Discussion points

• Pause the film after the man and his bear enter. Discuss the children's initial thoughts. What genre do they think this is? What job does the man do? What is the bear?
• Pause at the chest. What do they think is in the chest? Show the next scene – it is a flashback, but what to? What memories does this place hold for the young man? Link to the photo in the locket.
• Once he looks at the locket photograph for the second time, ask what they think happened to his father?
• Why does he put the bear in the chest? What is he going to do?
• What happens to the man at the end?
• Make predictions – what will the bear do next? Why?
• What is the significance of the two comets at the end?
• Discuss the title and the obvious pun.

Writing Ideas

• Write the narrative from the man's or bear's point of view.
• The man finds a letter from his father explaining where he went to and why – it may contain instructions on how to use the machine. Write this letter.
• Write the instructions on how to work the machine.
• Write a story using flashbacks.
• Design your own comet or celestial object-making machine – perhaps one that turns them into stars or asteroids.
• Create your own clockwork toys using elastic bands etc.