(Group activities)
What does the cover tell?
- Using the four W’s – Who? What? Why? When? – ask the class to examine the cover and see how much information it gives about each.
- A design like that of old wallpaper is used on the cover as part of the forest. Why do the students think it was included?
- Discuss what a dedication is, and how this book is dedicated to a dog called Bran. (There is an exercise on the worksheet about the dedication.)
Story (plot)
The story (or plot) of Copper Top might be shown in a diagram like this (show on board).
> Copper arrives in Hokitika looking for Tim and Rory
> Meets Pearl
> Journey to Finch’s Creek
> Gets job as dancing girl
> Meets stray dog (later Nugget)
> Meets Gerhard Kreutzer …
Class then completes the diagram with the rest of the story as they read it, or when finished.
What happens next?
Copper Top ends with the setting up of the cobbler’s business and general store. Ask the class to work out a plot for the book's sequel (another book with the same characters and the story taking place in the future) and show it in a diagram form like the one above.
(Individual activities)
Creative writing
Copper is feeling very alone and frightened in the forest at the start of Chapter 8. The class discusses how people feel when they are frightened and the useful words to describe fear. Pupils are then asked to write a paragraph describing a time in their life when they felt frightened and alone.
Being Nugget
The class discusses the experiences (such as smells) that a dog has which are different from those of people. Pupils are then asked to pretend they are Nugget the dog and write about one event in the book as if he were describing it. |
