Helping Nova

8/9/2019 Helping Nova

1/58


2/58

1

Thinking Problem-Solving & Decision-Making

Helping Nova is one o a set o ve stimulating stories which embrace the Northern IrelandThinking Skills & Personal Capabilities Framework. The story centres round a young boy, Tony, andhis pet dog, Kizzy, who are aced with a problem. These characters help us learn about some o the

challenges we ace when solving problems and making good decisions.

How the book should be used with children:

readthebooktoorwiththechildren;

usetheillustrationstosupportthetext;

atkeypointsinthetextyouwillseea.Thisagoodpointtostopandtalkaboutwhatis

happening;

usethepromptquestionsontheinnerbackpagetogiveyousomesuggestions;and

reinforcethekeywordsandphrasesthatareusedwithinthebook.

You could introduce and use some o the ollowing words with the children relating to Thinking,Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

what i? what would happen i?decisions problems options choices consequences

i then?

Now read the story and have un nding out the problems and choices Tony has and the decisions

he makes. What do you think might happen?


3/58

2

Liz Weir is a proessional story-teller and author who lives in the Glens o Antrim.

Corrina Askin is an art director, illustrator and animator rom Co. Tyrone who is based in Belast.

MoredetailsabouttheirworkcanbefoundontheWiseUpandThinklinkat;

www.nicurriculum.org.uk/skills_and_capabilities/thinking_skills_and_personal_capabilities/index.asp

Acknowledgements

Tony Scullion (CCEA) would like to acknowledge and thank the ollowing or their invaluable contribution to this series:

CarolWeatherall,BelfastEducationandLibraryBoard

LynneBianchi,CentreforScienceEducation,SheeldHallamUniversity

www.personalcapabilities.co.uk

MarianHamill,CCEA,PersonalDevelopmentandMutualUnderstanding

Designed and produced by CCEA | Multimedia


4/58

3


5/58

44

Tony!

4


6/58

55

His Mums voice reached all the way up to thebedroom. Tony was just getting to the good bitin his story. He pretended not to hear.

5


7/58

6

Holly was not happy!

Her cousin Tony was always so sure oeverything. Because he lived in the city he

really looked orward to these camping trips.

His dog Kizzy loved getting o the lead to run

ree in the orest.

6

This is all your ault! Y ou said you knew the way back.Now were lost!

Look, would you wise up. We just need to go a bit

urther and well fnd the right path.

6

Tony! Come down here at once!

Uh-oh! He knew by the sound of his Mums voicethat this time he needed to move fast. He

jumped off the bed surprising Kizzy who was

curled up on the mat. She woke with a jump.

Coming, Mum.


8/58

777


9/58

8

When they reached the kitchen he sawhis Mum looked really cross. What hadhe done now?

Was that dog upstairs again? Howmany times have I told you not to lether in?

88


10/58

99


11/58

10

Kizzy started to count as she slunk towardsthe open door. Tonys Mum wasnt nished yet.

Did you touch those bits of chicken I left

out on the table? I was just going to make acurry when the doorbell rang and now theyvedisappeared.

10


12/58

111111


13/58

12

No, Mum, it wasnt me. I was reading.

Maybe it was that dog of yours?

Kizzy was with me all the time. She couldnthave done it. What if

Dont talk back Well, its a mystery to me. Idont see how they could have vanished into thinair. This is starting to be a problem. Its not therst time things have disappeared. Yesterday itwas some bacon. Im keeping an eye on that dogof yours! Well, therell be no curry tonight! Youll

just have to have beans on toast!

Tony didnt mind he liked beans on toast.

12


14/58

1313


15/58

14

Just round the corner a thin brown andwhite dog was licking her lips. It had

been a long time since shed eaten such

a tasty meal.

14


16/58

15

Watching her from the wall was a big ginger

cat. He knew everything that went on in the

street. Hed seen her sneak through the hole

in the fence. She came back carrying the tasty

chicken.

15


17/58

16

Hey, you! What are doing hanging roundhere? asked the big ginger cat.

The wee dog looked scared when he saw thecats erce green eyes.

16


18/58

1717

I was starving. I got thrown out on thestreet. Thats the rst bite Ive had to

eat in two days and my puppies will be bornsoon.

That doesnt give you the right to steal.Here comes Kizzy. Shell soon sort you out!


19/58

18

Kizzy came running up to the stranger.

Are you trying to get me into trouble?she growled.

Im sorry. My owners didnt want me and

I was starving. Its hard being out on thestreet.

Kizzy knew all about that. Tony had rescuedher from the dog pound. She was thinking

hard. If she decided to help the stray dogshe might get into trouble. She didnt want tobe back in the pound again.

Kizzy saw how scared the stray dog looked.

18


20/58

1919


21/58

20

Look, Ginger, weve got to help her. What dothey call you, wee dog?

Nova.

20


22/58

2121

Stupid sort of name that. Sounds like acar.

The big cat hissed.


23/58

22

Leave her alone, Ginger. We cant help thenames they give us. Lets think how we canhelp her. Shes not used to being on thestreet like you. Anything could happen to her.

She could starve to death. Or she could be hitby a car. Or the dog warden could get her.

22


24/58

2323


25/58

24

Or that gang of bad boys might hurt her. Ihad a lucky escape!

24


26/58

25

Ginger shivered as he remembered climbingthe high wall to get away.

25


27/58

26

She needs to be warm and have enough food.Come on, wee dog, I know just the place, saidKizzy.

