Describing the setting in 'The Borrowers'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write a setting description from ‘The Borrowers’.
Key learning points
- The setting of ‘The Borrowers’ is the Clock family home, which is underneath the floorboards of an old, English house.
- A preposition of place is a word or words that can tell the reader where a noun is.
- Prepositions and precise vocabulary are crucial for describing an intricate setting.
- Relative complex sentences are useful for adding details about nouns within a setting.
Keywords
Setting - where the story takes place
Preposition - a word or words that can tell the reader where a noun is
Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause
Repurposed - to use something for a different purpose to the one for which it was originally intended
Common misconception
Pupils may start describing the details of the Clock home in the frst paragraph.
Clearly remind pupils that paragraph one should be describing where the Clock family home is located in relation to the main house. Paragraph two will give details of their home.
Teacher tip
You may wish to split this lesson in to two lessons; lesson one could be planning and lesson two could be writing.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2014 Puffin Books edition of ‘The Borrowers’ by Mary Norton for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a setting?
Q2.At which point in a narrative is the setting normally described?
Q3.Where is 'The Borrowers' set?
Q4.Match the character name to who they are.
father of the Clock family
mother of the Clock family
13 year old daughter of the Clock family
Q5.Which part of the house do the Clock family live under?
Q6.What is the access point to the upstairs for the Clock family?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a preposition?
Q2.Match the sentence starters to the correct preposition.
underneath the kitchen floorboards.
through a hole at the bottom of the hallway clock.
from the human "beans" upstairs.
Q3.What was the Clock family home made up of?
Q4.Match the human item to what it is used for in the Clock family home.
wallpaper
art on the wall
sofa/bench
Q5.What is a relative complex sentence?
Q6.Which of the following are relative pronouns used to begin a relative subordinate clause?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Describing the setting in 'The Borrowers', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Describing the setting in 'The Borrowers', 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 Borrowers': narrative writing and reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.