One Camel Called Doug

Buy This Book * More books by Lu Fraser

Doug the camel is all alone, and sometimes he wonders whether one is enough (it makes playing hide and seek terribly tough…). So when at first one, then two, then three, then four more camels turn up (followed by a whole camel herd), Doug delights in the possibilities all these new friends bring. But when Doug is ‘all camelled out’ from all the excitement and it’s time to count down to bedtime, he takes just as much pleasure from the peace of being alone once again.

English:

Make your own counting book where a new character is added on each page.
Collect all of the rhyming words in the book and use them to make a rhyming dictionary.
Design a new page for the book that features SIX camels. What could they do together?
Write a set of instructions for a game of camel football.
Think of words and phrases to describe camels. Could you use similes and metaphors?
Write some speech / thought bubbles to add to the illustrations.
At one point in the story, a whole camel herd appears. Make a list of collective nouns for other animals.
Make some invitations to the camel party.
At the end of the story, Doug goes ‘THWUMP’ as he plops on the sand. Can you think of other examples of onomatopoeia?
Write a letter from Doug to his camel friends, thanking them for playing with him.
Retell this story from Doug’s (or another camel’s) point of view.
Write a sequel to this story. What adventures might Doug have another day?
Record a ‘read aloud’ video in which you retell the story. Here is an example:

Maths:

Plan the camel party. How much food and drink will you need? How much might this cost?
Make a timeline to show activities taking place during the camel party. How long might each activity take?
Count the number of camels on each page of the story. How many camels are there in the whole book?
Find out the average height of a camel and compare this to objects in your room.

Science:

Find out more about camels. Where do they live? What adaptations do they have to help them survive in desert environments?
In the following video, Brolga, who runs an animal sanctuary in Australia, helps raise a group of camels. Think of some questions you would like to ask him:

Choose other animals and compare them to camels. How are they similar / different?
How do people (and animals) use water? Why is it so important?

Computing:

Create an audio, video, or multimedia report to educate others about camels.
Design a game in which one camel has to move around an area to find out camels.
Make an animation of a camel moving across a desert.
Create an interactive quiz about camels.

Design Technology:

At the start of the story, Doug tries to play Hide and Seek alone. Design some games that he can play on his own.
Make a puppet of Doug and use this to retell the story.
Make a model of a camel using recycled materials.
Make a shelter that is suitable for desert conditions.

Art:

Create your own pictures of camels using different materials / techniques.
Make a landscape painting of a desert.
Create a comic strip that tells a new story about Doug and his friends.
Use sand art to make some desert-inspired pictures.

Music:

Make a playlist for the camel party.
Listen to traditional music from desert regions.

Geography:

Where do camels live? Use a map to find their natural habitat. How is it different to where you live?
Locate desert regions on a map and learn about their climates.
Compare different types of deserts and their unique features.
Investigate how people can adapt to living in extreme conditions.
Make your own travel brochure to persuade people to visit a desert.

History:

How have people used camels throughout history?

Physical Education:

Plan some games for the camel party.
Make a camel-inspired obstacle course.

PSHE:

Think of times when you enjoy being with others and when you like being alone. What things can you do alone, and when do you need others to be around?
What do the terms ‘alone time’ and ‘personal space’ mean? Why can they be important to us?
Act out some scenes from different points in the story and discuss how the characters might be feeling.