Tidy

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Pete the badger likes everything to be neat and tidy at all times, but what starts as the collecting of one fallen leaf escalates quickly and ends with the complete destruction of the forest! Will Pete realise the error of his ways and set things right?

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

• Retell the story from Pete’s point of view.
• Write a new story about an animal that tidies something to the extreme!
• Think of words and phrases that describe the forest before and after Pete has tidied it.
• Carry out some role-play activities based on the book, e.g. interview the other forest animals to ask them what they think about Pete’s actions.
• Find all of the rhyming words in the story. Can you find other words that rhyme with these?
• Create a persuasive advert to promote Pete’s forest-cleaning services.
• Write a newspaper article about the changes that have taken place in the forest.
• Create an interview with Pete. What questions would you ask him? How might he respond?
• Make a shape poem about leaves or an acrostic poem about the forest.
• Think of examples of onomatopoeia linked to a forest / woodland habitat.
• Look at this video interview with the author. Think of some questions that you would like to ask her:

Science

• Why do trees have leaves? Can you find out and think of ways to share this information with others? Can you find out about different types of leaves?
• Make a food chain or food web based on a woodland habitat.
• Find out more about badgers. Where do they live? What do they eat? Can you write a report about them?
• What is a badger’s home called? Can you find out the special names for the homes of other animals?
• At the end of the story, the animals have a picnic. What food would these animals eat as part of a picnic?

Computing

• Make a game in which Pete has to collect all of the leaves on the forest floor.
• Create a website or video that encourages people to look after their environment.
• Look at this animated version of the story. Could you create your own animated retelling of the book?

• Could you make an animated trailer to promote the book? Here is an example:

Design Technology

• Can you create a book that has a ‘window’ in the front cover? Could you use this window in different creative ways?
• Construct a new home for Pete to use after the entrance to his home is blocked.
• Could you create a model of a badger?
• Design a machine that will help Pete tidy up the forest quickly (and without causing destruction of the environment).

Art

• Use leaves and other natural materials to create your own art.
• Draw a picture that shows the forest before and after Pete tidied it.
• Look at photos of badgers (and other forest animals) and use these as the starting point for your own pictures and paintings.
• Create some pictures of trees using finger painting. Here are some instructions from the author, Emily Gravett:

Music

• Use natural materials to make musical instruments.
• Compose a melody that reminds you of a walk through the woods.

Geography

• Make a poster, website or video that teaches people about litter and the effects that it has on the environment.
• Find the locations of forests in your local area. Could you visit some of them? Plan the journey there.
• Create a map of a local forest that shows interesting features for visitors to explore.