Arthur finds a wooden chest in a dusty attic, and inside it a rolled-up map tied with a faded red ribbon. This four-page Year 5 English sheet uses that two-paragraph opening, The Mystery of the Attic Map, to practise word meaning, inference, summarising and prediction from the England National Curriculum reading comprehension objectives. It closes with a partner discussion. Answers for the Word Work matching are printed on the sheet.
Reading - comprehension
“Checking that the book makes sense to them, discussing their understanding and exploring the meaning of words in context”
Word Work asks pupils to pin down latch, parchment and intricate from how the passage uses them.
Reading - comprehension
“Drawing inferences such as inferring characters' feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions, and justifying inferences with evidence”
Questions 1 and 2 ask for Arthur's feelings and thoughts, backed by evidence from the text.
Reading - comprehension
“Predicting what might happen from details stated and implied”
Question 4 asks what Arthur will do next, using clues that are stated or implied.
Reading - comprehension
“Summarising the main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas”
Question 3 asks for one clear sentence that sums up both paragraphs.
Reading - comprehension
“Participate in discussions about books that are read to them and those they can read for themselves, building on their own and others' ideas and challenging views courteously”
The Discussion Challenge has partners share predictions and challenge each other's views courteously.
Reading - comprehension
“Provide reasoned justifications for their views.”
Pupils who disagree in the Discussion Challenge have to give a reason for their view.
Pupils read two short paragraphs in which Arthur lifts an iron latch in a locked attic and finds a map drawn in golden lines.
Pupils draw lines to match latch, parchment and intricate to their meanings.
Two questions ask how Arthur felt as he opened the chest and why he untied the knot carefully, with evidence from the text.
Pupils write one sentence summing up both paragraphs, then predict what Arthur does next from stated or implied clues. A Discussion Challenge has partners compare predictions and disagree politely.
Guided reading
Read the passage aloud with a group. Let pupils write their Detective Work answers before you talk through the evidence.
Talk partners
Stop after question 4 and run the Discussion Challenge, so pupils hear another prediction before they commit to their own.
Story writing hook
The passage stops as the map starts to hum with a warm energy. Ask pupils to write the next scene once they finish the prediction question.
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