The BFG - Non fiction writing.

The BFG is one of my favourite Roald Dahl books and with the premiere of the new BFG film a few weeks ago it is more popular than ever.  If you are studying Roald Dahl this year then you may find this useful. 

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In this British Pathe film from 1936 you can see Robert Wadlow who was 8ft11" tall.  
Born in 1918, Robert is still to this day known as the tallest person in medical history.

​When the Pathe cameras went to film him in 1935, he was a 'mere' 8′ 1 1/2″. When they returned the next year, he was 8ft4″. By the time of his death at just aged 22, he had grown to 8ft11''. In this clip, he is surrounded by his family and even though his father was 6ft, none of them stand much above his waist. 

Note taking is a skill that can be found in the National Curriculum - children could take notes from the film in order to use them in their writing alongside additional research.

Children could compile lists of questions that they would have liked to ask Robert Wadlow if he was still alive today. (Sadly he died at the age of 22.)  Using augmented reality and the 2015 version of The Guinness Book of records (still available in some online bookstores) you can then invite Robert into the classroom for the children to meet and measure themselves against. 

Using an app such as Puppet Pals 2, Yackit Kids or Tellegami children can then answer the questions in the role of the 'World's youngest giant.' (See Below) 

Once these 'interviews' are over children can write a news report about the day that Robert Wadlow came to their school. 

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<<<A screen shot from the app and Robert is filling the school hall. 








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In the example below using Puppet Pals 2 you can see Noah aged 5 interviewing me as Robert Wadlow for a mini homework project. 

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If you like this idea and want to see many more why don't you book some Literacy Shed CPD or come along to one of our training days near you?