The Monster Bed

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Little Dennis doesn’t want to go to sleep because there might be something under his bed. Dennis isn’t afraid of monsters – after all, he’s a monster himself. He’s afraid that humans will get him. His mother says that humans are only in made-up stories, but Dennis is not convinced.

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

• Look at the use of rhyming in the story. Can you find the rhyming words?
• Rewrite the story from Dennis’ (or from the boy’s) point of view.
• Can you ‘act’ the story and perform it to an audience? You might want to find some props to help you and add sound effects / music too.
• Dennis the monster is frightened of humans. Can you write a new story about something or somebody that is frightened of something unusual (e.g. an elephant that is scared of a mouse, a spider that is scared of flies)?
• Write a bedtime story for Dennis that will help to calm his fears.
• Think about a dream that Dennis might have. Can you write a story about it?
• Imagine that Dennis and the boy met again and became friends. What adventures might they have together?
• Watch Monsters Inc. and think about the jobs that monsters might have.

Science

• Imagine that a monster was a real animal and write a report about it, describing its habitat, diet, adaptations etc. (see Resources below).

Computing

• Make a poster that tells people to keep out of the Cobbeldy Cave as a monster has been sighted there.
• Use art software to create your own monster picture.
• Use Build Your Wild Self to create your own unusual creature / monster!

Design Technology

• Use craft materials to make a model of Dennis and / or the cave where he lives.
• Could you make a life-size model of a monster?

Art

• Draw a picture of a goblin, ghoulie, gnome, troll, pixie, fairy or monster.
• Look at existing pictures of monsters. Could you try to recreate one of these using different types of art materials?

Music

• Compose a tune that will help to calm Dennis at night time.

Geography

• Draw a map of the Withering Wood to help the boy find his way back to school when he gets lost.

PSHE

• The boy plays ‘truant from school’. What does this mean? Why isn’t this a good thing to do?

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