Managing Information Tony and Holly s Big Adventure is one of a set of five stimulating stories which embrace the Northern Ireland Thinking Skills & Personal Capabilities Framework. The story tells of 2 young cousins, Tony and Holly who get lost in the forest and need to find their way back before dark. The characters help us learn about ways to find out new information and judge how useful it is. How the book should be used with children: read the book to or with the children; use the illustrations to support the text; at key points n the text you will see a. This is a good point to stop and talk about what is happening; use the prompt questions on the inner back page to give you some suggestions, and reinforce the keywords and phrases that are used within the book. You could introduce and use some of the following words with the children relating to Managing Information question search listen hear clues helpful see feel smell sources useful Now read the story and have fun finding out how Tony and Holly found clues to help them get out of the forest. What would you have done? Liz Weir is a professional story-teller and author who lives in the Glens of Antrim. Corrina Askin is an art director, illustrator and animator from Co. Tyrone who is based in Belfast. More details about their work can be found on the Wise Up and Think link at; 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 following for their invaluable contribution to this series: Carol Weatherall, Belfast Education and Library Board Lynne Bianchi, Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University www.personalcapabilities.co.uk Marian Hamill, CCEA, Personal Development and Mutual Understanding Designed and produced by CCEA Multimedia 1
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Holly was not happy! Tony, this is all your fault! You said you knew the way back. Now we re lost! Look, would you wise up. We just need to go a bit further and we ll find the right path. Her cousin Tony was always so sure of everything. Because he lived in the city he really looked forward to these camping trips. His dog Kizzy loved getting off the lead to run free in the forest. 4
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Tony, I think we re going round in circles. Mum told us to be back by 4 o clock and now it s getting foggy. She ll eat the head off us if we re not back before it gets dark. 6
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Tony said nothing. He knew they were lost but didn t want to admit it to Holly. She would only panic. He tried to act cool and threw a stick for Kizzy who ran on ahead to fetch it. Suddenly a big hare jumped up in front of her and she ran off after it, barking like mad. 8
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Kizzy, come back, here! 10
Kizzy never let on she heard him. She made a mad dash after the hare with Tony chasing after her. They left the path and cut through the trees with branches hitting Tony up the face as he ran. Holly didn t want to be left on her own so she followed after them. 11
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By the time she caught up with him, Kizzy was trotting back, panting and covered in mud. Tony was really cross. Bad dog! Now we are definitely lost! He clipped on her lead. 13
Holly was nearly crying. I ve never been in this bit of the forest before. I don t like it here. It reminds me of a scary film I saw about people getting lost in the woods. What are we going to do now? How are we going to find our way back to the campsite? Tony saw she was really scared. Her Mum was sure to blame him if they were late back. It had been his idea to bring Kizzy for one last walk. 14
He tried to keep calm, even though he was freezing. Holly had on her waterproof but he hadn t even bothered bringing a coat. His sweatshirt was wringing wet. We need to think hard, said Holly. We need to find something to help us get out of here. Let s try to find the path again. Which way did we come? asked Tony. I don t know! I just followed you! Holly was in tears. 15
Kizzy started to bark. Shhhh, Kizzy! said Tony. I m trying to listen for cars. We might be near a road. They listened carefully but heard nothing except the dog. 16
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Tony knelt down beside her. What are you doing now? asked Holly. Now she was really interested. I m having a look to see if I can find our tracks. 18
Tony was peering down at the mud. He could hardly see a thing. Holly bent down beside him. She spotted something. Look, there re Kizzy s paw-prints. It must be this way! Tony had no choice but to follow after her. 19
The children didn t know that they were not alone. Watching all of this from high in the treetops was a red squirrel. By the time Hare circled back to her he was a wee bit puffed. 20
Huh! Did that stupid dog really think it could catch me! That ll teach it to chase after me. 21
Squirrel scurried down the tree and tutted. 22
They re saying they don t know the way back to the campsite. They re totally lost. Serves them right! People come here and drop litter and let their silly pets run wild. This is our home. Why should we help them? Hare had no time for human beings. 23
If we don t, more people will come looking for them. That ll be worse! Squirrel kept an eye on everything in the forest. She hated the thought of even more people tramping over everything. What could we do to help them? Hare sat very still and thought. We should call a meeting and see what everyone else thinks. 24
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It was still too early for Owl, but Hedgehog came snuffling along. Hey, Hedgehog! We re trying to figure out how to help two children find their way back to the campsite, said Hare. Have they not got a map? Don t know. Doesn t look like it. Here comes Fox, he ll know what to do. 26
Fox was very clever and he knew most things. Did you enjoy your wee run, Hare? Nice job losing that dog. 27
Hare looked pleased with himself but Squirrel said, Fox, we ve got a problem. Two lost children. It s getting foggy and we don t want a whole crowd coming here looking for them. Should we show them the way back to the campsite by giving them some clues? 28
