'Animal Farm': reading Chapter 4 and considering Snowball as a leader
I can explain what happens in Chapter 4 of ‘Animal Farm’ and consider Snowball’s role in ‘The Battle of the Cowshed’.
'Animal Farm': reading Chapter 4 and considering Snowball as a leader
I can explain what happens in Chapter 4 of ‘Animal Farm’ and consider Snowball’s role in ‘The Battle of the Cowshed’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The pigs position themselves as leaders and take advantange of the other animals' relative stupidity.
- The animals seek to spread news of their revolution to other farms.
- Snowball shows exceptional valour in the 'Battle of the Cowshed'.
- The simplifying of the commandments into one maxim, means the rules of Animalism lack nuance.
Keywords
Valour - If someone shows great courage in the face of danger, they can be said to be showing valour.
Propaganda - Propaganda refers to biased information, created to promote a political cause.
Maxim - Maxims are short statements expressing general truths or rules. In Animal Farm ‘Four legs good, two legs bad’ is a maxim.
Nuance - Nuance refers to the subtle changes and variations in something’s meaning.
Hierarchy - A hierarchy is any system in which members of an organisation are ranked by authority or value.
Common misconception
All animals were equally responsible for the defence of Animal Farm.
Snowball and Boxer were instrumental in the victory. Mollie deliberately shied away and Napoleon was curiously unmentioned.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Animal Farm': reading Chapter 4 and considering Snowball as a leader, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Animal Farm': reading Chapter 4 and considering Snowball as a leader, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Animal Farm: the pigs and power unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended