Year 8 Summer Reading Challenge
Mortal Chaos
The tasks in this challenge accompany your reading of Matt Dickinson’s Mortal Chaos. The activities are varied and will help you gain a better understanding of the book you are reading. You can do all of the tasks alone, or you can do some with friends or family. The reading may be challenging, so remember this is a summer reading challenge – it is not meant to be easy! Go that extra mile, think of yourself as Kuni, the Japanese climber in Mortal Chaos, who challenges herself to reach the summit of Everest – go for it!
Main activities
‘Chaos Map’: create a visual map of all of the characters and how they are connected to each other.
Glossary: as you read the book add new words to your glossary after each chapter. You can find words in a dictionary; from an online dictionary or dictionary app. Words from chapter one have already been added. Please click here to download the glossary.
TASKS - Chapter by chapter
|
2 |
Who is the more competitive jockey, Gary or Keiron and why? |
Think – Discuss – Prove it |
|
3 |
Select three features about the rabbit |
Select evidence - Quotes |
|
4 |
Add the jockeys and the rabbit to your chaos map |
Chaos map |
|
5 |
Tachycardia: use this word in your own sentence |
Glossary – creative writing |
|
7 |
Everest: who was the first man to reach the summit? Who was the first woman to reach the summit? How tall is the mountain? Think of your own research questions. |
Research |
|
8 |
First impressions: Mike Sampson, racehorse owner. |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
10 |
First impressions: Will, 13 year old boy. |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
12 |
Guess what secret Will has; what do you think he will show Jamie? |
Prediction |
|
13 |
What do you know about Tina so far? Select three features about her. |
Select evidence - Quotes |
|
14 |
What are Will and Jamie going to do? Who will be affected? |
Prediction |
|
15 |
Add Kuni to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
17 |
What equipment do solo climbers need to carry with them if they are to climb Everest? What type of food do they eat? |
Research |
|
18 |
Find three facts about deer. |
Research |
|
20 |
Add Will and Jamie and Mike Sampson to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
22 |
Add Tina to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
23 |
Can your find any similarities between Dean and Ren (chapter 22)? |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
25 |
Draw a map of Africa and pinpoint Malawi. Find some interesting facts about this country. |
Research |
|
27 |
Imagine if Beaumont Boy’s odds were 7:1 Mazarine Town’s odds were 16:1 How much money would Dean win if he placed a bet of £25 to win for each horse? |
Numeracy challenge! |
|
29 |
First impressions: Maria Coster. |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
33 |
Add Kev Grupper, Maria Coster and Bakili to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
35 |
Add Dean to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
36 |
Research life in Malawi. Write a ‘day in the life of…’ to reveal your research creatively. |
Research and creative writing |
|
38 |
First impressions: Shelton Marriner. Explain what he is planning. |
Research and prediction |
|
39 |
Baboon packs: research this topic, watch the clip and discuss how this links to Bakili. http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/human-planet/videos/gelada-baboon-attack.htm
|
Watch and discuss |
|
43 |
Would you let Mazarine Town race if it was your decision? |
Discuss |
|
44 |
Add Kamuzu to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
48 |
Imagine Kuni was able to reach her father Ren. Write out their conversation. |
Creative writing |
|
50 |
First impressions: Calder Lawton. |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
53 |
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23063479 Go to this link to find out more about using mobiles on flights. How might this news have affected Ren? |
Read - Think – Discuss |
|
60 |
Add Martin (Tina’s husband) to your chaos map? |
Chaos map |
|
64 |
What do you think is going to happen to Will and Jamie? |
Prediction |
|
68 |
Add Mike Vines to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
73 |
Research the work done by Flying Doctors. |
Research |
|
78 |
If you were Calder Lawton, would you help? |
Think - Discuss |
|
86 |
If you were Tina, what would you do, pick up the phone? |
Think - Discuss |
|
92 |
Fact file: avalanches. Find some interesting facts about how and why avalanches happen. |
Research |
|
101 |
If you were one of the German climbers, what would you do? |
Think – Discuss |
|
113 |
Who do you blame for Mazarine Town’s injury? |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
122 |
Refer also to chapter 119, what do you think about Dean’s actions? |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
141 |
Add Dean to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
148 |
Why do you think Calder is able to assist Tina so well? |
Think – Discuss –Prove it |
|
176 |
Add Shelton Marriner to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
186 |
Make links between the characters Will, Jamie and Tina on your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
|
189 |
Link the rabbit to your chaos map. |
Chaos map |
Highlighting
There are many characters in this book, to keep track of them all colour code the chapters according to characters. Highlight interesting ideas or facts. You can annotate your book. Label your thoughts and questions as and when they spring to mind.
