Douglas Wise English Teaching Resources

Maggot Moon Study Booklet | KS3 Teaching Resource

Written by Douglas Wise | 8 November, 2020

Maggot Moon is a great novel and it handily provides an excellent introduction to dystopian fiction; there’s also plenty in it that’s up for grabs regarding unconventional heroes.  I’m a total fan.  I’ll be reading it with one of my classes in the new year, so I put together a basic study booklet in preparation.  Each section has four parts to it:

  1. Big question
  2. Vocabulary
  3. Basic review questions
  4. Extract to annotate

I’ve tried to keep things fairly simple.  The idea is for everything to link back to the big questions – discussion, debate, writing (and so on).  And each big question should be explored over a series of lessons.  At least that’s the idea.  I’ll no doubt change stuff as I go along.  Here they are…

  • Standish Treadwell isn’t bright’ – How is the character of Standish Treadwell initially presented?
  • Are you going to kill us?’ – How does the relationship between the Treadwell and Lush families develop?
  • Everyone was silent’ – In what ways are our expectations subverted?
  • You and your grandfather are in grave danger’ – What more do we learn about how the Motherland is governed?
  • The wound kept oozing grief’ – How do Standish and his grandfather react to the sudden disappearance of the Lush family?
  • I was bloody terrified’ – In what ways does life get increasingly dangerous for Standish and his grandfather?
  • Bring down the curtain’ – In what ways do both Standish and his grandfather demonstrate bravery?
  • The more I see of all this, the less optimistic I feel’ – Why doesn’t Standish give up when his chance of success is so small?
  • That’s when I make my move’ – To what extent is Standish a heroic character?

Click on the link below to download the study booklet.


Hope it’s useful –

Doug

hello@douglaswise.co.uk