Diving for the Brick ​


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I stood on the pool's edge, shivering in the cold, rain drizzling down. Mr. Gatenby, arms folded, barked instructions at the class. The new outdoor swimming pool, our school's pride, awaited its reluctant visitors. Dread consumed me every Friday morning. My chest tightened, and asthma's rasp took hold. Mr. Gatenby, in his tracksuit and pumps, seemed immune to the discomfort that plagued us. “Please, not me,” I silently begged. 

As he held a brick aloft, my anxiety mounted. “Dive down, grab it, and swim up,” he ordered, searching for a volunteer. The queue shifted uncomfortably. I avoided eye contact, fearing the inevitable spotlight. Mr. Gatenby's gaze landed on me. “You!” he commanded, pointing. Feeble and small, I had no choice but to obey. The brick plunged into the water, creating ripples that echoed through the pool. 

Standing on the edge, my heart pounded. I jumped, legs first, into the chilling water. The cold shock halted the world. Mr. Gatenby's shouts urged me to dive down. I leaned forward, peering through the water at the brick's silhouette. Without much thought, I plunged, eyes open, kicking fiercely. Deeper I sank, the world above fading to distant echoes. My chest tightened; my heart raced. The water pressed in, colder and darker with every passing moment. Yet, my focus remained on the elusive brick. 

My hand grazed its rough surface. Kicking one last time, I grasped it and began the ascent. Legs fluttering weakly, I pushed against the weight of the brick. Bubbles surrounded me as I broke the surface, gasping for air. Hands reached down, pulling me out like a lifeless fish. Hunched over, clutching the brick, I coughed and wheezed, the class cheering and patting my back. Amidst the chaos, a silence fell as everyone turned their accusing eyes toward the other side of the pool. 

Curiosity led me to gaze up. Through a sea of legs, Mr. Gatenby stood alone, arms folded, looking back at us. In that moment, I noticed the loneliness etched on his face. 
 
Tool 1 – Link the way a character feels with their actions 
Tool 2 – Show character development – how they feel at the start and the end of the story 
Tool 3- Use Dialogue to
                               - move the plot forward
                               - give information about the character (to the reader)
 
 
 

Task 1

Learning Intention: 

  • Introduction to model text
Success Criteria:

  • Rehearse text orally 
  • Analyse vocabulary

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Learning Intention:  Introduction to model text
Success Criteria:
  • Rehearse text orally 
  • Answer literal and inferential comprehension questions from the text

Task 5

Learning Intention: 
Introduction to model text

Success Criteria:
  • Rehearse text orally 
  • Analyse text features