The Wreck of the Zanzibar
By Michael Morpurgo
Guided Reading Resources
1
Task A
Look at the front page and answer these
questions…
*What is on the front cover of the book?
*What do you think might happen in the book?
*Why do you think there in a turtle underneath
the sea?
Task A
Look at the front page and answer these
questions…
*What is on the front cover of the book?
*What do you think might happen in the book?
*Why do you think there in a turtle underneath
the sea?
2
Task B
Look at the first chapter from Great-Aunt Laura and remember to
use evidence in your answers:
*What do you like about it?
*Did the first sentence shock you a little bit?
*Why did Michael Morpurgo write about having her cocoa and putting
the cat out?
*How do you feel by the end of the paragraph?
*Why did Great Aunt Laura leave the diary to Michael?
Write down the first four sentences of the book and for each one describe
what the reader is probably thinking and how they feel.
Task B
Look at the first chapter from Great-Aunt Laura and remember to
use evidence in your answers:
*What do you like about it?
*Did the first sentence shock you a little bit?
*Why did Michael Morpurgo write about having her cocoa and putting
the cat out?
*How do you feel by the end of the paragraph?
*Why did Great Aunt Laura leave the diary to Michael?
Write down the first four sentences of the book and for each one describe
what the reader is probably thinking and how they feel.
3
Task C
Create a spider diagram of all the thoughts going through Billy’s head.
Task C
Create a spider diagram of all the thoughts going through Billy’s head.
4
Task D
Look at the chapter February 14th and remember to use evidence in
your answers:
1. What happened to Molly and her calf?
2. Why did Laura think that father would be angry?
3. Describe Joseph Hannibal.
4. Why was everyone listening to Joseph Hannibal?
5. How was Laura trying to stay awake?
6. Why was she trying to stay awake?
Task D
Look at the chapter February 14th and remember to use evidence in
your answers:
1. What happened to Molly and her calf?
2. Why did Laura think that father would be angry?
3. Describe Joseph Hannibal.
4. Why was everyone listening to Joseph Hannibal?
5. How was Laura trying to stay awake?
6. Why was she trying to stay awake?
5
Task E
Look at the chapter February 15th and remember to use evidence in
your answers:
1. Why did Laura think this was the worst day of her life?
2. Why did Laura get angry with Billy?
3. What do you think father meant when he said he would “strap
him if he didn’t hold his tongue”?
4. Why do you think Billy left?
5. Why did Laura think she wouldn’t see Billy again?
6. How do we know that mother was upset?
Task E
Look at the chapter February 15th and remember to use evidence in
your answers:
1. Why did Laura think this was the worst day of her life?
2. Why did Laura get angry with Billy?
3. What do you think father meant when he said he would “strap
him if he didn’t hold his tongue”?
4. Why do you think Billy left?
5. Why did Laura think she wouldn’t see Billy again?
6. How do we know that mother was upset?
6
Task F
Read pages 30- 37 and remember to use evidence in your answers:
st
July 21
1. Why do you think there is such a long gap between entries?
th
July 30
2. How would you describe Laura’s feelings now?
st
July 31
3. When did Laura ask her father about the gig? Why did she wait until
then?
4. Why were father’s eyes filled with tears?
5. Why did Laura say it wasn’t father’s fault?
rd
August 23
6. Why are the cows so important to the family?
7. Why would a wreck help the family?
Task F
Read pages 30- 37 and remember to use evidence in your answers:
st
July 21
1. Why do you think there is such a long gap between entries?
th
July 30
2. How would you describe Laura’s feelings now?
st
July 31
3. When did Laura ask her father about the gig? Why did she wait until
then?
4. Why were father’s eyes filled with tears?
5. Why did Laura say it wasn’t father’s fault?
rd
August 23
6. Why are the cows so important to the family?
7. Why would a wreck help the family? 7
Task G
The Battle for the Beaches
Turtle numbers are falling fast.
This article looks at the problem and what we
can do to help.
Threatened Sea Turtles
Turtle numbers are falling fast. In order to protect turtles, marine
nature reserves have been set up and protection plans put in place.
