Windscape: Recent Episodes
Paul Murdoch
Topics to explore : porters, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure… The hospital porters play a big part in this chapter. What other kinds of people might work in a hospital? Words to explore : showdown, gown, mishmash, assumed, braced, bedraggled… Emotions : What thoughts go though Jenny’s head when she finds out the lady protester …
Topics to explore : peregrine falcon, shepherd’s crook, the island of Mauritius… What species of geese migrate to Scotland in winter? Words to explore : obelisk, eyesore, triumphantly, skene, moderation, tumbling… Emotions : Why might Jenny have forgiven Pavel? Summarise the chapter in a few sentences, draw a favourite scene, write out your favourite piece …
Topics to explore : wheelchairs, disability, maternity ward, What are the Paralympic Games? Words to explore : flagging, prospect, abandoned, buckled, resolutely, lilting, accusatory, ‘Pre-op’. Emotions : What is Jenny feeling when she finds out that it wasn’t her dad’s empty bed? Summarise the chapter in a few sentences, draw a favourite scene, write out …
Topics to explore : wrestling, Blackberry (type of mobile phone), Hummer… Big Birdie is described as a gorilla – The Gorilla is the largest living primate. What is a primate? Words to explore : retinue, henchmen, runts, ‘hen’, framed, glowered, double-take… Emotions : What is Flynn feeling when he is framed by Pavel? What does …
Topics to explore : sandstone, sewage plants, the River Clyde The Clyde is a major river on the west coast of Scotland that passes through Glasgow, what’s the big river on the east coast that serves Edinburgh? Words to explore : intent, yobs, cronies, surreptitiously, stalk-still, loathing… Emotions : What was the nurse thinking when …
Topics to explore : the word ‘Ned’, monuments… What monuments do you have near your school? Words to explore : shimmied, dolefully, squinted, cluster, chattering, wry… Emotions : What is Lord most interested in when Jenny is trying to get Flynn’s jacket? Summarise the chapter in a few sentences, draw a favourite scene, write out …
Topics to explore : calamine lotion, life jackets, pantomimes… What might have turned Sandy Murdoch into a bully? Translate – ‘there’s a dug in the drink’ Words to explore : estuary, thugs, mooched, cuff, juddered, gushing, sheen, manic… Emotions : What is Flynn thinking as he negotiates with Angus Murdoch? Summarise the chapter in a …
Topics to explore : camels, granite, the River Leven, Formica. What is the difference between a carrion crow and a hooded crow. (Draw) Words to explore : corrugated, frayed, ignition, moored, throttle, carcasses… Emotions : What is Jenny feeling as Pavel steals the cruiser in Dumbarton? Summarise the chapter in a few sentences, draw a …
Topics to explore : different kinds of knots, Loch Lomond… How old is Dumbarton Castle? What famous Scottish Hero was supposed to have been held there before being taken to his execution? Words to explore : hitch, boggy, lay-by, struts, furious, snoring… Emotions : Why does Jenny throw the letter away? Summarise the chapter in …
Topics to explore : Marts, auctions… What animals are sold at auction marts in Scotland? Where is your nearest Mart? Words to explore : donkey-jacket, baler twine, froth, podium… Emotions : What could be going through Sandy’s mind when he eventually unties Jenny and Pavel? Summarise the chapter in a few sentences, draw a favourite …
Topics to explore : fables, saying thank you in Polish https://youtu.be/L4kodGYaiSA Oban has a building that looks like a colosseum. Where is the original Colosseum? Who built it and when? What was it used for? Find out more about the one in Oban. Words to explore : stowaway, sample, scanning, mutt, dunder-heed (dunderheed/dunderhead)… Emotions : …
Topics to explore : Bookshops – The oldest known bookstore still opened in France (and Europe) is the Librairie Nouvelle d’Orléans. Its owner in 1545 was Étienne Rouzeau. What else can you find out about book sellers? Jenny says her dad likes ‘fantasy and adventure books’, what kind of books or stories do you like? …
Topics to explore : sea sickness, Oban Cathedral, Follies, Windy refers to WPD (wind power density). What other considerations might there be when deciding to place a wind turbine? In the text it mentions ‘Herculean proportions’ – Who was Hercules? Words to explore : dissolved, cistern, adopted, toddler, hostile, deference, starboard, ingenuity… Emotions : How did …
Topics to explore : Scottish slang… blether, crabbit, What size were McGovern’s feet? Words to explore : peely-wally, pegged, bolted, wretch, strewn… Emotions : How does Mrs Murdoch feel when she discovers Angus Murdoch has been holding back the McLeod’s letters? Summarise the chapter in a few sentences, draw a favourite scene, write out your …
Topics to explore : racism, whales and dolphins, Manx Shearwater… What types of whale can be found in the waters around Scotland? Words to explore : mournfully, racist, withering, hindsight, gangway… Emotions : How does the man on ferry feel when he realises Pavel is from Poland? How does Jenny feel when the man confronts …
Topics to explore : stone circles, a ‘kit house’, lamb’s foot knife What is the most famous stone circle on Lewis called? What do you think the teacher said to the bus driver on her way off of the bus? Words to explore : brackish, purred, peered, blurted, virtue, tangle, fog-horn… Emotions : How does …
Topics to explore : The surname McLeod, duffle bag, the Spanish town of Javea… What has the name Murdoch got to with gas? Words to explore : blankly, mutt, Mademoiselle, dread, kilter, bobbled, natty, Imbecile… Emotions : How does Mrs Murdoch feel when Angus becomes angry at Jenny’s disappearance? Summarise the chapter in a few …
Topics to explore : North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Barra… What is a timetable? ‘Don’t tar them all with the same brush’ – what does that mean ? Words to explore : agitated, hem, effortlessly, flutter, porthole, gurgle… Emotions : How did Windy feel when Jenny asked for a lift in his car? Summarise the …
Topics to explore : The Giant Skua, Gaelic, what children’s programme had the character ‘Windy Miller’? ‘Don’t tar them all with the same brush’ – what does that mean ? Words to explore : purser, inlet, religious, turbines, impact, cringed… Emotions : How did Jenny feel when Pavel confronted Windy about the dangers of Wind …
Topics to explore : Ferries around Scotland, Tarbert and it meaning in Gaelic. What is an abbreviation? What is the word ‘Rep’ short for? Words to explore : Tarmac, lochen, contours, lolling, rickety, strewn, Emotions : How does Jenny feel when Pavel refers to her as Jean? Summarise the chapter in a few sentences, draw …