Roald Dahl Day is celebrated on what was his birthday each year, 13th September. There are lots
of exciting events happening for Roald Dahl Day, you can find ideas for your own celebrations at
www.roalddahlday.info. Why not use this lesson plan to help your pupils celebrate this year?
Preparation Work
Introduction
You’ll need a copy of ‘Songs and Verse’ by Roald Dahl,
which contains lots of his poems from a range of his books.
The examples of poems we’ve created on page 2 of this
plan are inspired by different Dahl titles to show the diversity
this lesson plan offers. You class will be working in groups
for some of the lesson and each group will need a different
poem from the book to work with. Vary length and difficulty
of poem depending on age and ability of groups.
Bring your class together
and explain that today
they will be writing a poem
to celebrate Roald Dahl
Day. Ensure all the class
knows who Roald Dahl was
and ask them if they can
name any of his books.
Main Teaching Activity
Split the class into groups and give each group a different poem. Give the groups 5 minutes to prepare to read the
poem out loud for the rest of the class. Each group reads their poem out to the class. Once all the group poems
have been read, ask each group which was their favourite poem and why. Make notes on the board. Pick one
of your pupils’ suggestions and discuss any particular poetry techniques used. Now write a class poem in that
style, with each group creating a different line or suggesting words to use. Write the class poem on the board.
Your pupils are now ready to go and write their own poem inspired by Roald Dahl.
Plenary
Differentiation
Notes
This is a 5-10 minute activity. Ask the
children to work in pairs to read their
poem to their partner. Their partner is
to provide feedback; something they
like about the poem and a suggestion
on how it could be improved. To extend
the activity to a second lesson ask the
children to redraft, copy up and illustrate
their poem. You can also ask pupils to
read their finished poems out to the class.
To challenge more able pupils ask
them to use rhyme in their poem.
Provide thesauruses and ask for lots
of adjectives. You can also let them
choose a Roald Dahl book of their
choice to base their poem on.
This is a one-hour activity. Alternatively the
introductory work can be done in class and
the poem can be written as homework.
This lesson plan is also suitable for after
school clubs and extra-curricular activities.
For less able pupils provide a list of
key words they are to include. They
can work in pairs or small groups
to create a joint poem and have the
support of an adult to assist them.
Thanks to Claire (Education Team) at
The Roald Dahl Museum and Story
Centre for guidance on this lesson
plan. Lesson plan created 2010.
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Other Roald Dahl titles to consider as inspiration for your pupils:
The BFG (Tip – can your pupils create a giant and write
a poem about all the disgusting things he does?)
Fantastic Mr Fox (Tip – pupils could write a limerick, or
a poem about something they think is ‘fantastic’.)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Tip - The Roald Dahl
Museum’s website has details of characters who were edited
out of the book – pupils could make up a poem based on their
names, imagining what they think the character would be like.)
George’s Marvellous Medicine (Tip – what would your
pupils put in their own ‘marvellous medicine’?)
Danny Champion of the World (Tip – pupils can write a
heart-felt poem about their dad, or other favourite person.)
Dirty Beasts (Tip – how about writing a poem dedicated to their pet,
or all about the kind of animal they’d love to own – real or imaginary.)
Esio Trot (Tip – pupils could write a riddle about someone
or something of their choice, using the answer to their
riddle as the title, spelt backwards of course.)
James and the Giant Peach (Tip – pupils could write their
poem based on an amazing adventure or journey.)
Little Red Riding Hood (Tip – ask pupils to re-tell a
folktale or fairy story in rhyme, like Roald Dahl.)
Matilda (Tip – pupils could write a rhyme about their teacher!)
Snow White (Tip – pupils could write a poem
from a different character’s point of view.)
Tips and Techniques
Roald Dahl was the master of rhyme – especially rhyming couplets. What is a rhyming couplet? Let us explain a bit more about rhyme:
Rhyming Couplets
Rhyming couplets means 2 successive lines rhyme. This is one of
the oldest and most popular poetry techniques. Rhyming couplets
create a natural rhythm and rhymes are easy to remember:
In the midnight-dark sky sat the white moon
He won’t be there long as morning will come soon.
Rhyming couplets mean the same 2 successive lines
must rhyme, but you can use rhyme on alternate lines:
In the midnight-dark sky sat the white moon,
Watching over us, he and the stars hand in hand,
He won’t be there long as morning will come soon,
And he’ll fade away as dawn breaks over the land.
Tip – use an online rhyming dictionary to help you if you are stuck!
Examples
The Mixture
(Inspired by ‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’ by Roald Dahl)
The Bogey Man
(Inspired by ‘The BFG’ and ‘Revolting Rhymes’ by Roald Dahl)
In I add some minty paste
That will give it a pleasant taste
Then a dash of raspberry shampoo
That will make a nice-smelling brew
A shake of talc, a squirt of bubbles
Uh-oh here comes Mum … I’m in trouble!
The Bogey Man is big and mean
He’s dripping in snot, all juicy and green,
He doesn’t live under your bed
But walks amongst us in disguise instead.
He’s fat and squidgy, he looks like a bogey
His clothes are green and a bit fogey,
His fingernails are covered in mildew
He’s old and crusty, nowhere near new.
He loves winter, it’s time for colds and flu
He sucks on dirty tissues left by me and you,
He picks crusties from underneath chairs
He’s disgusting, doesn’t even pick out the hairs.
‘Brillummy bogeys, scrumdiumpious snot,
I totally love the stuff, I eat every last dot,
I am the Bogey Man, I am King of Green
I’ll get your bogeys by ANY means!’
Ytak
(Inspired by ‘Esio Trot’ by Roald Dahl)
She is as small as a tiny mouse
She is as noisy as fireworks
She is as smiley as a clown
She is as pink as worm
She is as warm as the summer
She is my baby sister, Katy!
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