Oxford Reading Tree: Stage 10: TreeTops: Blackbones Saves the School
English Reading Tree Series
on Goodreads (7)
What’s inside...
This title contains a further 18 Treetops stories in Oxford Reading Tree's series of fiction with built-in progression for pupils aged 7 to 11. Specially written for children who need the support of carefully monitored language levels, the stories are accessible, motivating and humorous. The series is organized into Oxford Reading Tree stages (from Stage 10 to Stage 14), with each stage introducing more complex narrative forms, including flashbacks and changes in viewpoint, descriptive writing, extended reading vocabulary, and more pages, more text, and fewer illustrations. Each stage is supported by the Teacher's Guide, which offers guidance on using Treetops to assess children's reading ability, and includes a variety of activities, many on photocopiable sheets.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if you were in Blackbones' shoes when faced with a problem at school?
How do you think teamwork helped Blackbones and his friends solve the mystery?
What lessons can we learn about bravery and friendship from Blackbones' adventures?
How do you think the school changed after Blackbones saved it?
If you could write another adventure for Blackbones, what would it be about?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think critically about the story by asking them how they would handle similar situations. Discuss the importance of teamwork and how it's portrayed in the book. Relate the themes of bravery and friendship to your child's own life experiences to make the conversation more relatable. Lastly, nurture their creativity by asking them to come up with their own adventure for Blackbones.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: In 'Blackbones Saves the School', the protagonist collaborates with classmates to solve problems, demonstrating the power of working together to achieve common goals.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or during sports, learning to cooperate with peers to accomplish tasks and resolve conflicts.
Example Lesson: Courage and Facing Fears
Explanation: The character Blackbones shows bravery when confronting challenges that frighten him, which is pivotal in overcoming obstacles throughout the story.
Real-World Application: Kids can be encouraged to face their own fears, whether it’s trying something new, standing up for themselves, or dealing with a difficult situation at school or home.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Problem Solving
Explanation: The story highlights how Blackbones uses creativity to devise clever solutions during critical moments, emphasizing the importance of innovative thinking.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to think creatively when faced with their own challenges, from homework projects to interpersonal problems, encouraging them to think outside the box.