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Year 5

Exploring character, setting and plot in 'How To Train Your Dragon'

I can show an understanding of the characters, plot and setting of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 5

Exploring character, setting and plot in 'How To Train Your Dragon'

I can show an understanding of the characters, plot and setting of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hiccup is not a typical hero character
  2. Stories may portray heroes in various ways
  3. There are some common character traits heroes have, such as courage and determination
  4. Authors can appeal to the senses when describing settings
  5. Role on the wall is a reading activity that helps readers develop their understanding of a character

Common misconception

Pupils may find role play as Hiccup challenging.

Note down initial impressions and character traits of Hiccup from reading Chapters 1 and 2. Discuss how pupils might 'show not tell' these before Task A.

Keywords

  • Hero - A hero is a protagonist with noble qualities, often saving or helping others.

  • Character traits - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.

  • Role on the wall - Role on the wall is a character analysis activity which encourages readers to infer.

You may wish to continue role on the wall of the key characters in the story (Hiccup, Snotlout, Toothless) displaying these during the remaining lessons, adding information as pupils read more. Before the following lesson, read Chapters 3-6. Children can read independently or have this read to them.
Teacher tip

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

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is the correct spelling for the mythical creature that Hiccup must capture?
dragoon
dragone
Correct answer: dragon
dragen
Q2.
Who is the illustrator of 'How to Train Your Dragon'?
Correct Answer: Cressida Cowell, cressida cowell, Cressida cowell
Q3.
Which of the following is a suitable example of a perilous situation?
Correct answer: Hiccup sneaked into the dragon's lair, cautious.
Surrounded by loved ones, Hiccup felt a warm sense of belonging and happiness.
Correct answer: Fishlegs balanced precariously on a narrow cliff ledge.
Hiccup skipped happily through the meadow.
Q4.
Which of the following situations might be claustrophobic?
Walking freely in a wide, empty hallway.
Swimming in a vast, open ocean.
Correct answer: Stuck in an elevator during a power outage.
Correct answer: Locked in a small, windowless room.
Q5.
True or False? At the beginning of the text, Hiccup is a strong, confident leader.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q6.
Match the following adjectives to the characters encountered so far in the text.
Correct Answer:Gobber ,loud, tall, strong

loud, tall, strong

Correct Answer:Snotlout,boastful, mean

boastful, mean

Correct Answer:Hiccup,apprehensive, unsure

apprehensive, unsure

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their correct definitions.
Correct Answer:hero,a character with noble qualities, often saving or helping others

a character with noble qualities, often saving or helping others

Correct Answer:character traits,the qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting

the qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting

Correct Answer:role on the wall,a character analysis activity which encourages readers to infer

a character analysis activity which encourages readers to infer

Q2.
True or False? Rocks covered in snow made their climbing up the cliff challenging.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q3.
Which of the senses does Cressida Cowell appeal to when she describes the cave?
Correct answer: smell
Correct answer: sight
taste
Q4.
Order the following events that occur in Chapter 2.
1 - The boys climb the cliff face.
2 - Hiccup enters the cavern first.
3 - Fishlegs sneezes and wakes up the dragons.
4 - Gobber fends off the dragons at the cave's entrance.
5 - Hiccup jumps into the sea beneath the cliff.
Q5.
What causes Fishlegs to wake up the dragons in the cave?
yawning
falling
Correct answer: sneezing
slipping
Q6.
Which of the following would go on the outside of Hiccup's outline in the role on the wall activity?
Correct answer: red hair
worrying about what might happen
Correct answer: jumping into sea
Correct answer: giving his dragon to Fishlegs
brave as he was climbing the cliff face