TTO2-ENA-2024/2025 - Julia and the Shark

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

This Lesson 1 is designed specifically for 2 vwo/gymnasium (B1/B2). At this level, we move beyond simple plot summaries and focus on Visual Literacy and Concept Analysis.

The goal of this lesson is to "hook" the students using the unique aesthetic of the book and to introduce the central CLIL concept: The Binary.

Lesson 1: The Binary Lighthouse

Time: 45 Minutes

CLIL Components: * Content: Introduction to the setting (Shetland) and the concept of "Binary" systems.

Cognition: Predicting and Hypothesizing (Developing "Thinking Skills").

Communication: Using descriptive adjectives to compare contrasting environments.

JatS introduction/lesson 1

Task: write down 3 ADJECTIVES to describe the "vibe" of the image.

CLIL Scaffold: Provide a "Spectrum Scale" on the board:

Safe <-----------> Dangerous

Scientific <-----------> Magical

Loud <-----------> Silent

SNOWBALL FIGHT!

Activity: Use the map from your PowerPoint. Trace the journey from Cornwall to Shetland.

Discussion: Why move to a lighthouse?

Input: Read page 5 aloud (or have them read it silently).

Key Quote: "I could see why so many stories were set in lighthouses. It’s a good place for adventures.".

the journey from Cornwall to Shetland.

Cognition: Defining the "Binary" (15 mins)

Task: Julia defines "binary" on page 5 as a system of two parts (0 and 1).

Brainstorming: In pairs, students find "Binary Pairs" in the room or in nature (e.g., On/Off, Day/Night, Land/Sea).

Application: Look at the book’s colour palette (Yellow/Black). How is this a "binary" choice by the illustrator?

B2 Language Goal: Use the structure: "While [Element A] represents [Idea 1], [Element B] suggests [Idea 2]."

Example: "While the yellow represents the light of the lighthouse, the black suggests the secrets of the deep ocean."

Communication: The "First Impressions" Essay Prep (10 mins)

Since the final outcome is a three-paragraph essay, we start practicing the Introductory Paragraph today.

Writing Task: Write 3 sentences introducing the book.

Sentence 1: Title and Author.

Sentence 2: The setting (Shetland/Lighthouse).

Sentence 3: The main conflict (The search for the Shark).

Peer Check: Swap sentences. Did your partner use capital letters for names? Did they use an interesting adjective for the shark (e.g., elusive, ancient, mysterious)?

Closing & Homework (5 mins)

Reading Check Preview: Tell students that next week there will be a "3-Minute Entrance Slip" about Julia's first night in the lighthouse.

Homework: Read up to page 27 (Chapter 3).

Bonus Challenge: Find one object in your house that is "Binary" and be ready to explain why.

Teacher’s CLIL Checklist for Lesson 1

Did I translate? No—use the "Binary" concept to explain the English vocabulary.

Is it vwo level? Yes—by focusing on the metaphor of the lighthouse rather than just the plot.

Is the artwork integrated? Yes—the discussion on the black/yellow palette links the Art subject to the English subject.

www.bbc.com

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37047168#:~:text=Greenland%20sharks%20are%20huge%20beasts,waters%20of%20the%20North%20Atlantic.

About the creators

Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston met in 2009, when Kiran was

a student and Tom was artist-in-residence at Cambridge University. They have been a

couple and collaborators ever since, but Julia and the Shark is their first novel. 

About the creators

 Kiran is

the award-winning, bestselling author of novels including The Girl of Ink & Stars, The

Way Past Winter, and The Deathless Girls, and Tom is making his illustrative debut,

having worked as an acclaimed artist for many years.

This is the route from Hayle, Cornwall 

through the to the Shetland Islands.

Homework next Albion lesson

Read until p. 60

Write down at least 5 sentences per chapter as a summary.

Write down at least 5 new/challenging words (and their Dutch translation.

New vocabulary

In random groups of four, compare your five words and look for overlaps. 

Each group chooses 5 of the most challenging/new/interesting words and writes definitions in your own words.

Swap your words and definitions with another group, who must match them correctly.

You will be compiling your own word list.

Chapter 1

1. Why is Julia’s family moving to a remote island for the summer?

2. How does Julia know so much about sea creatures?

3. What is the name of Julia's pet, and what kind of animal is it?

Chapter 1

1. Why is Julia’s family moving to a remote island for the summer?

They are moving because Julia's mother, who is a scientist, got a grant to study the Greenland shark, and her father is going to automate the island's lighthouse.