Sadly, many of these do not work as turtles swim freely from country
to country. Turtles may be safe in some areas but not in others as
different countries have different protection laws.
Turtle Conservation In Karachi
In Karachi, Pakistan, there is a very bucket and taken to the sea to be
successful programme to protect the released.
Green and Pacific Ridley turtles Another of the major aims of Pakistan's
which nest along the sandy beaches
turtle programme is to teach people about
near the city. the value of sea turtles. Guided tours are
Every night, the beach is patrolled by arranged for visitors to the beaches and
turtle guards. Whenever they find a parties of school children are taken for
female digging a nest they wait exciting night-time visits to watch the
patiently nearby and, once she has animals.
finished laying, collect her eggs. The project is extremely successful: the
These are taken to enclosures, which turtles and their eggs are now well
are guarded 24 hours a day. protected, and local people take a real
When the tiny turtles hatch, several interest in the animals' welfare.
weeks later, they are carefully placed
in a
8
Flatback- still common Leatherback-extremely rare
Loggerhead-seriously threatened Pacific Ridley-extremely rare
Turtles or Tourists in Saltos?
Every summer thousands of Loggerhead turtles travel across the
oceans to lay their eggs on the soft, sandy beaches of Saltos.
In recent years their numbers have been falling.
Saltos - a safe haven? a torch and a camera. If they do lay their eggs,
there is every chance that, next morning,
The Mediterranean island of Saltos clumsy sunbathers will stamp on them.
is beautiful. Its rolling hills are
crowned with cypress trees and olive Keeping turtles and tourists apart
groves. vineyards snuggle in the Some of the turtles' favourite beaches are
valleys. Saltos' golden beaches are now protected by strict laws, but these are
the nesting grounds for the largely ignored by hotel owners. As they
Loggerhead turtle. depend on tourism for their living, they do not
Fifteen years ago tourists were seem to care that turtles' nesting sites are
almost unknown in Saltos. Now, destroyed by the building of new hotels. The
holiday-makers swarm everywhere, bulldozers, used to remove the rubbish left by
driving cars on to the beaches and lazy tourists, continue to destroy nests every
playing loud music. This is bad news day.
for the turtles. They do not like The Prime Minister of Saltos and the Chief of
noise, they are confused by bright Police are on the side of the turtles. Let us
lights (which cause them to crawl hope that they can persuade people to obey the
inland instead of towards the sea) law. Otherwise, there will soon be nowhere left
and they hate crowds. for the animals to go.
Although the females usually wait
until dark before coming ashore to
lay their eggs, they often come
face-to-face with dozens of eager
tourists, each armed with
9
Task H
Read the passage Threatened Sea Turtles, Turtle Conservation In
Karachi and Saltos.
1. Name two kinds of turtles which nest along the beaches of Karachi.
2. Apart from the beach patrol guards, name two other things that the
organisers of the turtle programme have started doing.
3. What are the two main results of the turtle protection programme?
4. What kind of turtles nest in Saltos?
5. Name two things that make Saltos an attractive place for tourists.
6. What makes the turtles crawl inland?
7. List four different things that holiday-makers do which cause
problems for the turtles.
Task H
Read the passage Threatened Sea Turtles, Turtle Conservation
In Karachi and Saltos.
1. Name two kinds of turtles which nest along the beaches of Karachi.
2. Apart from the beach patrol guards, name two other things that the
organisers of the turtle programme have started doing.
3. What are the two main results of the turtle protection programme?
4. What kind of turtles nest in Saltos?
5. Name two things that make Saltos an attractive place for tourists.
6. What makes the turtles crawl inland?
7. List four different things that holiday-makers do which cause
problems for the turtles.
10
Task I
Create a spider diagram of all the thoughts going through the
turtle’s head.
Task I
Create a spider diagram of all the thoughts going through the
turtle’s head.
11
Task J
Track / record how and why her emotions change during this diary
entry using a timeline.
