The Kites are Flyingby Michael Morpurgo

Vicky SymesChawton Primary School

Overview

• Written from two perspectives, covering the conflict in the West Bank, between Israel and Palestine

• Viewpoint is crucial throughout the story– Israeli / Palestinian– Occupier / Occupied– Child / Adult

• Viewpoints are often in conflict, yet have commonalities, too

• Huge issues raised – very emotive• Be prepared to face and discuss

issues– PSHE– Racial– Political– Cultural

Cross-Curricular Activities• D.T. – create a kite• Music – compose music based on

war/peace, air/kites• Geography/History – look at key areas,

political figures, key moments in the struggle

• Art – endless opportunities–War / peace– Kites– Nightmares / dreams

Cross-Curricular Activities

• RE – discuss the different religions involved in the conflict and how they impact on daily life

• PHSE – massive scope for discussions, debates etc. MUST BE HANDLED WITH SENSITIVITY.

Immersion

• Slow reveal of illustrations from the book• Discussions based on looking at examples

of illustrations• Text extracts– Group into information about characters,

events, themes etc

• Mini pics presentation– No sound– With music

• Discuss reactions• What could the book be about?

Activate Prior Learning

• Does it remind them of anything they’ve ever read before?

• Discuss themes that may have arisen e.g. CONFLICT

Introduce Book

• Explain background• Read opening chapter / diary entry

– Stress it is written by each character, from their own viewpoint

• Introduce children’s diary– Their personal responses to what they have read– Written as a diary entry– Diary entry to be made after each reading of a

chapter / work on a book– A personal journey

Key Elements• Focus on character viewpoint– Who is ‘right?’– Take on character and hot-seat key moments

e.g. the shooting of Mahmoud– Would all the characters see the events in the

same way?

• Class debates / discussions– Role of soldier– Occupier / Occupied

Suggested Literacy Activities

• Report on initial accident from both perspectives – Israeli and Palestinian

• Report ‘shooting incident’ from both viewpoints

• Diary entry by the girl in the wheelchair– Prior to Mahmoud’s death– At the end, after all the kites have flown

• Write a poem of peace/hope• Write a prayer for peace

This is one of the most moving books I’ve ever read…

“Friendship knows no barriers”

Websites of interest

• http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/books/the-kites-are-flying/

• http://www.childrenslaureate.org.uk/previous-laureates/books/3/29650/

• http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/3914/The-Kites-are-Flying-by-Michael-Morpurgo.html