KS2 RESOURCE PACK: The Puffin Keeper

What’s the story?

It was Benjamin Postlethwaite’s job all his long life to make sure the light shone brightly high up in the lighthouse on Puffin Island. Not once in all his years as the lighthouse keeper had he ever let his light go out. But sometimes even the brightest light on a lighthouse cannot save a ship. This is a story of a life-changing friendship, a lost puffin, and a lonely artist. It’s the story of an entire lifetime, and how one event can change a life forever.

This resource pack includes:

Four extracts from the story with supporting notes to enable teachers and librarians to help children explore themes of heroism, loneliness, friendship and family. Activities link with a variety of subjects including PSHE, Citizenship, Art, Design & Technology as well as literacy and creative writing. This pack would make an excellent set of resources to support using The Puffin Keeper for guided reading, as a class reader and for reader development.

EXTRACT 1: The Lighthouse Hero (taken from Chapter One)
Discuss the qualities that make someone a hero; paint a picture of an important person and memory.

EXTRACT 2: Loneliness (taken from Chapter Two)
Consider the issue of loneliness and how it makes you feel; use the text to come up with Top Tips to combat loneliness in the future.

EXTRACT 3: Friendship (taken from Chapter Six)
Reflect on the importance of friendship and which qualities make a good friend; create your own ‘Building Blocks of Friendship.’

EXTRACT 4: Puffin Island (taken from Chapter Ten)
Learn about the real-life origins of the text; write a story about an island inspired by The Puffin Keeper.