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Year 3

Exploring themes in 'The Iron Man'

I can explore the main themes in ‘The Iron Man’.

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New
New
Year 3

Exploring themes in 'The Iron Man'

I can explore the main themes in ‘The Iron Man’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Iron Man goes from being feared due to his difference, to being understood, accepted and ultimately admired.
  2. A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story and authors use these to convey deeper meaning.
  3. Considering the deeper meaning behind the Iron Man’s story can help us identify themes.
  4. Key themes such as difference, perception and understanding are explored through the Iron Man’s character arc.
  5. The themes within ‘The Iron Man’ help us learn important lessons about issues and topics in our own lives.

Common misconception

Children may have misconceptions around the Iron Man's character arc and think that this focuses on how he changes as a character.

Explain that the main focus of the Iron Man's character arc is not how he changes, but how the way in which he is perceived by others changes. You can also explore the concept that acceptance allows people to show the best of themselves.

Keywords

  • Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

  • Difference - a way in which people or things are dissimilar

  • Perception - the way in which something or someone is viewed or interpreted

  • Understanding - showing that you realise someone’s true feelings and intentions

Ensure children have read or listened to the whole of the story prior to this lesson. Recap key events and summarise the story together.
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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who is the author of 'The Iron Man'?
Tom Hughes
Correct answer: Ted Hughes
Hugh Thomas
Q2.
Who is the protagonist in 'The Iron Man'?
the space-bat-angel-dragon
Hogarth
Correct answer: the Iron Man
Q3.
Put the summaries of each chapter of the story in the correct order to show their chronology.
1 - The Iron Man fell off a cliff, broke into pieces and put himself back together.
2 - The Iron Man ate the farmers' machinery. They responded angrily by burying him.
3 - The Iron Man resurfaced. Hogarth found a solution & took him to a scrapyard.
4 - The space-bat-angel-dragon threatened the Earth.
5 - The Iron Man battled and defeated the dragon, protecting the Earth.
Q4.
True or false? Humanity views the Iron Man the same way throughout the story.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q5.
Put the following perceptions of the Iron Man in order to show how the he is viewed over the course of the story.
1 - mysterious/different
2 - feared/hated
3 - understood/accepted
4 - respected/needed
5 - admired/celebrated
Q6.
What skill do we use to uncover the deeper meaning behind a story?
retrieving key words
Correct answer: inference
sequencing events

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a theme?
a summary of what happens in a story
Correct answer: a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
a character's journey within a story
Q2.
True or false? Themes within a text are explicitly stated by the author.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q3.
Which of the following are key themes in 'The Iron Man'?
Correct answer: difference
family
Correct answer: perception
Correct answer: understanding
nature
Q4.
Match each theme to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:difference,a way in which people or things are dissimilar

a way in which people or things are dissimilar

Correct Answer:perception,the way in which something or someone is viewed or interpreted

the way in which something or someone is viewed or interpreted

Correct Answer:understanding,showing that you realise someone’s true feelings and intentions

showing that you realise someone’s true feelings and intentions

Q5.
Match each theme to how it is explored in the story.
Correct Answer:difference,The protagonist is a robot in a human world.

The protagonist is a robot in a human world.

Correct Answer:perception,Humanity's view of the Iron Man changes.

Humanity's view of the Iron Man changes.

Correct Answer:understanding,Hogarth empathises with the Iron Man and sees his true intentions.

Hogarth empathises with the Iron Man and sees his true intentions.

Q6.
Which of the following are lessons that could be learnt from the story?
If somebody is different, you should fear them.
Correct answer: You should not judge or treat somebody based on their differences.
Correct answer: It is important to show understanding and acceptance towards others.
The way you see something is always accurate and true.