Suddenly!

Buy This Book * More books by Colin McNaughton

Preston Pig is walking down the street, unaware of the hungry wolf waiting around the corner, when SUDDENLY the pig remembers he has left something behind and turns away at the last second, leaving the wolf to fall flat on his face. The wolf pursues the little pig throughout the day, but each time, quite unaware, the pig evades him until in the end the wolf gets his come-uppance in an unexpected and hilarious way.

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

Can you use the title ‘Suddenly!’ for a story of your own?
Start some different sentences with the word ‘Suddenly?’. Which one is the most exciting? Why?
‘Suddenly’ is an adverb. Can you find out what adverbs are? Can you find some more? Make a display to show the different adverbs that you find.
Before reading the story, look at the illustration on the front cover. What do you think might happen? Could you write your own story based on your prediction?
Preston was ‘walking’ home from school. Can you think of any other ways of describing how a person can walk (e.g. trot, skip, saunter). Can you think of faster / slower ways of moving and put these in order from slowest to fastest?
Look at the use of punctuation (full stops, exclamation marks, brackets etc.). Can you make up your own sentences that include each of these?
Retell the story from the wolf’s point of view. How did he feel about each catastrophe that happened to him?
Create some thought bubbles for Preston and the wolf in each of the illustrations.

Maths

The illustration on the cover has a very large shadow. Find out how shadows are formed. How can we make our shadows larger / smaller?

Science

The illustration on the cover has a very large shadow. Find out how shadows are formed. How can we make our shadows larger / smaller?

Computing

Use WordArt (or a similar tool) to create a bright and colourful ‘picture’ of the word ‘Suddenly’. Can you create more for other adverbs and add these to a display?

Design Technology

Design a new playground for Preston to play in.

Art

Look at the illustration on the front cover. Can you draw some shadows and silhouettes of different animals / objects?
Look at how the illustrator has used lines and smoke in the pictures to show action / movement. Can you draw your own illustrations that convey fast movements?

Music

Listen to this theme for the Preston Pig cartoon. Can you make up another song for him?

Geography

Draw a map showing all of the places that Preston visited in the story.

Physical education

Tap dancing is not allowed at Pig School. Can you plan and perform a different type of dance for Preston and his friends?

PSHE

Billy the bully shoves past Preston on the slide. Discuss bullying and how it affects people. How should Billy have behaved?