities for The Golden Acorn 38 Maps for The Golden Acorn 39 Quizzes for Who’s Who, What’s What and Where is it? 41 Answers to quizzes 54 Links to web pages where further information can be found appear throughout in orange. The maps, quizzes and other materials can all be downloaded. The website for the Jack Brenin books can be found at www.pengridion.co.uk. 2 These questions and activities can be used for discussion, simple verbal or more in- depth written answers; group activities after a reading session or as individual homework questions. They relate specifically to The Golden Acorn and are intended to be used in addition to the usual questions about text, vocabulary, story plot, characters, plot prediction, that are usually employed during guided reading sessions. The author’s own notes about locations, pronunciations of character and place names, downloads and other activity sheets have also been included. ABOUT THE COVER Questions v What kind of book do you think this is from the cover? v Does the blurb on the back explain what kind of book this is? v Who is the author? v What do you like, or dislike about the cover? v What kind of story are you expecting to read? THE FIRST PAGES Questions v What can we learn from the beginning of the book before reaching the Prologue on page 1? v Why do you think the author included a map? (Maps are available on pages 39–40 of this pack.) Activity Draw a map of your own locality. Explain how it differs from the map at the front of The Golden Acorn. THE PROLOGUE ~ ‘THE ONE’ Questions v Why do you think the author has included a prologue? v What can you learn from the prologue? v What does the prologue tell you about … Nora Camelin Jack Brenin Arrana 3 Activity Draw and describe what you imagine ‘the portal into the Otherworld’ would be like. CHAPTER ONE ~ THE GOLDEN ACORN Questions v How would you feel if you were being chased? v What did Nora keep in the herborium? v What would you do if you found a golden acorn lying in the grass? v What have you learnt about Jack from this chapter? Activity Describe a meeting with someone who has helped you. Describe the meeting that takes place on the playing field from the point of view of either the goal keeper or the boy who gets the nose bleed. CHAPTER TWO ~ INTRODUCTIONS Questions v Who do you think has been stealing from the Cricket Club? v Why doesn’t Camelin like Jack? v Jack sees a hedge open to Nora’s command. What is the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen? Activities Describe Camelin’s meeting with Jack from his point of view. Draw and describe Arrana. CHAPTER THREE ~ GLASRUHEN FOREST Questions v If you had a magical object, what would it be and what would it be able to do? v What is the difference between a lath and a hudlath? Activities Jennet is given a black shiny marble. If you were to trade information with a Water Nymph list five non-reflective, shiny objects you might use. Draw and describe Jennet. CHAPTER FOUR ~ BOOK OF SHADOWS Questions v If you owned a Book of Shadows which three questions would you ask it? v How could you help someone if you had a magic wand? Activities Draw the cover of the Book of Shadows. Design some symbols that you might find around Jennet’s well. 4 CHAPTER FIVE ~ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Questions v What is going to take place at The Raven’s Bowl? v Why was Nora cross with Camelin? v What secrets do Jack and Camelin share? Activities Make a list of the things Camelin doesn’t like to eat. Write out a menu for Camelin with a starter, main course and dessert. CHAPTER SIX ~ THE GNORI Questions v What is a Gnori? v Why was it important that Jack went to meet the Gnori on his own? v Why are the Gnarles of Newton Gill Forest sad? Activities Draw the man Jack met in Newton Gill Forest. Make a food alphabet for Camelin. (An illustrated version of Camelin’s food alphabet can be found at www.pengridon.co.uk.) Camelin’s Food Alphabet A is for apple B is for burger C is for cake D is for doughnut E is for egg foo yung F is for fish in batter G is for gingerbread H is for ham I is for ice cream J is for jelly K is for kebab L is for lollipop M is for macaroni N is for noodles O is for oatcake P is for pancake Q is