Storykit - Loneliness

Storykit - Loneliness

The Graveyard Book ? Neil Gaiman

Summary "The Graveyard Book" is the tale of an ordinary boy, Nobody Owens, who, in tragic circumstances, finds himself an orphan and is `adopted' by the dead people and `supernaturals' who inhabit the local graveyard. Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is raised and educated by the ghosts and encounters many adventures and dangers in the graveyard. Yet the greatest danger lies in the `real' world where the man Jack lurks. The man Jack has already deprived Bod of a normal upbringing, having callously killed Bod's family, but his work is unfinished until he takes Bod's life as well. Described as "...... a modern classic of children's writing" (Independent), this is not a book for the faint-hearted, but will be relished by most children as it is deliciously dark. Gaiman manages to make the graveyard and the characters who inhabit it believable and recognisable. "The Graveyard Book" has deservedly won the Carnegie Medal and the Newberry Medal. The author's perspective: Neil Gaiman says he was "inspired by one image: my infant son Michael on his tricycle, pedaling through the graveyard in the sunshine". He thought he "could write something a lot like "The Jungle Book" and set it in a graveyard. He began writing in 1985 but did not publish until 2008. It was worth the wait. Neil's website: works/ Neil talking about writing `The Graveyard Book': Themes: Loneliness, Homelessness, Alienation, Belonging, Friendship, Safety and Security Additional themes: Growing up, making mistakes, value of learning/education, relationships Notes Recommended age range: 9+

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Orientation Lonely refugee children:

Kids' Health ? Feeling Lonely

What does it feel like to be old and alone? -

Songs "Eleanor Rigby" ? The Beatles "Streets of London" ? Ralph McTell

Activities

Empathy skills practised

Learning approaches

All Characters Appearance Large (whole wall) picture of the graveyard ? each time a character appears create a new gravestone with their name on it and brief details of them. Add a picture of them next to the gravestone.

Strong imagination Capacity for reflection

Springboard for class/ group discussions

Creative writing

Personality Create a large ledger/census book. Pages tea-soaked to make it look ancient. In the ledger enter details of each character as they join the story e.g.

Name Age

Appear Person ance ality

traits

Feelings

Other columns could be: Accommodation, Status e.g. alive/ dead, undead. Group affiliation e.g. Ghoul, Celt, Hound of God, Night Haunt, Witch, Unconsecrated, Jacks of All Trades, Honour Guard, Police etc.

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The Detective's Couch (have one in classroom, if possible) Hot seating by another, gentler name ? ask questions of different characters, discuss/modify answers. When were you born? Who are your friends? Where do you live? What are your targets? What would you change about your life?

Strong imagination Empathetic communication Emotion recognition

Drama

Act out the words spoken by different characters e.g., Sleer ? are they friendly, scary, threatening, Discuss how they feel? Why are they: angry/sad/rude/happy/unsettled/uneasy/vengeful/call ous etc? The Main Characters: Nobody Owens, Mr and Mrs Owens, Silas, the man Jack, Scarlett, Liza, Miss Lupescu (groups might wish to take one each, but all need to focus upon Bod at some point).

Empathic listening Strong imagination

Nobody Owens (Bod) Bod experiences a whole range of emotions as he grows and develop; these are central to the story and some will be familiar to the children e.g. being bullied, upset at parents who won't allow you to do what you want, "It's not fair!" Write Bod's early experience of leaving his home in the first person ? climbing out of cot, hearing strange sounds, sense of adventure, fear and feeling lost, dark, quiet streets, graveyard, first encounters with Mr and Mrs Owens, Silas, Scarlett.

Creative writing

What has Bod lost? Parents, sister, home and all its comforts, safety, security etc. What does that feel like

Making Friends

How does Bod change, from loneliness to feeling secure in the graveyard and then independent and ready to go into the world?

