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Year 3

Engaging with the opening chapter of 'The Iron Man'

I can engage with the opening chapter of ‘The Iron Man’.

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New
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Year 3

Engaging with the opening chapter of 'The Iron Man'

I can engage with the opening chapter of ‘The Iron Man’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘The Iron Man’ is a contemporary science fiction novel written by the author Ted Hughes.
  2. Science fiction is a genre of fiction that involves imaginative & futuristic concepts linked to science and technology.
  3. The opening chapter introduces a mysterious robot named the Iron Man as the protagonist.
  4. Ted Hughes creates a mysterious atmosphere in the opening chapter, which leaves the reader with many questions.
  5. A variety of linguistic techniques are used to create vivid imagery and convey a mysterious atmosphere.

Keywords

  • Science fiction - a genre of fiction that involves imaginative and futuristic concepts linked to science and technology

  • Protagonist - a main character or central figure in a story or narrative

  • Atmosphere - the tone or mood created in a section or whole of a text

  • Linguistic technique - a language device used to have a desired impact on the reader

  • Imagery - a writer’s use of highly descriptive and vivid language to paint a picture

Common misconception

Pupils may be uncertain of the different elements of a science fiction text.

You may wish to have a selection of science fiction texts available in the classroom for pupils to explore. Spend time talking through the different features of this genre.

You may wish to read the chapter to pupils ahead of this lesson, so you can spend more time in the discussion part of the lesson. Pupils can have the text read to them as a class text, or read to themselves or in pairs, depending on reading ability.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2005 Faber and Faber edition of ‘The Iron Man’ by Ted Hughes 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an author?
Correct answer: a person responsible for crafting the words that make up a text
a person responsible for creating the pictures or artwork that make up a text
a person who translates a text from one language into another
Q2.
What is the role of an illustrator?
a person responsible for crafting the words that make up a text
Correct answer: a person responsible for creating the pictures or artwork that make up a text
a person who translates a text from one language into another
Q3.
What is the definition of a 'plot'?
where a story is set
Correct answer: the main events of a story, play, book, film or show
the people, animals or things in a story
Q4.
What is a 'character'?
where the story takes place
what happens in the story
Correct answer: a person, animal, being, creature or thing in a story
Q5.
True or false? Science fiction is a type of non-fiction text.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q6.
Select the correct definition of 'atmosphere'.
a language device used to have a desired impact on the reader
Correct answer: the tone or mood created in a section or whole of a text
the repeated use of sounds, words or phrases

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the statements that are true.
Correct answer: ‘The Iron Man’ is written by Ted Hughes.
‘The Iron Man’ is a non-fiction text.
Correct answer: Ted Hughes was an English poet and children’s writer.
Correct answer: ‘The Iron Man’ has been adapted into a film and stage productions.
‘The Iron Man’ was Ted Hughes's only children's story.
Q2.
True or false? ‘The Iron Man’ is a science fiction novel.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q3.
Who is the protagonist in 'The Iron Man'?
Ted Hughes
Correct answer: the Iron Man
the seagulls
Q4.
What happened to the Iron Man when he fell off the cliff?
His body landed on the beach in a lifeless heap.
He landed on his feet and bounced back up.
Correct answer: His body broke apart and the pieces scattered across the beach.
Q5.
True or false? The atmosphere created in the first chapter could be considered 'calm and uneventful'.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q6.
Match each linguistic technique to its definition.
Correct Answer:repetition,the repeated use of sounds, words or phrases for emphasis or effect

the repeated use of sounds, words or phrases for emphasis or effect

Correct Answer:simile,the comparison of two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’

the comparison of two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Correct Answer:personification,describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human

describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human