for quiche R is for rhubarb pie S is for sausages T is for toast U is for upside down pudding V is for vegetables W is for waffles X is for Xmas cake Y is for Yorkshire pudding Z is for zigzag icing 5 CHAPTER SEVEN ~ ADDERGOOLE PEABODY Questions v What is the difference between a Bogie and a Brownie? v Who is Motley and what is he in charge of? v How does Nora persuade Camelin to let her have one of his feathers? Activities Compose some words for a ritual that would help Jack to overcome his fear of heights. Describe Nora’s library. CHAPTER EIGHT ~ CAMELIN’S TALE Questions v How did Camelin get the scar on his head? v How do you think Jack feels when Camelin tells him his story? v Where, and what is, the window in time? v Why did the Spriggans want to capture Orin? Activities Explain how Nora’s cauldron was constructed. Tell Camelin’s story from the point of view of the Roman soldier. CHAPTER NINE ~ PREPARATIONS Questions v What are the preparations for? v Why did Jack want to speak to Arrana again? v What did Arrana tell Jack? Activities Draw out your name using Camelin’s food alphabet. Draw and describe a Dryad. CHAPTER TEN ~ THE RAVEN’S BOWL Questions v What present did Jack take for Elan? v How do you think Jack felt when he met the goalkeeper from the playing field again? v Write a short story that Raggs could have told at the party. Activities Make a list of the kind of foods you’d have if you were having a party. Describe what you would have seen if you’d been on the top of Glasruhen Hill when Jack, Camelin, Nora, and Elan were performing the ritual. 6 CHAPTER ELEVEN ~ FLYING LESSONS Questions v How would you feel if you suddenly found you’d been transformed into a bird? v What words of encouragement would you have for Jack during his first flying lesson? v Who was Dagbert? v What is embossed on each of the cauldron plates? v Who do you think has taken the golden acorn, and why? Activities Make a list of the things you’d put in an emergency ration stash basket. Recount the flying lesson from Camelin’s point of view. Explain the rules of your favourite game to a friend. CHAPTER TWELVE ~ INTO THE TUNNEL Questions v Why does Jack want to go down the tunnel? v How would you have rescued Orin? v How would you feel if you were shown a real live dragon? Activities Tell the events inside the tunnel from a Spriggan’s point of view. Draw and label a picture of Charkle. CHAPTER THIRTEEN ~ MEETINGS Questions v What questions would you ask Charkle? v How is Chief Knuckle different from the other Spriggans? v What would you like, and dislike, about being able to fly? Activities Write a letter to Chief Knuckle and explain why he needs to return the golden acorn. Draw a map of Timmery’s journey through the tunnels to the Chief’s chamber. CHAPTER FOURTEEN ~ FLIGHT Questions v What are the differences between the three types of dragons? v What does Camelin do to persuade the ladies in the fish and chip shop to bring out some food? v What could Jack see from the top of the Belfry? v How do Nora, Elan, and Jack, disguise Grub? Activities Draw and name a dragon. List its attributes and describe its personality. Describe Camelin’s shuffle dance. 7 CHAPTER FIFTEEN ~ BAD NEWS Questions v What does Jack find out about Elan? v What bad news does Peabody bring? v What can Jack see as he flies towards Westwood? Activities Describe the meeting with Nora from Peabody’s point of view. Draw a map to show Jack and Camelin’s flight to Westwood. CHAPTER SIXTEEN ~ THE WESTWOOD ROOST Questions v Who is Finnola Fytche? v Why is Charkle upset? v How do Jack and Camelin try to wake Arrana? v How would you try and wake a sleepy Hamadryad? Activities Describe the meeting inside the cave from the Hag’s point of view. Draw and label a picture of the inside of Finnola Fytche’s cave. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN ~ THE SEARCH Questions v Which areas on the map are searched? v What do Jack and Camelin have to practice in order to be able to go through the window in time? v Jack has an idea about where Pyecroft might be, what triggers it? v How does Pyecroft justify his ownership of the golden acorn? Activities Describe Jack’s practice flights through the hoop from Camelin’s point of view.