Bertie and Millie first meet when a kite becomes caught in a tree. Design and build simple kites using dowelling, plastic bags (or paper) and string. This will support work on 2D/3D shape, measuring and properties of materials. For many children this may be their first experience of flying a kite and their feelings from this could be captured through diary or poetry writing. This reading comprehension is a brilliant way to prepare your Year 6 students for their KS2 SATs exams.

Michael Morpurgo | All Saints Catholic Primary School

The story is that of a boy, Michael, running away from boarding school and meeting an old woman who tells him of another young boy, Bertie, who had once done the same. The lion cub is sold to Monsieur Merlot to be the star of his circus. In music and dance, explore The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens (can the children work out which animals are being portrayed in the different sections?). Create a dance for the majestic lion by splitting his music into sections which tell a story – his entrance, embodying the animal through static shapes; looking around; moving as the animal using different pathways; coming together into a larger group. Extend this approach so that groups work on different animals. There was impala meat, whenever he wanted it. And as he grew, and he grew fast, he wanted more and more of it. For the first time in his life, Bertie was totally happy." But... it doesn't last. Soon, Bertie is sent away to a school in England, and the lion cub is sold, to a circus in France. For more information about the work of Farms for City Children, please visit www.farmsforcitychildren.org David Wood, chair of Action for Children’s Arts, said Morpurgo is “one of our greatest storytellers”.When Michael Morpurgo was asked to name his favourite of the books he’s written, he named The Butterfly Lion (along with Kensuke’s Kingdom, War Horse and Private Peaceful). What predictions or connections can you make between the lion in South Africa and the lion that Bertie sees on the hillside in England based on what Natalie said? Morpurgo added: “Storymakers and storytellers like Barrie, and like all the previous winners of this award, have given us the hope and faith children need, we need, to keep flying, have sustained us through dark and troubled times, have banished doubt. To touch the lives of children, to witness their listening and reading silence, is reward enough in itself. This is simply the icing on the cake.” The Butterfly Lion transports the reader/listener to two very different continents and several different stages in time. It takes you on a rich journey of adventure,loneliness,loss,sadness,hope,love,friendship,determination and joy.

Guided Reading: The Butterfly Lion | Teaching Resources Guided Reading: The Butterfly Lion | Teaching Resources

Eventually, Bertie had to return to England to attend a boarding school, and the lion - not deemed fit to survive in the wild on its own - was sold to a circus. Find out about the use of animals in circuses and write a balanced argument showing the arguments for and against this practice. Bertie wanted to run away from his boarding school in Wiltshire to London. On a map can you find Wiltshire? London? Bertie ‘yearns’ to be out in the veld with the animals. What does ‘yearn’ mean? How you ever ‘yearned’ for something?This lovely reading comprehension also comes with a set of questions, which test how well the children have understood the text. Michael Morpurgo has thrilled and delighted huge numbers of young readers since becoming a children’s author in the early 1970s," Wood said. "Action for Children’s Arts is delighted to recognise Michael’s outstanding contribution by presenting him with the J M Barrie Award 2016. His work will undoubtedly, like Peter Pan, stand the test of time, making him a truly worthy recipient of this award."

Butterfly Lion: The classic story of an unforgettable The Butterfly Lion: The classic story of an unforgettable

The first paragraph in the Charity section begins 'Ten years later...set-up the charity for City Children'. The paragraph before this ends with Michael writing his first book in 1974, which then implies that the Charity was set up in 1984. However, the Charity was set up in 1976, which was ten years after he had started teaching. It might be better to start that paragraph 'Ten years after he had started teaching...' Write a set of instructions to teach somebody how to look after an animal (e.g. a lion cub, a dog, a goldfish). As the plot begins to unfold, our young runaway meetsa mysterious, but kindly old lady who (over tea and scones) draws him and the reader into the story of another child, Bertie. We learn he grew up on a remote farm in South Africa living in a closed compound with little company. One day, looking beyond the walls, he is entranced at the sight of a white lion cub and his mother drinking at the waterhole. Featuring a fact file on Michael Morpurgo, students will love finding out fun facts and information about the much-loved children's author. The Butterfly Lion is not the only one of Michael Morpurgo’s books to feature a cat. Kaspar – Prince of Cats, Tom’s Sausage Lion, Mossop’s Last Chance, Adolphus Tips and The Nine Lives of Montezuma are also about cats.

Chapter 9

Make a list of the animals named in the book. Can you use a Venn diagram or Carroll diagram to sort them into different groups? This Michael Morpurgo ( war horse and other stories) resources ks2 reading comprehension is designed to prepare students for their KS2 SATs English exam. The war horse resources ks2 fact file is presented in the same way as the reading material which students will encounter in their SATs exams. At the start of the book, the boy is at a boarding school in Wiltshire. Write a diary entry from his point of view, explaining how he feels about being there. While I wouldn't say this is an exciting book is covers a lot of exciting issues and keeps readers with a variety of interest hooked.