New
New
Year 4

Describing the setting in 'The Borrowers'

I can write a setting description from ‘The Borrowers’.

New
New
Year 4

Describing the setting in 'The Borrowers'

I can write a setting description from ‘The Borrowers’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The setting of ‘The Borrowers’ is the Clock family home, which is underneath the floorboards of an old, English house.
  2. A preposition of place is a word or words that can tell the reader where a noun is.
  3. Prepositions and precise vocabulary are crucial for describing an intricate setting.
  4. Relative complex sentences are useful for adding details about nouns within a setting.

Keywords

  • Setting - where the story takes place

  • Preposition - a word or words that can tell the reader where a noun is

  • Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

  • Repurposed - to use something for a different purpose to the one for which it was originally intended

Common misconception

Pupils may start describing the details of the Clock home in the frst paragraph.

Clearly remind pupils that paragraph one should be describing where the Clock family home is located in relation to the main house. Paragraph two will give details of their home.

You may wish to split this lesson in to two lessons; lesson one could be planning and lesson two could be writing.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2014 Puffin Books edition of ‘The Borrowers’ by Mary Norton 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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a setting?
Correct answer: where the story takes place
who the main characters are
what the plot is
Q2.
At which point in a narrative is the setting normally described?
Correct answer: the opening
the build-up
the climax
the resolution
Q3.
Where is 'The Borrowers' set?
in an English field
Correct answer: in an English house
in an English factory
Q4.
Match the character name to who they are.
Correct Answer:Pod,father of the Clock family

father of the Clock family

Correct Answer:Homily,mother of the Clock family

mother of the Clock family

Correct Answer:Arrietty,13 year old daughter of the Clock family

13 year old daughter of the Clock family

Q5.
Which part of the house do the Clock family live under?
the hallway
the master bedroom
Correct answer: the kitchen
Q6.
What is the access point to the upstairs for the Clock family?
a hole in the skirting board
Correct answer: a hole at the bottom of the hallway clock
a hole in the staircase

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a preposition?
a word that describes a noun
Correct answer: a word or words that can tell the reader where a noun is
a sentence starter
Q2.
Match the sentence starters to the correct preposition.
Correct Answer:They lived,underneath the kitchen floorboards.

underneath the kitchen floorboards.

Correct Answer:They entered the house,through a hole at the bottom of the hallway clock.

through a hole at the bottom of the hallway clock.

Correct Answer:They borrowed items,from the human "beans" upstairs.

from the human "beans" upstairs.

Q3.
What was the Clock family home made up of?
items bought from the shop
items given to them as a gift
Correct answer: borrowed items from human "beans" that they repurposed
Q4.
Match the human item to what it is used for in the Clock family home.
Correct Answer:handwritten letters,wallpaper

wallpaper

Correct Answer:postage stamps,art on the wall

art on the wall

Correct Answer:jewellery box,sofa/bench

sofa/bench

Q5.
What is a relative complex sentence?
a sentence made up of one main clause
a sentence made up of two main clauses and a coordinating conjunction
a sentence made up of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause
Correct answer: a sentence made up of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause
Q6.
Which of the following are relative pronouns used to begin a relative subordinate clause?
when
where
Correct answer: who
Correct answer: which