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Year 3

Reading 'The Sheep Pig' and discussing a turning point

I can discuss a turning point in the story.

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New
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Year 3

Reading 'The Sheep Pig' and discussing a turning point

I can discuss a turning point in the story.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The plot of a story is all the events that happen in it.
  2. A narrative will have a beginning, build-up, climax and ending.
  3. Turning points in a text mark the change in direction of the plot, which affect the story.
  4. Babe forms a relationship with the sheep.
  5. Babe sucessfully herds the sheep and impresses Farmer Hogget and Fly.

Keywords

  • Plot - the sequence of events that make up the main storyline of a narrative

  • Structure - the order of events within a narrative that gives it a coherent and engaging flow

  • Turning point - a pivotal moment that significantly alters the course of the story or a character's journey

  • Stereotype - a generalised and often unfair or untrue belief about a particular group of people or things

Common misconception

Children may think that a climax and a turning point are exactly the same thing.

As you continue to read the text, discuss the climax with pupils as the highest point of tension and discuss differences.


To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Reading 'The Sheep Pig' and discussing a turning point, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to read Chapters Five and Six aloud to the children ahead of this lesson to ensure full comprehension. You could dedicate 15 minutes at the end of the day to read aloud to the children and share the story.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

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

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.
Order the four main parts of a story structure.
1 - beginning
2 - build-up
3 - climax
4 - resolution
Q2.
In 'The Sheep-Pig', what do the sheep refer to the sheepdogs as?
pigs
Correct answer: wolves
dogs
Q3.
Select the character traits that Babe shows in 'The Sheep-Pig'.
Correct answer: respectful
Correct answer: determined
rude
nasty
Correct answer: kind
Q4.
What does Babe think sheepdogs should do in order to herd sheep successfully?
ask them rudely
Correct answer: ask them politely
ask them quietly
Q5.
Order these events from the story 'The Sheep-Pig'.
1 - Farmer Hogget won a piglet at the fair and brought him back to his farm.
2 - Fly, the sheepdog, looked after the piglet, Babe.
3 - The piglet said he wanted to become a sheep-pig and so Fly started to train him.
4 - Babe became friends with Ma, the lame sheep who was in the stables.
5 - Babe started to understand the complex relationship between the sheep and Fly.
6 - Babe decides that being polite will be the successful way to herd sheep.
Q6.
True or false? Ma and Fly have a positive relationship.
Correct Answer: false, False

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:plot,the sequence of events that make up the main storyline
tick

the sequence of events that make up the main storyline

Correct Answer:structure,the order of events within a narrative
tick

the order of events within a narrative

Correct Answer:turning point,a pivotal moment or event that alters the direction
tick

a pivotal moment or event that alters the direction

Q2.
How does Babe change Mrs Hogget's perception of him in Chapter Five?
He successfully herds the sheep.
Correct answer: He saves the sheep from being stolen by 'rustlers'.
He treats her with kindness and compassion.
Q3.
At the beginning of Chapter Six, what happens when Fly tries to round the sheep?
They follow her instructions.
Correct answer: They refuse to move.
They tell her to go away.
Q4.
How did Fly manage to make the sheep move?
She asked them politely.
She continued to snap at them.
Correct answer: She jumped at one of the sheep with aggression.
Q5.
What is a stereotype?
Correct answer: A generalised & often unfair belief about a particular group of people or things
An exaggerated or blown-up version of a characteristic
An overused idea about a group of people or things
Q6.
How does Babe challenge stereotypes in 'The Sheep-Pig'?
Correct answer: Babe displays intelligence and good herding skills.
Babe cannot get the sheep to do what he wants.
Correct answer: Babe is kind in his communication with the sheep.
Babe runs just as fast as the sheepdogs.