Teacher: Saman Ihsan

The Indian in the Cupboard ( Grade 5/6)

This 7‑week course is designed to help students engage deeply with literature while strengthening key literacy skills such as comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking. 

About the Novel

The Indian in the Cupboard is a fantasy children’s novel by British author Lynne Reid Banks, first published in 1980. The story follows a young boy who discovers that a small cupboard can bring his plastic toy figures to life. As he and his best friend navigate the misadventures that follow, the novel explores themes of friendship, responsibility, and empathy.

At the same time, the book contains stereotypical and outdated portrayals of Indigenous people, which will be addressed thoughtfully in class discussions to help students build awareness and critical literacy.

 Skills Students Will Develop

• Note‑Taking Skills: Students learn to summarize and analyze, the chapters assigned each week in a chart provided in the google classroom. 

• Critical Thinking:  Students analyze characters, events, and themes, making connections that go beyond the text. Guided discussions will also address the problematic portrayal of Indigenous people, helping students think critically about representation in literature.

• Cultural Awareness: By exploring characters from different cultures and historical periods, students gain insight into diverse perspectives and experiences.

• Comprehension & Vocabulary: Students strengthen their understanding of the text through targeted vocabulary work and structured comprehension activities.

*Please note the following date will be a public holiday: March 29th

Refund Policy

If you choose to withdraw from the course, please see below:

March 10th:  90% refund

March 20th: 50% refund

After the first class:  50% credit or 25% refund