Developing an understanding of 'The Wild Robot' through rich discussions
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can discuss the main ideas of ‘The Wild Robot’.
Key learning points
- ‘The Wild Robot’ follows the unexpected arrival of a robot on an island after its crate is washed ashore during a storm.
- The robot, called Roz, learns human-like characteristics and emotions, such as care, friendship and love.
- 'The Wild Robot' is in the form of an illustrated chapter book, combining words and illustration.
- 'The Wild Robot' explores themes of identity, survival, adaptation, the natural world and technology.
Keywords
Form - the way that a text can be presented
Illustrated chapter book - a longer fictional text with illustrations to support and develop understanding
Artificial intelligence - when computers or robots can do things that usually require human intelligence
Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
Common misconception
Pupils may think that illustrations always depict exactly what is mentioned in the words the author writes.
Show examples throughout the illustrated chapter book where the illustrations add in additional details, such as the double page spread on 158 and 159 where Roz is switched off.
Teacher tip
Pupils must have read the text in advance of this lesson. You may wish to better contextualise key themes such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the environment with the class during PSHE or encourage pupils to read a non-fiction text on these subjects.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2018 Piccadilly Press edition of The Wild Robot, written and illustrated by Peter Brown, for this lesson.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following words to their definitions.
a person, animal or object in a story
where the story takes place
what happens in the story
Q2.Put the following parts of a story in the correct order.
Q3.True or false? Illustrated chapter books only contain words.
Q4.Match the key features of an illustrated chapter book to the information you might find on a front cover.
Hannah Gold
Illustrated by Levi Pinfold
The Last Bear
'Unforgettable' Michael Morpurgo
Q5.True or false? A main character in a text always has to be human.
Q6.Put the events that happen at the beginning of the text in order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following definitions best describes an illustrated chapter book?
Q2.Which of the following creatures does Roz initially help by pulling out porcupine spines?
Q3.What is the name of the gosling that Roz adopts after its nest is damaged?
Q4.Match the keywords to their definitions.
the way that a text can be presented
when computers or robots can do things like humans
a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
Q5.Who is both the author and illustrator of 'The Wild Robot'?
Q6.The text is written from which perspective?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Developing an understanding of 'The Wild Robot' through rich discussions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Developing an understanding of 'The Wild Robot' through rich discussions, 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 Wild Robot': book club unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.