Roald Dahl was a famous children's author born in Wales in 1916. Some of his most popular books included Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda. The lesson objectives were to learn about Dahl's life and create a fact file about him. Students created mind maps of what they knew about Dahl and watched a short video about his life before being assigned the task of making their own Roald Dahl fact file for younger students, including biography details, interesting facts, images and headings.

1. Teacher-of-English.comTeacher-of-English.com
Fantastic Mr DahlFantastic Mr Dahl

2. Roald DahlRoald Dahl
Objectives:
•To learn about
the life of
Roald Dahl
•To create a
Roald Dahl fact
file

3. StarterStarter

4. Roald DahlRoald Dahl
Roald Dahl is one of the world’s most
popular and most famous children’s
writers.
Have you read any of Roald Dahl’s
books?
In pairs complete a mind map showing
everything you know about Roald Dahl.
The next slide shows you how to create
a mind map.

6. William Shakespeare mind map

7. Roald DahlRoald Dahl
What do you know about Roald Dahl?
You have ten minutes to create a Dahl mind map.
When you have finished, discuss your mind map
with the rest of the group.

8. IntroductionIntroduction

9. Roald DahlRoald Dahl
We are going to find out about the life of this
amazing writer. By the end of today’s lesson
you should be a Roald Dahl expert!
Click here to watch a short film a

10. Roald Dahl was born on 13th September 1916 and died on 23rd
November 1990. He was a novelist, short story writer, fighter
pilot and screenwriter.
Born in Llandaff, Cardiff, to Norwegian parents, he served in
the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he
became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank
of Wing Commander. Dahl became famous in the 1940s writing
for both children and adults, and became one of the world's
bestselling authors. He has been referred to as “one of the
greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century” and his
books are well loved for their fantastic characters and often
very dark humour.
Some of his most popular works include James and the Giant
Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox,
Matilda, The Witches, and The Big Friendly Giant.
Roald Dahl brief biographyRoald Dahl brief biography

11. 1.1.When was Roald Dahl born andWhen was Roald Dahl born and
when did he die?when did he die?
2.2.List three of Roald’s jobs.List three of Roald’s jobs.
3.3.When did Roald’s stories first gainWhen did Roald’s stories first gain
popularity?popularity?
4.4.Name three of Roald Dahl’s books.Name three of Roald Dahl’s books.
5.5.Where did Roald write his stories?Where did Roald write his stories?
6.6.Describe a typical day’s writingDescribe a typical day’s writing
routine.routine.
Check your understandingCheck your understanding

12. DevelopmentDevelopment

13. Create a Roald Dahl fact file for Year 5 pupils.
Things to include:
•Provide a brief biography of Roald Dahl
•Include some interesting and unusual facts
•Use headings, columns, colour and images
•Use appropriate language and style for a Year 5 reader
TASKTASK

14. RememberRemember
•Use information from the brief biography
and the video
•Use language suitable for a Year 5 reader
•Create an effective eye catching layout
•Use images to illustrate information in your
fact file
•Do more Roald research using books, the
internet and the school library
•Make it fun to read
•Use colour and bold headlines
•Produce your best work

15. Layout and ImagesLayout and Images
It is a good idea to print off some imagesimages from
the internet that you can use in your fact file.
Remember that your images should be relevant
to the subject matter and illustrate or
emphasise something in the text.
Think about the layout of your fact file. Try to
make your fact file look fun and interesting.
Think about the audience (readers aged 9/10)
when deciding how to set out the page.
Study the use of images and layout in the
example on the following slide.

16. Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a novelist,
short story writer, poet,
fighter pilot and
screenwriter. Born in
Wales to Norwegian
parents, he served in the
British Royal Air Force ……
Did you know?
•Roald Dahl was a fighter pilot
during World War Two.
•Roald was 6ft 6 inches tall.
•He wrote most of his books in his
garden shed!
Fab
Facts

17. Create your fact fileCreate your fact file
Now create your fact file.

18. PlenaryPlenary

19. The Finished ArticleThe Finished Article
When you have finished display yourWhen you have finished display your
workwork in the classroom.in the classroom.

20. LinksLinks
The following websites will help you with your
fact file
http://www.roalddahl.com/
http://www.roalddahlday.info/
http://
www.puffinvirtuallylive.co.uk/author/roalddahlday
http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/default.aspx
http://www.roalddahlfans.com