2. How does Julia know so much about sea creatures?

Her mother studied things in the sea and talked about them a lot with her.

3. What is the name of Julia's pet, and what kind of animal is it?

A cat named Noodle.

Chapter 2

1. Why didn't Julia want to stand near Dad?

2. How does Julia feel about her new home? How do you know?

Chapter 2

1. Why did Julia want to stand near Dad?

She was embarrassed by all the stretching he was doing, and so she didn't want anyone to see her next to him.

2. How does Julia feel about her new home? How do you know?

She isn't happy about the idea. She reminded herself that it was just for summer.

Chapter 2

1. How does Julia’s mother behave when they first get to their new home?

2. Describe the weather and the environment when the family arrives at the island.

Chapter 2

1. How does Julia’s mother behave when they first get to their new home?

She is full of energy, highly enthusiastic, and deeply focused on setting up her research equipment immediately.

2. Describe the weather and the environment when the family arrives at the island.

The weather is cold, windy, and grey. The island feels very isolated, wild, and surrounded by a rough sea.

Chapter 3

1. Why is the Greenland shark so special to Julia’s mother?

2. What is the name of the local boy Julia meets near the harbour?

Chapter 3

1. Why is the Greenland shark so special to Julia’s mother?

Because it is one of the oldest living creatures on Earth (it can live for hundreds of years) and it holds secrets to long life.

2. What is the name of the local boy Julia meets near the harbour?

His name is Kin.

Lighthouse

What do you think would be the best and worst things about living in a lighthouse?

Give reasons for your answer.

Best:

Worst:

Next lesson(s)...

students bring more words

show list previous lesson

research themes of the book

start giving info on writing/scaffolding etc.

graphic organiser?

writing test: word list, narrative tenses(?), structure 200-word essay

What has happened so far? Chapter 1 - 11 (incl.)

Compare your "5-sentences summaries" and improve on your own work.

After 5 minutes 

you should be able

to read out your summaries

1. Family

The novel focuses heavily on the changing dynamics of Julia’s family.

The Bond: At the start, they are a tight-knit trio. Julia loves both her parents, but she often feels caught between them.

The Strain: As the story progresses, her mother’s obsession with the shark and her father’s exhausting work on the lighthouse put a massive strain on the family. Julia often feels invisible or forgotten because her parents are so consumed by their own tasks.

The Realization: Ultimately, the book shows that family means sticking together and supporting each other, even when things become incredibly difficult and scary.

2. Friendship

Friendship acts as Julia’s anchor while her home life feels unstable.

Long-Distance Loss: At first, Julia misses her best friend Miwako, showing how hard it is to maintain a connection when you are physically separated.

Finding Kin: When Julia meets Kin, their friendship develops naturally through shared curiosity. They are both "outsiders" on the island.

Mutual Support: Kin gives Julia a safe space away from her parents' stressful energy, and Julia gives Kin the courage to stand up to local bullies. Their friendship proves that true friends accept you exactly as you are.

3. Mental Health

This is perhaps the most profound theme in the book, explored through Julia’s mother.

The Highs and Lows: Julia’s mother experiences severe bipolar disorder (though it is described through Julia's eyes rather than labeled immediately). She has periods of intense, frantic energy (mania) where she doesn't sleep and works non-stop, followed by deep valleys of depression where she cannot get out of bed.

The Impact on Julia: The book masterfully shows how a parent's mental illness affects a child. Julia feels responsible for her mother's happiness and confuses her mother’s illness with a lack of love, leading to a powerful climax about understanding and healing.

4. Racism

Though a quieter theme, racism is addressed directly through the character of Kin.

The Bullying: Kin is of mixed heritage, and some of the local children on the island target him with racist bullying and exclusion.

The Reality of Small Communities: The book highlights how isolation can sometimes breed ignorance.

Julia's Stance: Julia’s immediate rejection of this behavior reinforces the theme that standing up against prejudice is vital, helping Kin feel seen and valued in a community that tries to push him away.

5. The Environment

The setting of the island isn't just a background; it is a living character.

The Power of Nature: The book emphasizes the raw, untamed, and sometimes dangerous power of the natural world. The weather mirrors the characters' internal emotions (stormy seas reflect stormy minds).

Respect vs. Control: The story teaches us that humans cannot control nature. Julia's mother tries to force the ocean to give up the shark, but nature operates on its own time.

6. Marine Biology

Marine biology serves as both the plot engine and a giant metaphor.

The Greenland Shark: The search for the Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark) drives the entire narrative. The book introduces real scientific facts: they live for centuries, swim in deep, dark waters, and move incredibly slowly.

