Summary of the Book: The BFG is about a little orphan girl named Sophie who sees the BFG outside her window catching dreams late one night. The BFG plucks Sophie out of her bed and takes her to the land of giants. Sophie discovers that this giant is nice and friendly. The other giants who live in Giant Country are mean people-eating giants. Together, Sophie and the BFG create a plan to get rid of the mean giants with a little help from the Queen of England.
Target Readers: 3 rd -5 th grade
Reading Strategy: Character Description. While reading the book together in class, students will make note of character descriptions. These descriptions may include Character traits (physical and personal), actions, and how they develop. Throughout the book, students and teacher will add to character poster boards. Each main character will have a poster designated to them and describes their main features. This will help students recognize figurative language such as similes and descriptive words. Students will understand the meaning of made-up words that the author uses and why it enhances the reading. It will also show character relations, habits, and how the character contributes to the plot. Students will understand the difference between protagonist and antagonist.
Modifications: This activity can be a classroom discussion after reading each chapter where the teacher can add to the poster slowly and cumulatively. Or, this activity can be assigned as individual homework after reading in class. When the class is done reading the book, the posters can be made in one class.
Additional Activity: Dream Jar In this assignment, students have a choice to either use a template provided of a blank jar or students can use an actually jar for the project. Dream jars are a collection of small descriptions about each student. The jars will include: a picture of them self, a favorite quote from the book and explanation, a list of five dreams they wish to accomplish, a word they made up and its definition and use of it in a sentence, and five words that describes them. It may also include any pictures or small objects that represent an important part of their life. Students will then present their jar to the class and have it displayed throughout the unit.
Thematic units, topics, or literature units: This Character Description strategy can be focused on learning parts of speech, expanding use of figurative language in writing, or using context clues for definitions of unknown words. Roald Dahl can also be compared to writers who use language creatively such as Tolkien, Seuss, and Silverstein. The dream jar helps students analyze characters and how they are described and then compare it to their own personalities. It also implements reflection of the reading and diction used in the book.
NAME: ________________________ 5 WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.