What do the Graveyard characters provide for Bod? Balloon Debate ? Create a balloon with a basket underneath, get the children to draw the characters and put them in basket: Scarlett, Silas, Mr Owens, Mrs Owens, Miss Lupescu, Liza. Each child takes a character and argues why they are important to Bod and why they should remain in the descending balloon. Children vote on who offers the least each time and that

Empathic listening

The ability to feel, understand and respect other people's feelings and perspectives

Discussion and team work Drama Creative writing and art

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character leaves the balloon. End of book. E.g., Silas = food, clothes, advice, guidance, reliability, safety Scarlett = friendship, teaching about the outside world, fun, camaraderie, romance (?)

Children explore what makes a good friend Create an "Are you a good friend?" questionnaire a la magazines e.g. Your friend is talking about his/her holiday; it is getting boring. Do you:

a) Tell her to be quiet ? you've heard enough? b) Walk off? c) Try to change the conversation? d) Ask questions and appear interested? Partners try to come up with one question and questions put together to form quiz. Aim to establish why friends are so important and attributes of a true friend.

Dead or Alive ? Pros and Cons What are the advantages/disadvantages of living in the `real' world and the graveyard? Large flipchart or similar with columns "Pros" "Cons". Alive/Real World "Pros" might include: meet lots of people, TV, computers, phones, family, friendships, aspirations, travel, new experiences, food etc. Cons might be: hardship, losing loved ones, exams, ageing, pain, illness, can't disappear/walk through walls. Dead/Graveyard "Pros" might be: never ageing, no diseases, safety and security of Graveyard (debatable), invisibility, Dreamwalking, Visitations, Hauntings. Cons might be: stuck in time, no aspirations/opportunities, an observer of real life unable to participate, dangers of other groups e.g. Ghouls

Valuing/understanding others' perspectives

the capacity for reflection

Writing and discussion

Celebrating difference Bod is different to other children. Discuss how we are all different ? illustrate with simple exercises: rolling tongue, rolling Rs, speed of reactions catching a ruler between forefinger and thumb when dropped by someone else ? record scores, shyness, academic ability etc. List all ways in which we can be different. Imagine a world in which everyone is the same ? imagine how boring it would be. Sometimes difference can lead to isolation, ostracism and loneliness ? Joseph/John Merrick (Elephant Man) is a classic and

Deep discussion Strong imagination Capacity for reflection

Immersive creative activities

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extreme example: But also today: Loneliness in the playground ? have you every felt alone/left out at school? What can you do if you see someone looking lonely or you are lonely? Create class/school guidelines (you may have these already e.g. Friendship bench, playground mentors, buddy system etc.) At school Bod is seemingly invisible because he is quiet; "No-one noticed the boy" "forgettable and easily forgotten". Why not befriend someone you don't usually talk to? Talking partners ? find out some interesting things about your talking partner and tell the class about them e.g. Josie has been in the newspaper, goes to gymnastics outside school etc. Growing up/Aspirations Because Bod is alive, he eventually heads off into the real world, with "dangers in it and mysteries, new friends to make, old friends to rediscover, mistakes to be made and many paths to be walked...." Bod walks into it with "... his eyes and heart wide open." Children write about the things that excite them about the future and those that might be causing them some anxiety i.e. meeting new friends, being lonely in the "big school". This is a good opportunity to discuss anxieties of Y6 going to secondary school and how there will be people to help/turn to along the way. Loneliness in the news Look at images of people in the news who are alone e.g. elderly person living alone with no family, tsunami victim, refugee, earthquake victim i.e. people who have lost everything dear to them: put yourself in the shoes of one of them ? describe how you feel.

Strong imagination Valuing/understanding others Capacity for reflection

The ability to feel, understand and respect other people's feelings and perspectives

Activities that help children see through the eyes of the characters

Creative writing discussion

Social Action Who do you know who might be lonely? At school, home, family, neighbours, local community, the country the world? How can you help?

Empathic listening Deep discussion

Opportunities for class and group discussions

Visit a neighbour (with parent), arrange a grandparent's, elderly friends' tea party/ concert. Visit local senior citizens' home?

Take turns to be a playground buddy, helping/playing with children who appear lonely on the playground. Raise money for homeless refuge in the area. Become pen pals/cyber friend with child overseas.

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