Lesson plan:

Charting narrative structure

View Grandad's Gifts
This episode is constructed around two parallel stories, one of which is part of the continuing narrative and the other self contained in the episode. They can be described as Dad Twist's story and Linda's story.

Class discussion

After viewing the full episode, chart the narrative structure of each story on the board. Begin by establishing the similarities between the two stories. For example:

Linda's story: - begins with a dream - about emotions and feelings for an animal - her feelings are ignored - story is part of fantasy and the improbable - story has a happy ending

Dad Twist's story: - begins with a dream - about emotions and feelings for a person - people do not take his hurt seriously - story is part of the real world - no ending - the story continues

Closed and open texts

Class discussion

Use the notes on the board as an introduction to the discussion of closed and open texts. Linda's story has a conclusion but Dad Twist's does not. Discuss the possiblilities of the continuing narrative.

Text analysis

Re-view the episode

The opening scenes are useful for teaching the skills of textual analysis. Play the tape up to the point at which Linda wakes from her dream.

Class discussion

Discuss the following, emphasising the use of visual clues and the recognition of conventions (costumes, props, sepia tones, music). Discussion questions:

• How many time periods have been seen?
• Are we to believe the first shot of the cliff's below the light house is from 'now' or in the past?
• What visual clues are we given that the next scene is set in the past?
• How does the music contribute to the sense of the past?
• How is it different from modern day sound tracks?

Poetic justice

Class discussion

Discuss poetic justice as it is presented in Grandad's Gifts.
Use these questions as prompts:

• What are the gifts?
• What do the gifts bring Grandad and the fox?
• Who gained the most from the gift?

Fantasy stories

Individual activity

Grandad's Gifts has a slightly spiritual feel to it. The events which happen (such as the fox coming to life) are improbable but fantasy stories are about possibility rather than probability. Read another similar fantasy story from literature then ask students to create their own. Some suggestions are:
- a magic rock,
- a friend that no one else can see,
- the ability to cure sick people.

Symbolism

Class discussion

This episode is useful for teaching the concept of symbolism. Discuss the changing condition of the tree as symbolic of the fox's need to be buried in peace.