This whimsical tale of friendship, courage, and the power of dreams is perfect for upper elementary readers, and I’ve got a collection of ideas to make teaching a BFG book study as fun as frobscottle and whizzpopping (without all the mess!). If there’s one thing we teachers know, it’s that a good book can transform a classroom. And when that book is The BFG by Roald Dahl, you’re in for a magical ride full of giggles, gasps, and some serious literary growth for your students.
Quick Summary of The BFG
In case you need a refresher, The BFG tells the story of Sophie, an orphan who befriends the Big Friendly Giant (BFG), a kind-hearted giant who refuses to eat children like the less-friendly giants that visit from Giant Country. Together, Sophie and the BFG come up with a clever plan to stop the other giants from terrorizing children around the world. With Roald Dahl’s signature humor, unforgettable characters, and made-up words galore, this book has been a student favorite in my classroom for years.
Fun and Creative Classroom Ideas for The BFG Book
1. Dream Jars: Bring the Magic to Life
In the story, the BFG collects and mixes dreams to share with children. Have your students create their own dream jars! Collect empty spaghetti sauce jars, paper, and art supplies, then let students write and illustrate their dream on a small slip of paper to “trap” inside. You can even add glitter or glow-in-the-dark paint to make them sparkle.
2. Invent Your Own Gobblefunk Words
Roald Dahl’s made-up language is half the fun a BFG book study. Challenge your students to create their own gobblefunk-inspired words and use them in sentences. Make sure to model how to add context to sentences that will help the reader infer the meaning of their made-up words. Once students get the hang of it, you can even turn it into a class dictionary!
3. Giant vs. Human Perspective Writing
The BFG sees the world from a very different perspective than Sophie. Have your students write a journal entry from the point of view of a giant or a human. How does the world look different? What challenges or funny moments might they experience? This is a great way to get kids thinking about point of view and descriptive writing. The picture book Hey Little, Ant by Phillip Hoose is a great example to further help students think about telling stories from different points of view.
4. Map the Journey
Using clues from the book, challenge students to create a map of the story’s key locations, like Giant Country, the Queen’s palace, and the orphanage. This activity is perfect for visual learners and can spark discussions about setting and plot development.
5. Character Talk Circles
Divide students into small groups of 3-5 and provide each group with character cards featuring names from the BFG book. Each student will draw a card and take on the role of that character. The other group members will ask questions, and the student in character will respond based on their knowledge of the story. This interactive activity promotes comprehension, inferring, and public speaking skills while encouraging lively group discussions.
Pull it all together with a BFG Book Study Packet
If you’re looking for a way to tie all this creativity together with some solid skill-building, I’ve got you covered. This BFG book study resource is designed to help your students dive deeper into the book while practicing essential comprehension and literary analysis skills. The resource includes:
- Chapter-by-chapter comprehension questions and vocabulary to ensure students are keeping up.
- Writing prompts that encourage critical thinking.
- Activities that integrate story elements, themes, and character analysis.
It’s all ready to go—just print and teach! Whether you’re a seasoned Dahl fan or introducing The BFG book for the first time, this novel study will make your life easier and your teaching more impactful.
Ready for Giant-Sized Fun?
The BFG book stays with kids long after they’ve turned the last page. With these activities and novel study resources, you can create a magical experience for your students that’s as big and friendly as the BFG himself. Have fun, and don’t forget to bring the frobscottle!
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