Year 8 Summer Reading Challenge

Mortal Chaos

The tasks in this challenge accompany your reading of Matt Dickinson’s Mortal Chaos. The activities are varied and will help you gain a better understanding of the book you are reading. You can do all of the tasks alone, or you can do some with friends or family. The reading may be challenging, so remember this is a summer reading challenge – it is not meant to be easy! Go that extra mile, think of yourself as Kuni, the Japanese climber in Mortal Chaos, who challenges herself to reach the summit of Everest – go for it!

Main activities

‘Chaos Map’: create a visual map of all of the characters and how they are connected to each other.

Glossary: as you read the book add new words to your glossary after each chapter. You can find words in a dictionary; from an online dictionary or dictionary app. Words from chapter one have already been added. Please click here to download the glossary.

TASKS - Chapter by chapter

2	Who is the more competitive jockey, Gary or Keiron and why?	Think – Discuss – Prove it
3	Select three features about the rabbit	Select evidence - Quotes
4	Add the jockeys and the rabbit to your chaos map	Chaos map
5	Tachycardia: use this word in your own sentence	Glossary – creative writing
7	Everest: who was the first man to reach the summit? Who was the first woman to reach the summit? How tall is the mountain? Think of your own research questions.	Research
8	First impressions: Mike Sampson, racehorse owner.	Think – Discuss –Prove it
10	First impressions: Will, 13 year old boy.	Think – Discuss –Prove it
12	Guess what secret Will has; what do you think he will show Jamie?	Prediction
13	What do you know about Tina so far? Select three features about her.	Select evidence - Quotes
14	What are Will and Jamie going to do? Who will be affected?	Prediction
15	Add Kuni to your chaos map.	Chaos map
17	What equipment do solo climbers need to carry with them if they are to climb Everest? What type of food do they eat?	Research
18	Find three facts about deer.	Research
20	Add Will and Jamie and Mike Sampson to your chaos map.	Chaos map
22	Add Tina to your chaos map.	Chaos map
23	Can your find any similarities between Dean and Ren (chapter 22)?	Think – Discuss –Prove it
25	Draw a map of Africa and pinpoint Malawi. Find some interesting facts about this country.	Research
27	*Imagine if Beaumont Boy’s* odds were 7:1 Mazarine Town’s odds were 16:1 How much money would Dean win if he placed a bet of £25 to win for each horse?**	Numeracy challenge!
29	First impressions: Maria Coster.	Think – Discuss –Prove it
33	Add Kev Grupper, Maria Coster and Bakili to your chaos map.	Chaos map
35	Add Dean to your chaos map.	Chaos map
36	Research life in Malawi. Write a ‘day in the life of…’ to reveal your research creatively.	Research and creative writing
38	First impressions: Shelton Marriner. Explain what he is planning.	Research and prediction
39	Baboon packs: research this topic, watch the clip and discuss how this links to Bakili. http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/human-planet/videos/gelada-baboon-attack.htm	Watch and discuss
43	Would you let Mazarine Town race if it was your decision?	Discuss
44	Add Kamuzu to your chaos map.	Chaos map
48	Imagine Kuni was able to reach her father Ren. Write out their conversation.	Creative writing
50	First impressions: Calder Lawton.	Think – Discuss –Prove it
53	http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23063479 Go to this link to find out more about using mobiles on flights. How might this news have affected Ren?	Read - Think – Discuss
60	Add Martin (Tina’s husband) to your chaos map?	Chaos map
64	What do you think is going to happen to Will and Jamie?	Prediction
68	Add Mike Vines to your chaos map.	Chaos map
73	Research the work done by Flying Doctors.	Research
78	If you were Calder Lawton, would you help?	Think - Discuss
86	If you were Tina, what would you do, pick up the phone?	Think - Discuss
92	Fact file: avalanches. Find some interesting facts about how and why avalanches happen.	Research
101	If you were one of the German climbers, what would you do?	Think – Discuss
113	Who do you blame for Mazarine Town’s injury?	Think – Discuss –Prove it
122	Refer also to chapter 119, what do you think about Dean’s actions?	Think – Discuss –Prove it
141	Add Dean to your chaos map.	Chaos map
148	Why do you think Calder is able to assist Tina so well?	Think – Discuss –Prove it
176	Add Shelton Marriner to your chaos map.	Chaos map
186	Make links between the characters Will, Jamie and Tina on your chaos map.	Chaos map
189	Link the rabbit to your chaos map.	Chaos map

Highlighting

There are many characters in this book, to keep track of them all colour code the chapters according to characters. Highlight interesting ideas or facts. You can annotate your book. Label your thoughts and questions as and when they spring to mind.