Understanding the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand the authorial, geographical and historical context of 'How to Train Your Dragon'.
Key learning points
- Understanding the context of a text enables readers to engage effectively with the content.
- The author is the person who wrote the text.
- The illustrator is the person who illustrated the text.
- Fiction is literature in the form of prose that describes imaginary events and people.
Keywords
Context - the factors outside a text that influence it, such as the historical period, setting and society at the time
Fiction - a text that is based on imagination
Narrative - a story
Book series - a sequence of books that are grouped together as part of the same collection
Common misconception
Pupils may believe this is a non-fiction text because it is about Vikings.
Give clear explanations that this is a made-up narrative set in the context of a fictional Viking community.
Teacher tip
Pupils may enjoy watching Cressida Cowell's videos where she models drawing characters from the story.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2017 Hodder Children’s Books edition of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ written and illustrated by Cressida Cowell, for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Select the definition of a fiction text.
Q2.Match the following terms to their definitions.
Q3.Fill in the gap. The ______ is the person who writes a text.
Q4.Fill in the gap. The ______ is the person who draws or creates pictures for a text.
Q5.What is a myth?
Q6.Which of the following are examples of mythical creatures?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Q2.Is this statement true or false? 'How To Train Your Dragon' is set in a fictional world.
Q3.__________ context refers to where the text is set.
Q4.Fill in the gap. ___________ context refers to when the text is set.
Q5.Fill in the gap. Small islands off the coast of __________ inspired the setting of 'How To Train Your Dragon'.
Q6.Select appropriate adjectives to describe dragons:
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Understanding the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Understanding the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'How to Train Your Dragon': diary and narrative writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.