Deep reading: test yourself and think
As you read the story, take the chapter quizzes and reflect on what you have read. Click on the quiz to make it bigger.
After reading: reflect and create
Discuss
1. This story is set in Exmoor - a wild isolated place in the countryside. Imagine being completely alone. Imagine having no TV, no phone, no internet and no computer. How would this make you feel?
2. Jason finds freedom. What do you think freedom is? As a class try and come up with your own definition of what freedom is.
3. Jason and his Gran believe in luck. Do you? Are some people just lucky or do we create our own luck?
Exploring Character
Sound of Drums has two major characters: Jason and Gran. Look at the adjectives and phrases below. Work with a partner - which word or phrase belongs to which character? Some of the words are right for both.
- Independent - Sarcastic - Artistic - Messy - Vegetarian - Eccentric - Sarcastic - Bored - Tries to be cool - Loves drumming - Cheeky - Pompous
Discuss if you agree or disagree with these characteristics. Add any others you can think of to the list. Write three questions that you would like to ask each character.
Here are two examples to help you.
● Gran, what were you like as a teenager?
● Jason, why do you like drumming so much?
Then, in small groups, choose a person to 'be' each character and ask them questions. They then answer as the character. Present your answers to the class and discuss.
Write a review
A summary of a story doesn’t say what you think about it. That’s what a review is for. Try writing a review of Sound of Drums or filming yourself giving a review.
When writing a review, here are some things to include.
● Who are the main characters?
● What are they like?
● Did you like the characters?
● Were they funny or weird or good or bad?
● Did you ‘believe’ in the characters?
● Did the story make sense?
● Did you like the story? Why or why not?
● Is there a part of the story that you will remember well?
● Was there a part of the story you really liked or didn’t like?
● How did the story make you feel?
● Who would you recommend the story to?
Stella's perspective
Stella's character is used as the personification of freedom in the story. Her natural wildness and refusal to be in any way tamed is central to her place in the narrative. Her reaction to Jason, when he tries to pet her at the end of the story, shows her essential nature.
Write a text from Stella's point of view. What is her life like? What is her freedom? Why does she let Gran and Jason ride her? Be descriptive - you want your reader to believe they are running with Stella and living her life.
Inspire ...
Andy Coombs talks about Sound of Drums
Here is a song inspired by the Sound of Drums book
Can you write a free verse poem or song inspired by any of the themes in the story?
Art interpretation
The top left oil painting is called Before Freedom. What do you think the artist was saying with the fragmented style of colours and shapes? How does the painting make you feel?
The top right oil pastel picture is called Listening. Do you think the character is engaged or bored? Explain why.
The statue is called Secret joy. Why do you think it is called that?
The bottom right picture is simply called The tree. Can you think of a more imaginative name that ties it closer to the story?
Now create something else inspired by the story. You don't have to be artistic. Here is a picture done by an extremely non-artistic friend (you know who you are!). She says: "I wanted to do something about freedom. And for me it's about being anything you want - so in this picture I've shown that with colours. And it's about going where you want and not worrying about what people think all the time. Anyway. Here is my picture. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can."
Create a comic page
Here is a page from the comic book inspired by the story. This was created by Gaspar Allisson, an artist from Buenos Aries in Argentina. Choose a scene from the book and create your own single 'comic' style page. You can use simple stick figures if you like and you can choose how much, or how little text to use.