Homing Pigeons: Independent Reading Orange 6
Independent Reading Gold Series
What’s inside...
Homing Pigeons: Independent Reading Orange 6 by Jackie Walter is a captivating tale that follows the adventurous journey of two homing pigeons. This book offers an enchanting exploration of themes such as navigation, independence, and the significance of home. It is expertly designed to support children's development in reading and comprehension, making it a perfect addition to any young reader’s library. Engage your child with this thrilling story while enhancing their literacy skills. This book is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with UCL Institute of Education (IOE). Homing Pigeons is a non-fiction text reporting on the amazing skill and history of homing pigeons. The simple sentence structure offers readers the opportunity for an independent reading experience with the support of the illustrations. Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. This early non-fiction text is accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the pigeons in the story wanted to return home?
How did the characters in the book help each other?
What would you do if you were in a similar situation as the pigeons?
What does 'home' mean to you, and why is it important?
How did the story make you feel about helping others?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by summarizing the story together to ensure your child understands the plot.
Relate the story's themes to your child’s experiences, asking them about times they have helped someone or worked together with friends.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative endings or scenarios to deepen their understanding and empathy.
Discuss the importance of home and safety, and what it means to them personally.
Use expressive questions that invite more than yes or no answers to keep the conversation lively and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: In 'Homing Pigeons: Independent Reading Orange 6', children learn about responsibility through characters who take care of their tasks and face the consequences of neglecting them.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by being proactive in completing their chores or schoolwork, understanding their role within their family and community.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The book emphasizes problem-solving skills as characters encounter challenges and work through them thoughtfully and creatively.
Real-World Application: Kids can use similar strategies in real-life situations, whether in resolving conflicts with peers or tackling difficult school assignments.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The story showcases the importance of working together, as characters collaborate to achieve common goals.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the value of cooperative play and teamwork in school projects or sports.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Characters in the book often face obstacles, yet they continue to strive towards their goals, demonstrating perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children can mirror this persistence in overcoming personal challenges, be it in learning a new skill or improving in a subject area that's difficult for them.