Zog

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Zog is the keenest dragon in school. He’s also the most accident-prone. Luckily, a mysterious little girl always comes by and patches up his bumps and bruises. But will she be able to help him with his toughest test: capturing a princess?

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

• Make a list of the rhyming words used in the story. Could you make a list of rhyming words or write a story that rhymes too?
• Write a diary entry from a dragon who goes to dragon school. What did he / she learn today?
• Imagine that you are the teacher at the dragon school. Plan a lesson to show what you want the pupils to learn.
• Write a school report for Zog.
• Write a set of instructions to teach a young dragon how to fly like Zog.
• Make a shape poem about a dragon, in the shape of a dragon!
• Retell the story from the little girl’s point of view.
• In Year 2, Madam Dragon ‘implores’ the dragons to roar louder. What does ‘implore’ mean? Can you think of any synonyms?
• The story explains what the dragons learn each year at school. Could you make a story / poem about the things that you have learned during your time at school?
• Could you write a similar story showing what different creatures might learn at their own schools (e.g. a unicorn, a mermaid, a goblin)?
• Retell the story in the form of a playscript.
• The two human characters become doctors. Can you plan some questions for an interview with a real doctor?

Science

• Look at the different animals and plants shown in the illustration. How many can you identify?
• Think about the forces that are taking place when Zog learns to fly, crashes into a tree and then falls down.
• The little girl helps Zog at different points in the story. Can you learn some first aid? Could you make a poster to teach first aid skills to other people?
• Can you find out the different items that people keep in a first aid kit? What does each of these things do?
• The dragons all learn to roar as loud as possible. Can you plan an investigation to measure how loud different sounds are?
• Make a poster to teach the dragons (or people) about fire safety.
• Investigate which materials would be suitable for Sir Gadabout’s armour. Which materials are the strongest?
• Make a set of instructions to teach the dragons how to look after Sir Gadabout’s horse.

Computing

• Use publishing software to make a certificate to reward Zog for his hard work.
• Watch this book trailer by Eastbourne Library’s Chatterbooks book group. Could you make your own trailer for Zog?

Design Technology

• Make a model of Zog (or another dragon) using craft materials.
• Can you build a castle to protect a princess from dragons?
• Princess Pearl doesn’t like silly frilly dresses. Can you design some new clothes that she might like?

Art

• Look at the different dragons in the illustrations. Can you draw / paint some more?
• Find some other images of dragons and use these as the starting point for your own? (see Resources below).
• Retell the story in the form of a storyboard / comic strip.
• Look at the different colours shown in the illustrations. Can you try to make some of these colours / shades by mixing different art materials?

Music

• Compose a tune that the words in the story could be sung along to.

Geography

• Draw a map showing Zog’s route to school.

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