The Explorer

The Explorer by Katherine Rundell

“The Explorer” by Catherine Rundell is a children’s adventure novel that follows the story of four children who find themselves stranded in the Amazon rainforest after a plane crash. The book revolves around their struggle for survival as they navigate the harsh and unfamiliar terrain of the rainforest, while also coming across various challenges and discoveries.

This book compliments children learning about topics such as the rainforest for several reasons:

Adventure and Exploration: “The Explorer” offers an exciting adventure story that can capture children’s imaginations and encourage them to explore the world and learn about different environments, like the rainforest.

Environmental Awareness: The book can help children develop an understanding of the importance of rainforests in our ecosystem. It highlights the beauty and biodiversity of the rainforest, as well as the threats it faces from deforestation and environmental degradation.

Resilience and Problem-Solving: The characters in the book must rely on their resourcefulness and problem-solving skills to survive in a challenging environment. This can inspire children to think creatively and develop their own problem-solving abilities.

Cultural and Ethical Considerations: The story also touches on the cultural and ethical aspects of interacting with indigenous people and respecting their way of life. This can prompt discussions about cultural diversity and respect for different communities.

Empathy and Teamwork: The characters’ journey in the book highlights the importance of working together and caring for one another. Children can learn about empathy, cooperation, and the value of teamwork.

Overall, “The Explorer” offers an engaging and educational story that can pique children’s interest in the rainforest, foster a sense of adventure, and encourage them to learn more about this vital ecosystem and the challenges it faces. It can serve as a starting point for discussions about environmental conservation, cultural diversity, and important life skills.

Chapter 1

Sample Word Class Question

What adjective is used to describe the Brazilian sun in the passage below?

‘She was determinedly not looking out the window. The airfield they had just left had been dusty and almost deserted, just a strip of tarmac under the ferocious Brazilian sun.’

Sample Inference Question

What does Jack’s decision to sit with Summer and August indicate about his priorities?

A. He values loyalty and genuine friendships over popularity.

B. He is trying to avoid getting into trouble.

C. He wants to be part of the most popular group.

D. He is desperate and has no other options.

Summary

The narrative unfolds inside a small aeroplane flying over the Amazon River towards Manaus. Fred, the main character, is seated in the cockpit next to the pilot, feeling the exhilaration of flight. Alongside him are a girl and her younger brother, and further back, a pale girl in her own row. As they soar through the sky, tensions rise when the pilot begins to experience health issues, causing the plane to veer off course and descend unexpectedly. Fred, concerned for the pilot’s well-being, tries to assist as panic spreads among the passengers.

As the situation intensifies, the pilot’s condition deteriorates rapidly, and Fred finds himself thrust into a position of responsibility. With the plane losing altitude and the pilot incapacitated, fear grips the passengers, especially the blonde-haired girl who demands answers and pleads for someone to intervene.

In chapter 1 we are diving straight into the action with Fred, who is on a plane which is experiencing difficulties.Your class will answer questions linked to adjectives, finding synonyms, identifying spelling errors, make inferences, place events into chronological order and more.

Scroll through the questions list for this chapter.

Chapter 2

Sample Words and Meanings Question

Which word in the paragraph below means ‘to get used to’?

“Oh,” he said. “Yes.” He was becoming accustomed to the dark, and could see the shine of eyes peering out from the grey-green gloom of the undergrowth. “Are you from the plane? Are you hurt?”

Sample Punctuation Question

Which piece of punctuation is missing from the sentence below?

“Are you all right” he asked, wiping rain out of his eyes. “That cut looks bad.”

A. apostrophe

B. speech mark

C. full stop

D. question mark

E. exclamation mark

Summary

Fred finds himself in the aftermath of the plane crash, surrounded by darkness and flames. Panicked and disoriented, he stumbles through the jungle, desperately calling for help. As the rain begins to fall, Fred’s frantic sprint slows to a jog, and eventually, he comes to a halt, surveying the wreckage of the plane and his own injuries. Alone and uncertain, he suddenly hears a girl’s voice from the darkness, sparking a tense but ultimately relieving encounter as Fred discovers he is not the only survivor.

