New
New
Year 3

Engaging with 'The Sheep Pig'

I can summarise the opening of 'The Sheep-Pig'.

New
New
Year 3

Engaging with 'The Sheep Pig'

I can summarise the opening of 'The Sheep-Pig'.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Narrative openings often introduce the protagonist and set the scene.
  2. In the opening, the plot of the story is introduced.
  3. 'The Sheep-Pig' is set on a farm in England.
  4. The protagonist in 'The Sheep-Pig' is Babe who appears to be unique.

Common misconception

Children may try to include every detail when summarising the story.

Model how to summarise effectively, choosing only the key pieces of information from the plot. You may add some illustrations from the text.

Keywords

  • Opening - The opening of a story establishes the setting, introduces key characters and sets the tone, creating the foundation for the narrative.

  • Fiction - Fiction is when authors create made up stories with characters, places and adventures which did not happen in real life.

  • Summarise - To summarise means to pull out the key events and ideas from the text.

  • Structure - Story structure refers to the order of events within a narrative that gives it a coherent and engaging flow.

Children could read aloud independently or in pairs, depending on reading ability. It would be beneficial for the teacher to also read the chapters of the text aloud to support children's understanding.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the 2023 Penguin Random House edition of ‘The Sheep-Pig’ by Dick King-Smith.

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:narrative,writing that tells a story

writing that tells a story

Correct Answer:fiction,a story that is made up or imagined

a story that is made up or imagined

Correct Answer:non-fiction,a text that contains facts and true information

a text that contains facts and true information

Q2.
Based on the front cover, what type of text do you think this is?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: fiction
non-fiction
dictionary
Q3.
Based on the front cover, what type of text is this?
An image in a quiz
fiction
Correct answer: non-fiction
dictionary
Q4.
What is a character in a fiction text?
a picture in a book
where a story takes place
Correct answer: a person or animal in a story
Q5.
What is the plot in a fiction story?
where the story takes place
Correct answer: what happens in the story
the pictures in the story
Q6.
Match the role to its definition.
Correct Answer:author,a person who writes the words that make up a text

a person who writes the words that make up a text

Correct Answer:illustrator,a person who creates art or images that make up a text

a person who creates art or images that make up a text

Correct Answer:publisher,a company that publishes a book

a company that publishes a book

Q2 Magic Candies, Heena Baek, Sophie Bowman, AmazonCrossing Kids Q3 Talking History: 150 years of world-changing speeches, Dr Joan Lennon, Dr Joan Dritsas Haig, André Ducci, Templar Publishing

6 Questions

Q1.
Who is the author of 'The Sheep-Pig'?
Dick King-Madden
Correct answer: Dick King-Smith
King Smith
Q2.
True or False? Dick King-Smith often wrote stories about the relationships between humans and animals.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q3.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:summarise,to pull out the key events and ideas from the text

to pull out the key events and ideas from the text

Correct Answer:structure,the order of events within a narrative that helps it flow

the order of events within a narrative that helps it flow

Correct Answer:opening,the beginning of the story introducing setting and character

the beginning of the story introducing setting and character

Q4.
What does the opening of a story usually do?
Correct answer: It introduces the main characters.
It solves the problem.
Correct answer: It introduces the setting.
Q5.
What did Farmer Hogget have to guess correctly in order to win the pig at the fair?
his name
Correct answer: his weight
his height
Q6.
How did the piglet react when Farmer Hogget picked him up to feel how much he weighed?
He screamed very loudly.
He wriggled out of his hands.
Correct answer: He remained calm and didn't squeal.