Kizzy was back home by bedtime. She curledup in her basket in the warm kitchen thinking

of Nova lying in the cold old shed next door.She should be safe enough there for a while.The owner was in hospital. The problemwas that she needed to get more food andsomething for Nova to lie on, but how? Tonysfamily had been good to her and she didnt

like stealing from them. She didnt want to letthem down, but what choices did she have?What would happen if she didnt do anything?Could Nova die?

2626


28/58

2727


29/58

28

Tony was heading off to bed and whispered,Kizzy, come on girl. Quick! Mum wont see youif you come up now!

Kizzy didnt move from her basket.

Well, be like that then! Im away to bed.

28


30/58

29

Kizzy knew shed made Tony sad, but she hadan important job to do.

29


31/58

30

When the house was quiet she sneaked overto the washing basket and pulled out a warmeece. It belonged to Tonys Mum.

30


32/58

3131

Then she stretched up to the worktop andsneaked a loaf of bread that was defrostingfor breakfast. She hid the bread behindher basket, lay on the eece, and waited formorning to come.

31


33/58

3232

As soon as the back door was openedKizzy was out. Tonys Mum went to lift

the post so she didnt see her favouriteeece being trailed outside.


34/58

33

The bread took a second trip. Kizzy knewTony would be disappointed not to see herwhen he came down but it was her onlychance.


35/58

34

Wheres Kizzy, Mum? asked Tony.

She went off like a rocket as soon as Iopened the door. I dont know whats got intoher. Usually she cant wait for me to put outher food.

Tony was annoyed. He liked spending time

with Kizzy before he set off for school.Maybe she didnt like him any more?

34

You can take her for a good walk afterschool.


36/58

3535

Tony wasnt so sure if he wanted to. He ranoff to school without any breakfast.

Tony, come back here! You need something toeat.


37/58

36

Nova was shaking with cold when Kizzy got toher.

I thought youd forgotten me. Im freezing!

This will keep you warm!

36


38/58

3737

Nova soon snuggled up on the eece and waseating her way through the pan loaf.

Thats better! Thanks. I hope you dont getinto trouble with your people.


39/58

3838


40/58

39

Kizzy thought about the sad look onTonys face. Maybe she should tell himthe truth. What would happen if theyfound out what shed done? When shelooked at Nova she knew shed done theright thing. Tonys Mum would never

agree!

39


41/58

4040


42/58

41

She wasnt wrong there. When Tonygot back from school his Mum waswaiting for him in the kitchen. Kizzy

was lying in her basket with her headon her paws.

41


43/58

42

Youre home then. At last. Wait till youhear the latest. My good black eece has

gone out of the wash basket and theresa whole loaf of bread missing from theworktop. Theres only one suspect and thereshe lies looking as if butter wouldnt melt inher mouth. I never wanted a dog in the rstplace and Im not going to have a thief inthe house. That dog can go back where shecame from!

4242


44/58

4343


45/58

44

Tony didnt know what to say. Kizzy laylooking up at him with her big brown eyes.

But Mum, shes a great dog. She wouldntsteal from us, would she?

Take her out of my sight. Well talk about itwhen your Dad comes home.

44


46/58

4545


47/58

46

Tony clipped on Kizzys lead. She knew hewas cross with her. As they walked downthe street, Kizzy had to make a decision.She had to let Tony see she was justhelping a friend. Could she trust him tohelp Nova?

4646


48/58

4747


49/58

48

As they got close to the garden where

Nova was hiding Kizzy started pullingTony towards the gap in the fence.

No, Kizzy! We cant go in there.

She was too strong for him and dragged

him on through.

48


50/58

4949


51/58

50

When they got to the old shed Tonygasped as he saw a wee dog and twotiny puppies lying on what he knew washis Mums best eece.

50


52/58

5151


53/58

52

His Mum would go mad if she saw this.

52


54/58

53

What was he going to do now?

53


55/58

54

He knew he had a tough decision to make.

54


56/58

5555


57/58

56

How do you think the chicken could have disappeared? Use the starter What iftoexploreoptionsandideas.Doyouthinkmumwasrighttoimmediatelythinkit

was Kizzys ault? What could have made her eel this way?

Think about this problem what options might Kizzy have? Think about thechoices she might be aced with, and what might happen i Kizzy decided tochoose that option.

Kizzyisfacedwithadicultsituation.Sheknewtherewouldbeconsequences

rom her decision. Discuss what the consequences o a diferent decision mightbe. Use the starter IfKizzy chose to then

Haveyoueverbeeninadicultsituation?Whatoptionsdidyouhaveandwhatweretheconsequencesofthechoicesyouhad?Howdidyoudecideintheend?

Tony has a tough decision to make. Why do you think its a tough decision or him?Talk together about:What options Tony could have?What might afect the choice he makes in the end?What decision you think Tony should make and why? Remember to think about theconsequencesofdierentdecisions.

Think about the eelings Tony could be having when making his tough decision,and list what they are. Have you ever had these eelings too?

We all have a story in us

Recountastorywherethecharacterisfacedwithadicultdecision.

Note: Encourage the children to consider how the characters would have elt during thestorywouldtheyhavebeenworried,anxious,excitedetcDrawouttheemotionsthat

charactersinstoriesmightfeelindierentsituations,explainingandexploringwiththe

children the role o emotion in story telling.

Find additional support and activities or Helping Nova at:www.nicurriculum.org.uk/skills_and_capabilities/thinking_skills_and_personal_capabilities/index.asp

Discussion Prompts


58/58

Helping Nova

Documents