Exploring themes in 'The Iron Man'
I can explore the main themes in ‘The Iron Man’.
Exploring themes in 'The Iron Man'
I can explore the main themes in ‘The Iron Man’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Iron Man goes from being feared due to his difference, to being understood, accepted and ultimately admired.
- A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story and authors use these to convey deeper meaning.
- Considering the deeper meaning behind the Iron Man’s story can help us identify themes.
- Key themes such as difference, perception and understanding are explored through the Iron Man’s character arc.
- The themes within ‘The Iron Man’ help us learn important lessons about issues and topics in our own lives.
Keywords
Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
Difference - a way in which people or things are dissimilar
Perception - the way in which something or someone is viewed or interpreted
Understanding - showing that you realise someone’s true feelings and intentions
Common misconception
Children may have misconceptions around the Iron Man's character arc and think that this focuses on how he changes as a character.
Explain that the main focus of the Iron Man's character arc is not how he changes, but how the way in which he is perceived by others changes. You can also explore the concept that acceptance allows people to show the best of themselves.
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Exploring themes in 'The Iron Man', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Exploring themes in 'The Iron Man', 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 Iron Man': reading unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2005 Faber and Faber edition of ‘The Iron Man’ by Ted Hughes for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a way in which people or things are dissimilar
the way in which something or someone is viewed or interpreted
showing that you realise someone’s true feelings and intentions
The protagonist is a robot in a human world.
Humanity's view of the Iron Man changes.
Hogarth empathises with the Iron Man and sees his true intentions.