The Butterfly Lion: Michael Morpurgo

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What predictions or connections can you make between the lion in South Africa and the lion that Bertie sees on the hillside in England based on what Natalie said? This lovely reading comprehension also comes with a set of questions, which test how well the children have understood the text. The lion cub is sold to Monsieur Merlot to be the star of his circus. In music and dance, explore The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens (can the children work out which animals are being portrayed in the different sections?). Create a dance for the majestic lion by splitting his music into sections which tell a story – his entrance, embodying the animal through static shapes; looking around; moving as the animal using different pathways; coming together into a larger group. Extend this approach so that groups work on different animals. As the plot begins to unfold, our young runaway meetsa mysterious, but kindly old lady who (over tea and scones) draws him and the reader into the story of another child, Bertie. We learn he grew up on a remote farm in South Africa living in a closed compound with little company. One day, looking beyond the walls, he is entranced at the sight of a white lion cub and his mother drinking at the waterhole. Michael's books have been translated into many languages including Chinese, Bulgarian and Hungarian, Hebrew and Japanese. He travels all over the UK and abroad talking to people of all ages at literary festivals, telling his stories and encouraging them to tell theirs.

Butterfly Lion: The classic story of an unforgettable The Butterfly Lion: The classic story of an unforgettable

Look at a picture of a white lion cub and think of vocabulary to describe it? (see Resources below). The tale follows the young boy who meets a number of people, the most important of which is an old lady who tells the boy a story of her (and her husbands) life, this is where the lion also comes in to it.

How does this reading comprehension prepare for KS2 SATs?

Make a list of the animals named in the book. Can you use a Venn diagram or Carroll diagram to sort them into different groups? When Michael Morpurgo was asked to name his favourite of the books he’s written, he named The Butterfly Lion (along with Kensuke’s Kingdom, War Horse and Private Peaceful). The KS2 SATs style reading material covers his early life, his involvement with charities and his many achievements. Try to research the place 'Timbavati', where Bertie was born. What is the environment like there? Who lives there? What is there to do in the local area? How is it similar / different to where you were born? The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity. Can you find out more about the work that it does? Could you plan and carry out some fundraising activities to support it?

The Butterfly Lion - Teaching Ideas

He threw open the gate, and charged down the hill towards the water hole, yelling and screaming, and waving his arms like a wild thing. Startled at this sudden intrusion, the hyenas turned-tail and ran. But not far. Once within range, Bertie hurled a broadside of pebbles at them, and they ran off again. But again, not far. Then he was at the water hole, David Wood, chair of Action for Children’s Arts, said Morpurgo is “one of our greatest storytellers”. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments This book, The Butterfly Lion, is such a wonderful story. It's about a boy called Bertie. He lives with his parents, on a remote farm in the wild countryside of South Africa.How different would life be if your best friend ware a lion? This is just one of the questions explored by Michael Morpurgo in The Butterfly Lion. Told through recollections of a childhood friend, we are plunged into the past to learn about Bertie’s time growing up in South Africa, his transferral to an English boarding school and subsequently his role as a soldier in the First World War. However it is the themes of friendship, loyalty and overcoming the odds that children will identify with most in this wide-ranging tale. Key Stage 1 1. Introducing the text Sitting high up in a tree, or looking out of his window, Bertie watches the beautiful elephants, giraffes and zebras come down to the water hole. But it's the lions, Bertie likes best of all. And when, one morning, he sees a baby lion cub trying to escape from some hungry hyenas, Bertie rushes out to rescue it.