Zog And The Flying Doctors

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Meet the Flying Doctors: Princess Pearl, Sir Gadabout and, of course, their trusty ‘air ambulance’, Zog the dragon. There’s much to do, as they fly around tending a sunburnt mermaid, a distressed unicorn and a sneezy lion.

But should princesses really be doctors? Pearl’s uncle, the King, doesn’t think so – until he himself falls ill, and only Pearl knows how to cure him.

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

Compare this book with the original. Which do you prefer? Why?
Imagine that Zog had a different job. Write a new book about his adventures.
Write a news report about the flying doctors. Could you include an interview with Zog, Princess Pearl or Gadabout the Great?
Write a diary entry from Zog’s point of view.
Retell the story from Princess Pearl’s point of view.
Make a list of all of the rhyming words in the story. Can you think of other words that rhyme with these?
Write a ‘thank you’ letter from one of the flying doctors’ patients.
Write another book that includes Zog. What other adventures could he have?
Write a persuasive letter to Pearl’s uncle, explaining why princesses can be doctors.
Write a letter from Princess Pearl to Gadabout the Great at the time when she was locked up inside the castle.
In this book, the Flying Doctors help three characters and then need their help at the end of the story. Could you use this structure for your own story?

Science

Find out about different medicines. How do they help people? How should we use medicines safely?
Create a poster or leaflet that suggests ways that people can try to stay healthy.

Computing

Create a poster (using publishing software), make a video or produce a website to advertise the flying doctor service.
Create a game in which Zog has to fly to different locations to help people.
Use art software to create an illustration of Zog or of the castle where Pearl’s uncle lives.

Design Technology

Could you create a model of Zog?
Make a model of the Uncle’s castle.

Art

Create a new page for the book in which Pearl, Gadabout and Zog help a different patient.
Choose one of the illustrations and draw your own picture that shows the same scene from Zog’s point of view.

Music

Choose one of the verses from the book and create a melody to accompany it.
Could you learn this ‘Zog and the Flying Doctors’ song (or create one of your own)?

Geography

Can you find out about flying doctors in different parts of the world? Where do they travel to and from? Why do they have to fly to their patients?
Create a map that shows the different places shown in the story. Add labels to show where the different events took place (e.g. Where was the mermaid wailing? Where was the lion’s cave?).

History

In this story, Princess Pearl overcomes an injustice. Can you think of people who have also suffered injustice during their lives? How did they overcome this?

PSHE

Have you ever been told that you can’t do or be something? How did it make you feel?