Bea’s Bad Day

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Bea CAN’T WAIT for her birthday. There are only three days to go, and everything is going to be PERFECT! Then snow begins to block the roads, and everything begins to go wrong. With no party, no cards, and maybe even no cake, can Bea find a way to be OK – even in the middle of a really BAD day?

English:

• Retell the story in the first person, from Bea’s point of view. You could also write diary entries for the days leading up to, on, and after her birthday.
• Write the story from the pet dog’s point of view. How does it feel about the situation?
• Make a list of synonyms for the different emotions that Bea feels during the story (e.g. excitement, surprise, disappointment, sadness).
• Make a character profile for Bea using words and phrases found in the text.
• Write a recipe for a birthday cake for Bea.
• Think of some speech / thought bubbles to accompany the illustrations in the book.
• Read the other books in the Big Bright Feelings series*. Which is your favourite? Why?
• Could you write your own story with a similar theme?
• Make a sequel to this story in which Bea has a belated birthday celebration.

Maths:

• Make a list of things that Bea might need for her birthday. Try to find their prices and calculate the total.
• Create a timetable that shows your dream birthday celebration. Use this to create some word problems for others to solve.
• Conduct a class survey to find out the things that make people feel better on a bad day.

Science:

• Research how our emotions affect our bodies (e.g. heart rate, breathing).

Computing:

• Use publishing tools to make a poster / calendar that counts down to a special event.
• Record and edit a ‘read aloud’ video of this book. Could you add video / audio effects? Here is an example:

Design Technology:

• Design some warm clothes to keep Bea and her family warm during the snowy weather.
• Design and make a pop-up birthday card for Bea.
• Make a ‘mood box’ that could be filled with items to help Bea feel better.
• Design some birthday party decorations.

Art:

• Look at the illustrations on the front and back covers. Can you draw some sketches of a character with excited and disappointed expressions?
• Look at the pictures that show when everything shatters for Bea. Could you use this technique for your own image?
• Create a landscape picture of a scene and then draw a second version where it is covered in snow.
• Turn the main events of this story into a comic strip.

Music:

• Compose a melody to accompany an animated version of this story. How might it change as Bea’s feelings change?
• Create a playlist of songs that might cheer up Bea.

Geography:

• Make a weather forecast for the day before Bea’s birthday.
• Make a weather chart for the next seven days (or for a week leading up to a special event).
• Research birthday traditions around the world. How are they similar / different to your own celebrations?
• What is snow? Find out where snow (and other forms of precipitation) comes from.

History:

• Make a family tree for Bea based on the characters mentioned in the book. Can you make your own family tree?
• Research historical figures who overcame bad days or setbacks.

Languages:

• Find out the words for ‘excitement’ and ‘disappointment’ in other languages.
• Learn how to say ‘Happy Birthday’ in different languages.

PSHE:

• Can you think of a time when something didn’t turn out quite how you expected? How did you feel? How did you deal with the situation?
• What could you do to help somebody who is disappointed by something?
• Role play a conversation between Bea and a friend who is offering advice.
• What makes a ‘bad’ day for you? How can you turn it around and change it into a good day?
• Make a list of things we can and cannot control in life. How can we deal with issues that are beyond our control?
• Make a list of everything you are grateful for. Looking at this may help when you are feeling disappointed about something else.
• Discuss what resilience means. What can we do to help us bounce back from disappointments, or when things don’t go as we expected them to?