Creating a film can be a great way of developing children’s English skills, and Roald Dahl’s The BFG is the perfect introduction to moviemaking.
The stories and characters Roald Dahl created in his writing hut at the bottom of his Great Missenden garden have travelled the world, both through the original books and the many film adaptations based on them. They’ve captured the imagination of generations of children.
Perhaps none more so than The BFG, which remains one of the most beloved stories of friendship, bravery and the
power of dreams (sprinkled liberally with snozzcumbers and whizzpopping).
This series of lessons uses Dahl’s book to teach children about the process of filmmaking and the decisions a director
has to make when adapting a story for the screen.
Although this teaching sequence focuses on The BFG, you can use a similar approach with a different Dahl book and its
cinematic counterpart. Using The BFG will give you an excuse to revisit a classic of children’s literature and introduce pupils to some 21st-century skills.
James Clements is a writer and education adviser. Browse more Roald Dahl Day resources.
