Exploring Belonging: The Simple Gift
Year 9 English Steven Herrick's verse novel Themes of belonging and transition
Learning Intentions & Success Criteria
Understand how The Simple Gift explores belonging and transitioning Identify key events that illustrate these themes Analyse Herrick's language techniques Write a TEEL paragraph using textual evidence
What Does Belonging Mean to You?
Think about your own experiences Where do you feel you belong? What makes belonging difficult sometimes?
Meet the Characters
Billy - 16-year-old leaving an abusive home Caitlin - local girl who shows acceptance Old Bill - homeless man seeking connection Each character searches for belonging in different ways
Billy's Journey Begins
'The old bastard will have a fit' (p.2) Billy's harsh language reveals his anger Shows fractured relationship with father Demonstrates lack of belonging at home
Teacher Modelling: TEEL in Action
Topic: Billy's anger reveals lack of belonging at home Evidence: 'The old bastard will have a fit' (p.2) Explanation: Harsh language shows frustration and alienation Link: Sets tone for novel's exploration of finding new connections
Paired Analysis Task
Work with a partner Choose one of the provided quotes Discuss what it reveals about belonging/transitioning Draft a TEEL paragraph together using the worksheet
Independent Writing Challenge
How does Steven Herrick use character relationships in The Simple Gift to explore the theme of belonging? Write your own TEEL paragraph Include at least one direct quote with page number Use the success criteria to guide your writing
Reflection & Next Steps
Share your TEEL paragraphs with the class How do the characters find belonging in different ways? What techniques does Herrick use to show transition? How does this connect to your own experiences of belonging?
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