Is that what all that racket is about? You know I don t usually help strangers but I d like some peace. That barking dog is doing my head in. I think I have an idea. It just might work. 29
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Through the trees, the children had found a path. Tony was digging deep in his pockets. What are you looking for? Holly shivered as the mist got thicker. I ve just remembered. My phone! Why didn t I think of that before? I ll text your Mum. Tony fumbled about for a minute. Oh no! There s no signal. I could have told you that. There s no signal anywhere round here. Your fancy new phone s useless up here. You re not in the city now. Tony was getting annoyed. His new phone was his pride and joy. He was totally fed up. 31
I ve just thought of something. It was Holly s turn to dig in her pockets. I know it s here somewhere. Yep, here it is! Holly whooped as she brought out a key-ring with a tiny torch. She kept it in the pocket of her coat just in case. She d never had to use it before. This might help. There s bound to be a sign around here somewhere. Did you notice one on the way down? No. I don t think we came this way. They trudged on along the muddy path with the tiny beam of light shining ahead. The path divided in two. 32
Here, shine that torch on this. 33
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Tony was touching a big wooden post, right in front of them. There s something carved on this. Holly peered at it. There were arrows going in two directions, one red, one blue. Which way should we go now? Left or right? What do you think the colours mean? asked Tony. Don t ask me. Maybe the red way is harder I haven t a clue. How are we going to choose? 35
Kizzy was whining and pulling him to the left. Tony looked at the arrows he had no idea which one to pick. Maybe he d let Kizzy decide. She wants to go this way. Holly shook her head. She wanted to follow the blue arrow. Blue was her favourite colour. She thought red might mean danger. She s a dog. What would she know? Catch yourself on! On TV shows dogs always help their owners I think she knows the way back. Don t believe everything you watch on TV! It s not real life! Tony chose to ignore her. 36
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Look, we can t stand here arguing all night. Come on! She s pulling the arms out of me! At least it will keep us on a path. Kizzy dragged Tony along the left hand path and Holly followed them. I just hope she s right. 38
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What the children didn t know was that the forest animals had decided to help after all. Fox had made up his mind. Hare, that dog is after you. 40
Tell me something I don t know! Don t worry, it s on a lead now. I think you should hop up through the trees and lead them in the right direction. Once that dog catches a whiff of you she ll be away. 41
Easy for you to say. What if it gets off? It won t. They re scared. They ll hang on to it for dear life. Fox was smart. He wouldn t risk Hare getting hurt. So, with Squirrel keeping an eye on things, Hare set off beside the path. 42
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The minute Kizzy got his scent she began to race down the path. That dog s mad! said Holly. It s like she s chasing something. Hold on to her! Holly was lagging behind as they ran along through the fog. A fallen tree lay in their way. Kizzy and Tony jumped. Watch out! 45
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Too late. Tony heard Holly yelp and yanked Kizzy s lead to make her stop. Holly was sprawled in the mud. 47
Are you OK? Aye. Just a bit wet. But there s something lying here. She picked up a tattered bit of paper. 48
Shine the light on this. It s only an old bit of paper. Tony didn t even look at it. 49
No, it s not. It s a map! What use is that? 50
Tony didn t want to admit he was no good at reading maps. Wait till you see. Holly was shining the light on it. Look, there s the campsite. And there s the carpark. It even shows the meaning of the different colours of the paths. Holly seemed to know what she was talking about. Tony had a look. He pointed at the paper. Is that the red path? Now Tony was impressed. I knew Kizzy wouldn t let us down. In the long grass Hare thumped the ground with annoyance. Huh! That stupid dog couldn t have done it without me! 51
Listen, Holly! Do you hear something? 52
Through the fog they could hear a noise. 53
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It sounds as if it s behind us. Maybe we should have gone the other way. Maybe the map s out of date after all. What ll we do now? 55
Discussion Prompts What were the problems the children were faced with? How would you feel if you were in Tony or Holly s shoes? What would you do? What would be your plan? Holly says, We need to think hard What could she mean? Note: focus on how Holly needs to think hard to find and consider different sources of information which may help them. What do you do when you have to think hard? What helps you? (e.g. close your eyes, talk to yourself, doodle, talk through the problem with someone, go outside for a walk etc.) What all did Holly and Tony use to help them find their way back to the car park? How useful were these things? What things could you take with you into the forest in case you got lost? How would these help? How helpful do you think the animals were? Do you think the children would have got this far without the animals help? What could the noise have been? What clues does the map give us? Think about how the story ends. Share you ending with someone else and tell them why you think it ends like this. We all have a story in us Recount a story about a time when you were lost or retell a story you know about children being lost in the forest. Note: encourage the children to use their senses to give the listener plenty of information about the setting. What was like being lost in that place. how did it feel, smell, sound, look and taste. Find additional support and activities for Tony and Holly s Big Adventure at: www.nicurriculum.org.uk/skills_and_capabilities/thinking_skills_and_personal_ capabilities/index.asp 56