Orb Tricks Ink

Overview

Lesson 24 builds the Gothic Adventure Project by sharpening students’ narrative atmosphere and integrating Red Orb shop calculation strategies into creative writing. Students also practise advanced spelling patterns and produce a short piece of “mathematical poetry” that explains their reasoning.

Learning intentions

• Students will enhance a mission script using literary devices (especially imagery and figurative language) to create a gothic atmosphere.
• Students will explain Red Orb “Orb” (decimal) calculations using clear mathematical vocabulary.
• Students will justify their discount strategy and show the method in steps.
• Students will practise advanced spelling patterns through targeted editing and a short poetry draft.

Success criteria

• I can use at least 3 literary devices (e.g. metaphor/simile/personification/imagery/hyperbole) to make the scene feel gothic.
• I can describe my Red Orb calculation steps using correct mathematical vocabulary (e.g. product, factor, decimal point, percentage, discount).
• I can choose and justify the correct operation(s) for my result.
• I can spell most words accurately using a “focus pattern” from today’s editing task.

Curriculum links

• Literature: create and edit literary texts that adapt plot/characters/settings and experiment with literary devices.
• Language: identify and use vivid, emotive vocabulary such as metaphors, similes, personification, imagery, hyperbole.
• Literature: explain how imagery helps meaning and effect.
• (Integrated) Mathematics reasoning: justify strategies using vocabulary and show working (linking to unit objectives and student-designed budget evidence).

Lesson structure (60 minutes)

1. 0–5 min · Mission warm-up (visual). Teacher displays a picture prompt: a gothic shopfront glowing red behind mist (illustration-style). Students give 1 word for mood and 1 sentence for what makes it gothic (sentence starter provided).

2. 5–15 min · Direct teach: Gothic integration + device hunt. Teacher reads aloud a short “scrap” mission paragraph and models upgrades: adding imagery and figurative language. Students highlight where devices appear on a printed version, using a colour key (imagery, metaphor/simile, personification, hyperbole). Low reading friction: teacher reads; students trace/highlight; word bank on screen/print.

3. 15–25 min · Editing sprint (advanced spelling patterns). Teacher introduces today’s focus pattern (choose one from your unit sequence; examples include -tion/-sion, -ous/-ousness, prefix re-/mis-/dis-, or doubling rules for endings). Students complete a quick “spot-fix” sheet: correct 8 misspellings taken from their own rough draft (or a sample). Neurodivergent supports: word bank with examples; allow cut-and-sort (cards with correct spellings) instead of rewriting.

4. 25–40 min · Red Orb reasoning: strategy explainer. Teacher gives a mini Red Orb shop problem aligned to the unit: e.g. “A shop sells Orb Kits for $12.50. A 20% discount is applied. How much do you pay?” Students work in steps using a small template:

• What I know (decimals + percent)
• My strategy (e.g. find 10% then multiply, or convert to fraction/operator)
• My working (show calculation)
• My answer with units ($) Students must write 2–3 “math sentences” explaining the method using required vocabulary stems:
• “First, I find… because…”
• “Next, I calculate… by multiplying…”
• “I justify this because…” High-dopamine: students earn a “Checkmate Word” token when they use vocabulary correctly.

5. 40–55 min · Mathematical poetry (integrated output). Students write 6 lines of “mission poetry” that includes:

• 1 gothic image (from earlier)
• 1 figurative language device
• 3 maths explanation steps (in poetic form) Template provided (minimal typing needed):
• Line 1: The shop breathes… (imagery)
• Line 2: My strategy is… (math)
• Line 3: I multiply… (math)
• Line 4: Then I find… (math)
• Line 5: Therefore, the total is… (justification)
• Line 6: The red light… (metaphor/hyperbole) Dyslexia-friendly options: allow “fill-in-the-blanks” or scribing while student chooses words; offer a word bank of gothic verbs/adjectives and maths vocabulary.

6. 55–60 min · Exit ticket (rapid check). Students answer: “Name 1 literary device you used and point to the maths sentence that justifies your strategy.” Teacher collects slips.

Resources

• Printed image prompt (gothic orb shop scene) + sentence starters
• Coloured highlighting key (imagery, metaphor/simile, personification, hyperbole)
• Short “mission scrap” paragraph (teacher-prepared)
• Spot-fix spelling worksheet (8 items) + word bank
• Red Orb discount worksheet with step template and vocabulary stems
• Mathematical poetry template with word bank cards
• Tokens/stickers for vocabulary correctness
• Optional home materials: paper, coloured pens, scissors (for cut-and-sort spelling cards)

Assessment

• Formative during device hunt: teacher checks highlighted device types and provides immediate feedback.
• Formative during Red Orb strategy: teacher listens for correct vocabulary and checks written working steps.
• Exit ticket: verifies both literary device use and maths justification sentence.

Differentiation

• Provide choice of output: poetry paragraph, comic-strip speech bubbles, or spoken recording with typed labels for devices and maths steps.
• Reduce writing load: sentence frames + fill-in-the-blanks; allow cutting and arranging pre-written device phrases and maths steps.
• Dyslexia-friendly supports: larger font, read-aloud for all model texts, colour highlighting, and a “minimum words” target (e.g. 6 lines but only 1–3 words per line if needed).
• Neurodivergent classroom management: short burst timers (5–10 minutes), sensory break option (1–2 minutes of movement), and a “reset” checklist (“Highlight → Fix spellings → Work steps → Poetry lines”).
• For extension: students replace one maths step with a different strategy and explain why both strategies reach the same result.

Assessment overview (quick checklist for this lesson)

• Literary craft: uses at least 3 devices with correct placement and effect on mood.
• Editing: corrects most spelling items for the focus pattern.
• Maths reasoning: includes steps, correct operations for decimals/percentage, and justification using maths vocabulary.
• Integrated presentation: at least 1 gothic image and 3 maths explanations appear in the poetry.