Literacy homework – The Balaclava Story
This is a shortened version of the beginning of ‘The Balaclava Story’ by George Layton.
There was once a boy called George, who more than anything wanted a balaclava. If only he had one, then he could join the ‘Balaclava Boys’. But his mum refused to buy him one.
Whenever he was with his friends, they wouldn’t play with him. “You’re not a Balaclava Boy!” they taunted. “If you haven’t got one, you can’t join in.” He felt he was losing all his friends.
Later, George came out of class to wash his hands and found a balaclava on the floor, it was Norbert’s. Without thinking, he picked it up and tried to fit it in his pocket. It was too big, so he stuffed it down the sleeve of his coat. At that moment, he realised that what he had done was wrong!
Questions
- What dilemma is George facing?
- What do you think was going through George’s mind when he stole the balaclava?
- What do you think will happen next in the story? (Can he solve his problem?)
Can you leave a comment with your answers to the three questions?
1. What dilemma is George facing? – should he put the balaclava back where he found it on the toilet floor or should he keep it because he wants to join the balaclava boys?
2. What do you think was going through George’s mind when he stole the balaclava? –
what was he feeling like:
miserable
scared
ashamed
afraid
shivering
3.What do you think will happen next in the story? (Can he solve his problem?) –
I think that George will tell his mum and she will get him one and then they will go to the person who has left the balaclava and give it back to him and then he will join the BB’s and they will all have a very very happy ending.
Great thinking, do you think he might have had any positive thoughts as well? What did you think to the real ending of the story?
Miss Wood
What dilemma is George facing?
What do you think was going through George’s mind when he stole the balaclava?
What do you think will happen next in the story? (Can he solve his problem?)
1) George has two options, whether he should give the balaclava back or if he should keep it for himself.
2) I think he was thinking “I should keep the balaclava because then I can be in the balaclava boys group” but then afterwards he stopped and thought to himself that he is wrong, and he shouldn’t take the balaclava because it isn’t his and it belongs to his friend.
3) I think George is going to give the balaclava back to Norbert because George realised he was doing something bad and shouldn’t keep the balaclava for himself, and then maybe his friends might let him be in the balaclava boys without having a balaclava of his own, so his problem will be completely solved.
Well done! What did you think to the real ending of the story?
What dilemma is George facing?
George’s dilemma is that he stole a balclava from the floor and the options are should he give the balaclava back to Norbet or should he keep it and join the balaclava boys?
What do you think was going through George’s mind when he stole the balaclava?
He was feeling:
Ashamed
Confused
Terrified that he might get caught
Afraid
He might be shaking
He may be scared to join the balaclava boys in the first place because they might think he is different
Frightened
What do you think will happen next in the story? (Can he solve his problem?)
I personally believe that George might realise his mistake by thinking about all the bad things that had happend to him and might think that whatever it is you should always go for good. He might put the balaclava back because of this.After this he might be a normal boy and never think about the balaclava boys.
Well done! You thought of lots of negative emotions that George might be feeling, might he have any positive emotions at the same time? Good ideas about what might happen next, how would George carry on if all his friends are in the balaclava boys club?
Miss Wood
1. When George found the Balaclava he knew that keeping it would be wrong but he really wanted the Balaclava.
2.He thought that he might join the “Balaclava Boys”and play with his friends but on the other hand George understood that taking the Balaclava what belongs to Norbert was the wrong thing to do.
3. George might give back to Norbert his Balaclava and Norbert’s parents might get George one as well.
Super ideas! I like the idea that he might give it back to Norbet, why do you think Norbet’s parents might buy him one?
Miss Wood
I think that Norbet’s parents might buy George a Balaclava because they feel grateful for finding Norbet’s one.
That sounds like a good reason! Great thinking! What did you think to the real ending of the story?
Should he put the balaclava back where he found it? or should he keep it so he could have one?
He might get in trouble because the persons balaclava that he stole,that person might find out that his balaclava is gone then the teacher might find out that George stole it then he’ll get in trouble.
I think that he might go back to the place he found it so then he can put it back, so then then he would not have to worry about anything then he might tell his mum what happend then his mum will buy him a balaclava.
By hanzalah
Brilliant thinking! Why do you think his mum might buy him a balaclava?
Miss Wood
George is scared because he thinks he might get in trouble or somebody might see him steal the balaclava.What shall he do put it back or keep it so he is not the odd one out from all his class friends?
He might be thinking he is a thief because he stole the balaclava from the toilet floor.I think he should put the balaclava back where he found it and then he could ask his mum again if he could have one or he could ask his dad and then he might get it also stealing is the wrong think do do.Frightened, scared, ashamed, miserable, afraid and terribly sad for what he had done.
I think at home time he might replace the balaclava back to where it was because he might be really scared.
Great thoughts! You have thought of lots of negative emotions that George might be feeling. Might he have any positive feelings, and why might he feel positive after he had stolen the balaclava?
Miss Wood
What dilemma is George facing?
Should George put it back or on the other hand can he put it back?
Should he bring it to the teacher or use it to join the balaclava boys?
What do you think was going through George’s mind when he stole the balaclava?
His feelings like he would feel:
Ashamed
Miserable
Afraid
He might be shivering
Like everyone knows and then bullies him.
Really quiet and wont speak when the teachers ask him something.
What do you think will happen next in the story? ( Can he solve his problem?)
When he finds out it is home time he has a plan that he can wear his coat and when the balaclava comes out of his coat he will stand behind it so no one knows its him who had stolen the balaclava.
Brilliant ideas! I like your thoughts about what might happen next! Why might George want to keep the balaclava even though he knows stealing is wrong?
Miss Wood