Engaging with the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon'
I can understand the context of ‘How to Train Your Dragon'.
Engaging with the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon'
I can understand the context of ‘How to Train Your Dragon'.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ is an illustrated chapter book.
- The text draws influences from Viking history, Norse mythology and folklore.
- The text references the notion of being a hero.
- Understanding the context of the story can help readers build connections and deepen understanding.
Keywords
Context - The context is the surrounding details that help you understand what you're reading.
Norse mythology - Norse mythology is a set of ancient tales of Scandinavian gods, beliefs, and the worlds they inhabit.
Folklore - Folklore is a genre in which oral stories are shared and passed down over time.
Impression - An impression refers to initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a text.
Common misconception
Pupils may not be familiar with some of the Norse mythology references.
Pupils could explore texts that develop their understanding of Norse myths, such as 'Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki', written by Kevin Crossley-Holland and illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love.
To help you plan your year 5 english lesson on: Engaging with the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 english lesson on: Engaging with the context of 'How To Train Your Dragon', 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 'How To Train Your Dragon': reading unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2017 Hodder Children’s Books edition of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ written and illustrated by Cressida Cowell, for this lesson.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions




a person or an animal in a story
where the story takes place
what happens in the story
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the surrounding details that help understand what you're reading
a set of ancient tales of Scandinavian gods, beliefs and worlds
a genre in which oral stories are shared and passed down over time