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      Planning the build-up of 'The BFG' (part one)

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can plan the first part of a build-up of a narrative based on ‘The BFG’.

      Key learning points

      1. The purpose of the build-up is to build up suspense and excitement.
      2. Precise and ambitious vocabulary is logged on a plan for future use.
      3. Notes should not be written in full sentences and bullet points can be used to make notes clear.
      4. Fronted adverbials of time, place and manner indicate when, where and how action takes place.
      5. Show-not-tell language shows a character’s feelings by describing their actions, body language and facial expressions.

      Keywords

      • Plan - a framework that writers create before they write a section or whole text

      • Notes - written out of full sentences

      • Ambitious vocabulary - high-level language in writing that meets the text purpose

      • Suspense - when you are feeling anxious or excited about what may happen

      Common misconception

      Pupils may think they need to write full sentences on their plan.

      Plans are written to support pupils with future writing. Plans include ambitious vocabulary in note form.

      Teacher tip

      Re-watch part one of the build-up of the film as many times as needed to support pupils with generating vocabulary. Encourage pupils to think about the senses: what can they see and what can they hear?

      Equipment

      You will need access to the 1989 film version of 'The BFG' for this lesson.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Put the sections of a narrative in chronological order.

      1 - opening
      2 - build-up
      3 - climax
      4 - resolution

      Q2.
      What linguistic device is 'Cautiously,' an example of?

      a subordinate clause
      Correct answer: a fronted adverbial of manner
      a co-ordinating conjunction
      a main clause

      Q3.
      What does a full sentence need to include?

      a comma
      Correct answer: a full stop (or other closing punctuation)
      Correct answer: a verb
      Correct answer: a capital letter
      a conjunction

      Q4.
      Match each word class to its example.

      Correct Answer:verb,edged

      edged

      Correct Answer:noun,entity

      entity

      Correct Answer:adverb,silently

      silently

      Correct Answer:adjective,eerie

      eerie

      Q5.
      What are the verbs in the following sentence? 'Sophie bit her fingers as her heart raced wildly.'

      fingers
      Correct answer: bit
      wildly
      as
      Correct answer: raced

      Q6.
      Which of these is the adverb in the following sentence? 'With hesitation, Sophie peered out of the window.'

      peered
      out
      Correct answer: With hesitation,
      Sophie
      window

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the main purpose of the build-up of a narrative?

      Correct answer: to build up suspense
      to introduce the characters
      to bring the story to a close
      to describe the main action

      Q2.
      Put the three key moments of the first part of the build-up in chronological order.

      1 - Sophie ducked down and she hid.
      2 - The hooded figure started walking down the street.
      3 - Sophie nervously peered through the window.

      Q3.
      Choose the appropriate fronted adverbial to start the following sentence: '__________ Sophie hid below the window.'

      Correct answer: As quick as a flash,
      In addition,
      Happily,
      However,
      In the morning,

      Q4.
      What is included in a plan?

      Correct answer: notes that can be written in bullet points
      full sentences
      Correct answer: ambitious vocabulary
      paragraphs
      title

      Q5.
      True or false? This is a complete sentence: 'A towering silhouette in a black cloak.'

      Correct Answer: false, False

      Q6.
      Which of these is the adverb in the following sentence? 'Sophie peered nervously through the window.'

      Sophie
      peered
      dusty
      Correct answer: nervously

      To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Planning the build-up of 'The BFG' (part one), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...