This is our model answer. Your notes might be different.

1. I would definitely read Roald Dahl's Chairlie and the Chocolate Works with my class. We are learning about generosity and kindness as part of the social aspect of the curriculum so the themes from this book are really appropriate. Even though my class is older than the pupils in the audience during Matthew Fitt’s reading, I think we could use Dahl’s text as the starting point for a more general discussion of these topics and then move on to engage with the Scots language aspects, too.

2. I don't feel particularly confident in my reading abilities in Scots, but I would either find an audio version or since I have several good Scots speakers in my class, I would divide the text up and ask learners to read. However, I think this is a great opportunity to teach my class reading/reading aloud in Scots. We could use an audio recording as an example to mimic, or the pupils who are more fluent speakers can support others in learning the right pronunciation. Note: The speaking activities in the Open University Scots Language and Culture course also offer useful strategies for speaking practice, which you can adopt in your own teaching context. For example, see the reading aloud practice in Unit 13, Activity 5.

3. As well as the action game which was used as a warm-up in the video, a word wall is a great idea alongside The Hot Seat game to learn new words. However, sometimes I teach secondary pupils who are quite advanced and I feel that it would be more appropriate to use a Freewrite warm-up with them.

4. One of the best aspects of Roald Dahl's work was the characters that he created and therefore I would probably concentrate on this aspect for writing. In more advanced Scots writers, I might change the narrative point of view to explore character in greater depth. I think that Violet would make a really interesting narrator! Otherwise, I would ask my class to think of another Scots character who was either very good or very nasty and selfish like the children in the story. Although drawing around someone lying on a sheet of paper is an old idea, it is very effective, and I would get the class to work in pairs with physical description outside the outline and emotion inside. The Scots Emoji Dictionar (Dempster, 2019) is a great way to teach different words to explain emotions so I would definitely use this. Once learners have a good idea of their character, they could take turns to interview them in role which helps verbalise description to aid the writing process.

5. I would devise a 'Take hame' sheet for the children to complete with respect to the Scots they have learned through the creative writing lesson. I would also add links of interest such as the Scots Language Centre or Scottish Book Trust which has further learning activities to do at home. I would also consider showcasing some stories around the school for the forthcoming open afternoon and mention what we have been doing on the class social media.