The Wonder

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Daniel is having a terrible day. From the rain that tumbles down from the dark, grey skies to the puddles that soak his shoes, Daniel’s convinced that nothing will lift his mood. But everything changes when he hears the sweet, delicate sound of music, barely audible beneath the rain. Perhaps, if he looks carefully enough, Daniel might find that there are moments of joy and wonder that can brighten even the darkest of days…

English:

• Look at the front cover of the book. What do you think it might be about? What is ‘the Wonder’?
• Daniel starts the story in a TERRIBLE mood. Can you think of synonyms for ‘terrible’?
• Think of some speech / thought bubbles to add to the illustrations.
• Make a list of different ‘feelings’ words and sort them into groups.
• Write descriptions of Daniel’s feelings at the start and end of the story.
• Retell the story in the form of a diary entry from Daniel’s point of view.

Maths:

• Create a timeline showing the main events in the story.

Computing:

• Create an animation that shows the character’s facial expressions changing.
• Create a multimedia presentation or video that shares different moments of ‘wonder’ you have experienced.
• Take photographs and experiment with filters to change them from monochrome to colourful images and vice versa.

Design Technology:

• Create pop‑up book pages inspired by scenes from this story.

Art:

• How does the author / illustrator use colour to show emotions in the illustrations? Can you use this technique in your own artwork?
• Create a series of illustrations that show the transition from a monochrome to a colourful landscape.
• Look at the illustrations of the characters’ faces. What emotions do they show? Can you draw pictures of people showing different feelings?

Music:

• Compose melodies that represent different emotions.
• The musicians play some music that changes how Daniel feels. Can you compose a song that might change a person’s emotions?
• Compose a soundscape for the grey world and another for the imaginative world.

Geography:

• Draw a map that shows the locations in the story. Add labels, captions or illustrations to show what happened in each place.

Religious Education:

• Explore the idea of “wonder” and awe in different faiths and worldviews.

Languages:

• Make a list of emotions and translate them into other languages.

PSHE:

• When was the last time you felt like the day was going to be a ‘bad’ day? What happened?
• How could you help somebody who seems to be having a ‘bad day’?
• Make a list of some special, unique and wonderful things that you have seen. How did they make you feel? Sort them into ‘big and dramatic’ and ‘small and quiet’ things.
• Think of ways you might be able to share ‘the wonder’ with others.
• Create a class “Wonder Wall” where children share what inspires them.