Planning the opening of 'The BFG' (part one)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan the first part of an opening of a narrative based on ‘The BFG’.
Key learning points
- The purpose of the opening is to engage the reader and introduce the setting and characters.
- Precise and ambitious vocabulary is logged on a plan for future use.
- Notes should not be written in full sentences and bullet points can be used to make notes clear.
- Fronted adverbials of time, place and manner indicate when, where and how action takes place.
- Ambitious and precise adverbs, adjectives and verbs are used to create a vivid picture for the reader.
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
Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all words are ambitious vocabulary.
Teach pupils that there can be many options when selecting vocabulary and they need to carefully choose the most precise words for each part of their writing.
Teacher tip
You may wish to use the Year 1 Grammar unit 'Word class' to ensure that all pupils are confident with word classes before generating vocabulary in this lesson. You can up-level the Year 1 content to suit Year 3 pupils' ability.
Equipment
You will need access to the 1989 film version of 'The BFG' for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Put the sections of a narrative in chronological order.
Q2.The main characters in 'The BFG' are the BFG and .
Q3.Which of these punctuation marks is a fronted adverbial followed by?
Q4.What does a full sentence need to include?
Q5.Match the word classes to their definitions.
a word that describes a noun
a person, place or thing
a word that describes a verb
a doing, being or having word
Q6.Match each word class to the correct example.
brave
owl
nervously
stared
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are the purposes of the opening of a narrative?
Q2.A fronted adverbial of __________ tells the reader when the action in the main clause takes place.
Q3.Put the three key moments of part one of the opening in chronological order.
Q4.Choose an appropriate fronted adverbial to start this sentence: '__________ Sophie put on her tattered shoes.'
Q5.What is included in a plan?
Q6.Which word is the verb in the following sentence? 'Nervously, Sophie stared at the brown owl.'
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Planning the opening of 'The BFG' (part one), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Planning the opening of 'The BFG' (part one), 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 'The BFG': reading and narrative writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.