Suggestions for use: Assign the listening activity as a homework exercise to re-cap on reading material for next lesson.

Suggestions for use: As a pre-reading activity, students should be taught the characteristics of an effective novel opening (listed on worksheet). They should then read chapter 1 of the novel 'Once'. It would be good have a general class or small group discussion to see whether or not students can identify the opening characteristics in the first chapter of the novel. Then the individual students should write down examples of each characteristic identified in the chapter.

Suggestions for use: The worksheet contains three statements which identify important themes and messages in the novel 'Once'. Students should firstly discuss each of the messages in small groups and write a paragraph on the theme/message based on their discussion.

Suggestions for use: Download worksheet to incorporate into your lesson.

Suggestions for use: Download worksheet to incorporate into your lesson.

Suggestions for use: Download worksheet to incorporate into your lesson.

Suggestions for use: I have found it useful to project this mind-map on to a whiteboard and fill in the examples using suggestions from students. This mind-map has been used with lower ability students in particular as it provides a simple overview of a main character.

Suggestions for use: This resource could be used as a plot summary to aid students with revision of the key moments of the novel. It could be made more interactive by cutting out the plot events, mixing them up and getting students to arrange the plot events in the correct order.

Suggestions for use: Contains a number of suggested resources and activities which teachers can use in teaching the novel 'Once', including discussion questions based on each chapter of the novel.

Suggestions for use: This clip could be used at the beginning of a lesson on the character of Felix in 'Once'. Teachers could show the clip, with particular emphasis on Gleitzman's discussion of the character of Felix in the second question of the clip, where Gleitzman refers to Felix's optimism in spite of the grim situation in which he finds himself. Teachers could ask students to identify in small groups examples of Felix's optimism in the novel and give feedback to the class.