The introduction of Con and Lila, fellow survivors of the crash, adds layers of tension and complexity to their situation. Despite their injuries and the hostile environment, the group begins to form a fragile alliance, navigating both physical dangers like snakes and their own emotional turmoil. As they search for shelter and water, the bond between them grows, albeit amidst Con’s sharp skepticism and Max’s innocent fear. Despite the looming threats and uncertainty of their circumstances, the chapter ends with the characters succumbing to exhaustion and the need for rest, their fears momentarily overshadowed by the promise of sleep.

In this chapter we have created a range of retrieval questions, make inferences, identify contractions, synonyms and other vocabulary related questions for your class to complete after reading the chapter.We also look at missing punctuation, sequencing events and more.

Chapter 3

Sample Retrieval Question

What had fallen off Fred’s watch?

(____ ____ ____)

Sample Grammar Question

The word ‘know’ is used in the sentence below. This is written in present tense. Write the word ‘know’ in the past tense.

“But we can’t know anything for sure!” said Fred. “Lila’s right. As soon as we work out how to get out of here, we’ll leave.”

(____)

Summary

Fred wakes up in the sweltering heat of the Brazilian sun, relieved to find himself alive but concerned about the whereabouts of Max, the little boy who was missing. After a frantic search, Fred discovers Max near a vile-smelling puddle, unharmed but in a state of shock. Despite Max’s initial refusal, Fred offers him a mint candy to calm him down, and the group convenes to discuss their next steps.

As tensions rise among the survivors, particularly between Con and Lila regarding whether to stay near the crash site or venture into the jungle, Fred makes a discovery that adds another layer of intrigue to their situation. He uncovers a hidden shelter made of fallen trees, suggesting that someone had been there before them. Despite Con’s apprehensions about potential dangers, Fred, Lila, and Max decide to make use of the shelter, reasoning that it offers some level of safety and protection. Despite Con’s continued protests, Max’s determination to stay, and Lila’s pragmatic reasoning, the group ultimately settles into the shelter, with Fred taking charge of improving its conditions for their temporary stay.

In this chapter your KS2 class will reflect on the chapter and be able to summarise, look at Lila’s reactions to events as they unfold, identifying types of sentence starters, explore how Fred is feeling, explore tenses, antonyms, definitions and more retrieval based questions within the context of the story.

Chapter 4

Sample Grammar Question

There has been a homophone used incorrectly in the passage above. What should the correct spelling be?

‘Fred turned to look at her, crouched in the dappled light. She moved stiffly, as if unaccustomed to using her own body. And her clothes seemed to sit on her like a bare trap. There are outfits that suggest of their accord that their owner should sit still and smile nicely.’

Sample Summarising Question

Which sentence best summarises the theme of the chapter?

A. The children are all terrified and don’t know what to do.

B. Finding water and a shelter has begun to give Fred some hope they may survive.

C. Con is becoming the natural leader of the group.

D. The children find food and water and are close to being rescued.

E. The children argue and fight throughout the chapter.

Summary

Fred and his companions work to build a makeshift shelter, using wide leaves to create a roof. While Con digs a hole outside, Fred is struck by a sense of accomplishment despite his recent bout of pneumonia, which had sent him to Brazil to recover with a distant cousin. Reflecting on his strained relationship with his father, who was always busy with work, Fred resents being treated like a child and longs for an opportunity to prove his inner hunger and hope. He decides they need water and recalls the direction of the river from when their plane crashed. Despite scepticism from Con, they follow a trail of ants hoping to find water, though their first attempt leads only to a bird carcass.

Eventually, Lila finds a trail of larger ants that leads them to a river. Despite concerns about caimans, Fred dives in and finds the water refreshing. The others join, but their relief turns to panic when Fred spots a piranha. They scramble out of the water, and Con expresses her frustration with the dangerous environment. As they return to their clearing, Fred feels a sense of hope and resilience growing within him, marking a significant shift from his earlier feelings of helplessness and frustration. This newfound optimism amidst the challenges of the Amazon jungle gives him a sense of purpose and determination.