The Metaphor: The shark represents the "deep, dark, hidden things" in life—specifically mental illness and the unknown. Just like the shark lives in the dark depths of the ocean, the mother's depression is a dark place that is hard to reach. To understand both, one needs patience, respect, and light.

Next ENA lesson

Homework is to read up to p.59

Chapter 4-5-6

Take brief notes of what happened in each chapter.

Write down at least 5 new/difficult words AND their translations.

Welcome back! ch x-x

Comprehension

Chapter 4

Why do you think people stopped and looked at Julia and her mother in town?

Chapter 5

Why is Mum looking for the Greenland shark?

Comprehension

Chapter 4

They stopped and looked because everyone knew everyone else, so they wanted to see who the new people were.

Chapter 5

She is researching them because some scientists believe the answers to what causes Greenland sharks to move so slowly might help with medical research.

What are (character) traits?

Talk to your neighbour.

Stay in English!

Use:

I think it means....

Could it mean...?

It might mean...

What are (character) traits?

Character traits are a combination of the different qualities that define a character, such as thoughts, feelings, personality, and the choices they make.

Can you think of any positive or negative traits?

Positive Character Traits

Loyal

Generous

Kind

Sincere

Persistent

Open-minded

Brave

Negative Character Traits

Dishonest

Disloyal

Mean

Jealous

Cruel

Greedy

Impatient

Next ENA lesson

Homework is to read up to p. 98

Take brief notes of what happened in each chapter.

Welcome back! ch. x-11

English Albion Worksheet

Julia and the Shark

p.4 Endangered sharks

p.6 Two

p.8 Five

Writing assignment (grade)

Week 11 preparation & writing

week 13 finish writing

Next ENA lesson

Homework is to read up to p. 152

Take brief notes of what happened in each chapter.

Julia and the Shark

p.4 Endangered sharks

p.6 Two

p.8 Five

Welcome back! ch. 11-16

Comprehension

Chapter 14

What can happen to Mum when she gets too happy?

What does Dad think Mum needs to do?

Chapter 16

Why is Julia determined to find the shark?

Why does Julia think the shark will be easy to find?

Comprehension

Chapter 14

She gets too tired and then she gets sad.

He thinks Mum needs to spend more time with Julia.

Chapter 16

She thought if she found the shark it would make Mum better.

She had the coordinates for where it was, and Greenland Sharks move very slowly.

The writing assignment

Start with an introduction.

Then mention ALL of the elements for your specific theme.

Answer the final question: ‘What is your opinion about the book?’

I think, in my opinion, I believe that, to be honest, I recommend this book because, etc.

Please write approximately 200 words.

You have one lesson to prepare and one lesson to write your final piece and hand in your work.

Theme 1

Have a look at page 113 in which Julia is looking at the murmuration of

starlings. How does this image compare to the image on page 130?

What has changed? How would you describe how Julia feels at this moment? How is this different to how she felt before? 

What are your thoughts about the final line of the book? How would you describe how Julia is feeling on page 194-195?

Finally: What is your opinion about the book? Write at least 5 sentences.

Theme 2

On page 5, Julia gives a definition of the word ‘binary’. 

There are many contrasting pairs in the book including sea/sky, dark/light, words/numbers. 

Can you think of any more from the book? How do the characters move between these opposites throughout the story?

Finally: What is your opinion about the book? Write at least 5 sentences.

Theme 3

Look back at all the illustrations in the book. Which ones are your favourites and why? 

How would the experience of reading the book have been different without the illustrations? Explain in your own words.

Do you have any questions you would like to ask Tom de Freston about the process of illustrating the book? Or Kiran Millwood Hargrave about the story she has written? Formulate 5 appropriate questions.

Finally: What is your opinion about the book? Write at least 5 sentences.

Theme 4

On page 18, Julia says, ‘I could see why so many stories were set in lighthouses. It’s a good place for adventures.’ Who do you think the next occupant of Uffle-Gent lighthouse might be? Why might they be there? 

Write a story of your own set in the lighthouse. Will your main character find what they are looking for … or will they find what they need?

Finally: What is your opinion about the book? Write at least 5 sentences.

Practice writing

Copy this information

1. Choose one picture

2. write a short essay 75 words

(think about the "hamburger")

3. Add a word count

Murmuration

Lighthouse

Practice writing

4. Give your piece of writing to a classmate to check

5. They check 

interpunction

intro - main body - conclusion

spelling

grammar

Chapter 4

 What are the three main events?

(What happens in this chapter.)

Talk to your neighbour.