activity pack mini book club

Activity Pack Mini Book Club

Charity number 1185409Copyright © 2021 Book Clubs in Schools

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1 Both Imtiaz and Usha are worried about things happening in their lives. Draw a picture of each of them with some thought bubbles around them. Write in what their worries are.

3 Usha and Imtiaz think they are quite different, but they also have a lot in common. Write a list of everything you know so far about each of them. Use one colour to underline their differences and a different colour to underline their similarities.

1 Why is Imtiaz worried about moving to her new family? What advice would you give her?

2 What is The Hearth? Why do some people object to it being there? Who do you think is right?

4 Do Usha and Imtiaz get off to a good start? How do you think they might resolve their differences?

Questions to think about

Activities

About the Autho

r

Visit Sita’s website at

www.sitabrahmachari.com

Look up her other books online.

Which one looks most interesting?

Which cover do you like the best?

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When Secrets Set Sailby Sita Brahmachari

Read Pages 1-751

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Week 1

Sita Brahmachari

writes children’s and YA novels and short stories. Her first novel, Artichoke Hearts, won the

Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. She is an Amnesty International Ambassador and is the Writer In Residence at Islington Centre for

Refugees and Migrants. She lives in London with her

family.


3 Do you believe in ghosts? Why do you think Kali Ma was haunted by one? Why can only Usha see Kali Ma’s ghost?

2 Imtiaz knows the story of her being found from a newspaper article. Imagine you are a journalist writing an article about the protestors outside The Hearth and write an article about it. What will your headline be? Who will you interiew? What pictures will you use?

http://www.sitabrahmachari.com

Week 1 - Explore Your Local History

Charity number 1185409

Y7

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BExplore your local area. Can you find a building that you think might have an interesting history? Who do you think might have lived there or what do you think the building was used for in the past? What clues are there? Pick one or more of these activities:

• Take some photos and look on the internet for old pictures, or draw the building and explain why you think it is interesting.

• Write about or draw the people who might have lived or worked there - is it named after anyone?

• Pick a date and write a diary entry for someone who lived there.

Copyright © 2021 Book Clubs in Schools

1 Look back in the book - what advice do the adults give Imtiaz and Usha about dealing with the changes in their lives? What advice would you give Imtiaz and Usha? Write out a list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’.

3 Usha starts writing a diary about everything that is happening to her and how she is feeling. Imagine you are one of the other characters in the book and write their diary entry. How does the story look so far from their perspective? How do they feel? What might they say in a diary that they wouldn’t say to anyone else?

1 Delyse tells Imtiaz to “Give it another go. Be the bigger person.” (p79) What does she mean by that and is it good advice?

3 How does Usha try to get Imtiaz to believe her about Kali Ma? Would you have believed Usha?

2 What is the connection between Imitaz and Spirit - why do you think the cat seems to like her?


Activities

Get out and abo

ut

Why not try geocaching - a free worldwide outdoor treasure hunting game. Find out more here:

www.gagb.org.uk

For help planning where to go, try these sites:

www.sustrans.org.uk

www.gov.uk/find-your-local-park

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Read Pages 76-1351

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Week 2

Usha and Imtiaz use their tandem to

get around and explore their local area.

Where could you go on your bike, scooter or skateboard? Are there any parks near where you live or

good places to go for a walk?

See if you can encourage your friends or family to come out

with you too.


4 Why do you think the other ghosts are there? Who are they? Why can Khalid see them, but not any of the adults?

2 Imtiaz thinks Spirit turns into Lucky’s ghost. What animal do you think your ghost would appear as? Describe what it looks like or draw a picture of it.?

https://www.gagb.org.uk/what-is-geocaching.php#gsc.tab=0

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/national-cycle-network

https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-park

Week 2 - Design Your Own Space


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BUsha and Imtiaz’s bedroom and the deck outside have an amazing design. What would your dream bedroom or outside space look like? Make some drawings showing the layout and what would be included:

• Would there be a theme to your room or outside space? • What would you like to be able to do in the space?• Can you make a three dimensional model? Use items from your recycling to make it.


1 Imagine you have been asked to set up a museum - what kind of museum would it be? • What would you be most interested

in seeing in a museum?

• What kind of exhibits would you include?

• What would the name of your museum be?

• Who would you want to visit?

1 Who is Cosmo and why can he see Lucky? Why is his family part of the history of the local area?

3 Kali Ma recalls her experiences of racism when she was growing up. In what ways do you think her experience would be different if she were growing up now?

2 What is an Ayah and why did some Ayahs live in Usha and Imtiaz’s house? What do they find out at the library?


Activities

Libraries and Museum

s

Here are some websites where you find

more information about local museums

www.museums.co.uk

www.visitbritain.com

To find your local library

www.gov.uk/local-library-services

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Read Pages 136-205 1

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4

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Week 3

Why not go out and visit your local

library or museum? Libraries are not only a great place to find books, but also many lend DVDs and have computers you can use.

Do some research and find out about any museums that are near

you. Many are free or have discounted tickets for

local residents.