Chapter 5

Summary

In this chapter, your KS2 class will see that Fred, Lila, Con, and Max are grappling with hunger and the effects of their dire circumstances after their plane crash in the Amazon jungle. Despite Fred’s discomfort from hunger and his attempt to distract himself by discussing edible insects, the group debates the safety of consuming the cocoa pod grubs he has suggested as food. Con challenges Fred’s idea, arguing about the risks and fairness of testing the grubs, while Lila eventually takes the initiative to find food. She returns with cocoa pods, some of which contain larvae, and Fred reluctantly eats one, discovering it tastes mostly like dirt.

The group then devises a plan to cook the grubs into a sort of pancake using stones, despite Con’s scepticism about the process. Lila’s effort to stay positive and her care for Max, who is upset and misses their mother, contrasts with Con’s frustration and Fred’s struggle to maintain hope. Their collective attempt to find food and address their situation reflects their resilience and the harsh reality of their survival in the jungle.

Chapter 6

Summary

In this chapter, Fred, Con, Lila, and Max work together to create a fire, which they need to cook the grub paste they have prepared. The process begins with Fred and Lila collecting kindling and Con striking a flint against a steel object from Fred’s broken watch to create sparks. Despite the challenges and the initial lack of success, Con eventually generates a spark that catches on the kindling. As the fire grows, the group feels a renewed sense of hope and triumph, celebrating their small victory in their survival struggle. They use the fire to cook the grub paste into pancakes, which, although not very appetizing, are a significant improvement over nothing.

The group’s efforts to maintain morale and manage their situation are highlighted as they create a basic toilet plan and share a moment of laughter amid their hardship. The scene ends on a lighter note as they joke about the “lavo-tree” for their makeshift toilet, showing their ability to find joy even in their dire circumstances. Despite the grubs’ unpleasant taste, the successful creation of the fire and the shared humour strengthen their resolve to endure and support each other in their jungle environment.

Chapter 7

Summary

Fred proposes building a raft as a means to escape the jungle and find their way back to civilization. Despite Con’s initial resistance and disbelief, Fred convinces Lila to support the idea, arguing that waiting for rescue could be futile. The group begins gathering materials for the raft, and Fred, driven by fear and a desperate hope for escape, throws himself into the laborious task. Although Con and Max are initially sceptical, they eventually contribute to the effort: Con helps with the lianas and Max attempts to assist by collecting vines. Despite the hard work and meagre food supplies, including raw cocoa beans and acai berries, the group pushes forward with the construction of the raft.

As Fred works tirelessly on the raft, he is fuelled by a mixture of determination and desperation. The construction proves challenging and painful, but Fred’s resolve remains unshaken. The group faces physical discomfort and hunger, compounded by a difficult night plagued by stomach troubles. Fred manages to complete the raft, a symbol of hope and a potential path to escape. His satisfaction in finishing the raft is tinged with a mix of pride and longing for his father’s approval, even as the others rest in the den, exhausted from the day’s efforts.

Chapters Overview

In The Explorer we have created 31 question sets.

Each set consists of:
– 4 Retrieval questions
– 4 SPAG questions
– 4 Deeper questions (authorial technique, inference, sequencing, summarising, similes, metaphors etc.)

How does our website work?

1. You will assign each child in your class the questions of a particular chapter.
2. They will login and complete the questions online.
3. You will view the ‘Results’ section and see how each child did.

Results
Green means that the child got the question right first time.

Orange means that the child got it right but it took a few attempts – a number will be displayed inside to show how many attempts.

Red means that the child didn’t get the question correct – a number will be inside the red box to show how many failed attempts.

Interpreting the Results
Select a range of chapter question sets in the results section and choose a child. Next you will be able to see all completed activities and look for patterns, areas of strength and areas for improvement.