12
Task K
Read pages 65-71 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task K):
st
November 1
1. What do you think is the general feeling in the house?
th
November 30
2. What made father decide that they were leaving?
3. Why do you think Granny May wanted to stay?
4. What were Laura and her mother worried about?
5. Why does Laura want to leave?
6. Why does Laura feel angry?
th
December 6
7. Why hasn’t the family left yet?
8. Why do you think Mother wants to stay?
9. How does Laura describe Mother?
10. Why does Laura think that Billy might be dead?
Task K
Read pages 65-71 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task K):
st
November 1
1. What do you think is the general feeling in the house?
th
November 30
2. What made father decide that they were leaving?
3. Why do you think Granny May wanted to stay?
4. What were Laura and her mother worried about?
5. Why does Laura want to leave?
6. Why does Laura feel angry?
th
December 6
7. Why hasn’t the family left yet?
8. Why do you think Mother wants to stay?
9. How does Laura describe Mother?
10. Why does Laura think that Billy might be dead?
13
Task L
Read pages 65-71 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task L):
th
December 8
1. Why does Laura think Granny May isn’t eating?
2. Why do you think she is still thinking about the turtle?
3. How do you think the family are feeling?
th
December 9
4. What did Laura see when she was looking for limpets?
5. Why was there excitement at the wreck?
6. Why didn’t the chief want to give up?
7. Why did Laura stay with the crew?
8. What happened to father?
9. How was Laura feeling when she was rowing?
10. Why did the chief say “pull for your children, pull for your wives”?
11. Who did Laura pull for?
Who ran towards Laura on the beach?
What was the ship called?
Where was the ship heading for?
How did the family react to Billy’ return?
Task L
Read pages 65-71 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task L):
th
December 8
1. Why does Laura think Granny May isn’t eating?
2. Why do you think she is still thinking about the turtle?
3. How do you think the family are feeling?
th
December 9
4. What did Laura see when she was looking for limpets?
5. Why was there excitement at the wreck?
6. Why didn’t the chief want to give up?
7. Why did Laura stay with the crew?
8. What happened to father?
9. How was Laura feeling when she was rowing?
10. Why did the chief say “pull for your children, pull for your wives”?
11. Who did Laura pull for?
Who ran towards Laura on the beach?
What was the ship called?
Where was the ship heading for?
How did the family react to Billy’ return?
14
Task M
Create a diagram of all the thoughts going through the father’s head.
Task M
Create a diagram of all the thoughts going through the father’s head.
15
Task N
Read pages 84-92 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task N):
th
December 10
1. Where was father going when Laura came downstairs?
2. How do you think he was feeling?
3. Why wouldn’t mother let Laura go to the wreck?
4. What had the gig brought aback from the Zanzibar?
5. What else did they bring back from the wreck?
6. How did Granny May go to see the wreck?
7. Why was Billy on the Zanzibar and not the General Lee?
th
December 24
1. Why did Laura’s family have the cows?
2. What does Granny May think brought the Zanzibar to Scilly? Why?
3. Why do you think Laura liked hearing Billy’s stories again and again?
Task N
Read pages 84-92 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task N):
th
December 10
1. Where was father going when Laura came downstairs?
2. How do you think he was feeling?
3. Why wouldn’t mother let Laura go to the wreck?
4. What had the gig brought aback from the Zanzibar?
5. What else did they bring back from the wreck?
6. How did Granny May go to see the wreck?
7. Why was Billy on the Zanzibar and not the General Lee?
th
December 24
1. Why did Laura’s family have the cows?
2. What does Granny May think brought the Zanzibar to Scilly? Why?
3. Why do you think Laura liked hearing Billy’s stories again and again?
16
Task O
Read pages 93-101 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task O):
th
December 25
1. What was washed up on the beach?
2. What happened to it?
3. Who did Laura leave Zanzibar too?
4. Why?
Marzipan
1. Why do you think this last section was included in the book?
2. What kind of thing did Laura do at the end of her life?
Task O
Read pages 93-101 and remember to use evidence in your answers (Task O):
th
December 25
5. What was washed up on the beach?
6. What happened to it?
7. Who did Laura leave Zanzibar too?
8. Why?
Marzipan
3. Why do you think this last section was included in the book?
4. What kind of thing did Laura do at the end of her life?
17
Task P
Using the front covers and the blurbs of the book, complete the table
below:
Similarities Differences
Front Cover
Blurb
18