4 Why is Professor Devi so interested in Imtiaz’s story? Why does she decide to trust Imtiaz? Do you trust Professor Devi?

2 Talk to an older relative or carer about your family history. • How were things different when

they were a child?

• What do they know about their grandparents?

• Are there any traditions or activities from the past that you wish could be back?

• Can they tell you anything about how the local area has changed?

http://www.museums.co.uk

https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/culture/museums-and-galleries

http://www.gov.uk/local-library-services

Week 3 - Secrets


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BKali Ma left a secret message in the promise book. She wrote it in a very simple code writing the words backwards. Can you write a secret message? Pick one or more of these activities to try:

Invisible ink - try using lemon juice to write with. It should be invisible when it dries, but if you leave the paper in bright sunlight the message will appear.Mirror writing - write in reverse so when you view the writing in a mirror it becomes legible. Writing in code - can you make up your own code for secret messages? Try it out on your friends or family.

Imagine that you wanted to leave a message hidden in your house for someone to read in 100 years. What would you tell them? Where would you hide it?


1 What do you think about the book?• Did you enjoy the book? Would you

recommend it?

• Who is your favourite character and why?

• Which part of the story did you enjoy the most?

• Is there anything that puzzles you about the story?

• Which three words would you use to sum up what this book is about?

3 What would you like to ask the author about the book? Note down three questions you would like to ask.

1 How have Imtiaz and Usha managed to set Lakshmi free? How do you feel about the way she was treated?

3 There are lots of different types of family in this book - what does family mean to you? What is most important?

2 Who was Saraswati Wilmington and what was her place in the family and what did she do?


Activities

Finding your way

Plan your route to school next year.

What is the quickest way to get

there?

When will you need to leave home?

If you are unsure about doing it,

can you ask someone to practise

with you?

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Read Pages 206-278 1

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Week 4

Imtiaz and Usha have to look up

how to find places on a map and work out their route and

transport choices. How well do you know how to get around your local area? Do you kow how to find out

about buses or trains or how long it takes to get somewhere?

Try some of these to test your skills:

.


4 Why are the documents that the girls find in the safe so important that they make Tanvi’s hands tremble?

2 Was the story what you expected? What did you guess would happen? What were you right about and how was it different?.

Week 4 - Scavenger Hunt


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BHow many of these can you find? Take a photo or write down what they are and where you found them:

• An old building that is now used for something different• An old building that is still used as first intended• An old post box• A shop sign from the past• A memorial plaque or statue• A road name with an historical link• Anything else with an interesting history


Word search


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BSee if you can find these words from the book.

ANCESTORS

ANCHOR

AYAH

BARGE

BENCH

BOAT

BOOK CLUB

CANAL

CLOSURE

COMMUNITY

CONCH

COSMO

DECK

EMBROIDERY

FAMILY

FLOAT

FREE

GHOST

HISTORY

IMTIAZ

KALIGHAT

KALI MA

LIBRARY

LIDO

LUCKY

MESSAGE

MUSEUM

NEWSPAPER

PAINTING

PASSPORT

PHOTOGRAPH

POMEGRANATE

PRAYER BOX

PROFESSOR

N F S J H Y I P E T D B F I P D T S A B P W M B BC F V X S C S L M J D N D S C K S L E R X A E X RX M D M C C N U Y Q N E H D L L G C O C M S D Z EC O N C H A O E S M E I C X N I U M M C R F N T MY K Z L O N K M B Z P R I M T K I C E C R E A Q UT A A H O A T U L A B E U C O S M O K E A N T X SI L Y J L L S U I Q R E R S E G R C E Y A I I S EN I A R O H C N A R K H H H O H H F X R C C F J UU G H F P H T G L F E B H C G L H V G N P W Y G MM H S Y M I M I Q J F V X N J P C E W K A L I M AM A A X N A B T A O L F I A A K M T R O P S S A PO T I G O R V G U V T M L R L O R E P A P S W E NC B L E A B E Q W K M T G I P O M J T U Y C S Y RU U H R G L R E A I A O H W D M J E E G U F E R OG L Y D A R X E W T T Y R E U O A Y M C R C L Z SZ C N H E X A S Y O R K L S H N L O H E Q W V Z SY K W R Y L E B H A I P Y I C E D V G H O S T E EB O A E C A M P B J R U H E M X A A T Z G M A H FD O K K A H L K K Z A P S I Y A S R U R E S G I OJ B U J Q S I T A N S T H V S S F U T H C H R U RC H L O N U I I G Y O R T Q E T I R A H D X B P PK T Q Z D V T R Q R N O O M L K O C I G L E R N OX A R M Y M B I S A R A S W A T I R T E P Z C J XR Y B D I O B P E M B R O I D E R Y Y T A O B K ZZ P U O I V O S E I F E N F G P H B H K K C C I E

PROMISE

REFUGEE

RIVER

SAIL

SARASWATI

SARI

SCHOOL

SECRETS

SHIP

SPIRIT

SUMMER

SWIMMING

TANDEM

THE HEARTH

USHA

WHALE

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