1. Teaching English Through the Topic
A Scheme of Work
designed by
Gina Cocks
Upper Primary
Literacy, Science/Geography/History, Art
Curriculum Learning Objectives through the
cultural theme
St George’s Day – April 23rd
2. Teacher’s Information Sheet – St. George
By Gina Cocks
St. George is the patron saint of England. His emblem, a red cross
on a white background, is the flag of England. During the Crusade
wars the English King's soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid
confusion in battle. Saint George is popularly identified with
England and English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry, but
actually he wasn’t English at all.
St. George is believed to have been born in Cappadocia (now
Eastern Turkey) in the year A.D. 270. He was a Christian. At the
age of seventeen he joined the Roman army and soon became
renowned for his bravery. He served under a pagan Emperor but
never forgot his Christian faith.
When the pagan Emperor Diocletian started persecuting Christians,
St. George pleaded with him to spare their lives. However, St.
George's pleas fell on deaf ears and it is thought that the Emperor
Diocletian tried to make St. George deny his faith in Christ, by
torturing him. St George showed incredible courage and faith and
was finally beheaded near Lydda in Palestine on 23 April, 303.
In 1222, the Council of Oxford declared April 23 to be St George’s
Day and he replaced Edward the Confessor as England’s patron
saint in the 14th century. In 1415, April 23 was made a national
feast day. St George is patron saint not only of England but also of
Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine and Portugal
amongst others, although he is celebrated on different days.
The most famous legend of Saint George is of him slaying a dragon.
In the Middle Ages the dragon was commonly used to represent
the Devil. It is likely that the many stories connected with St
George's name are fictitious.
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3. The Legend of St. George and the Dragon
St. George travelled for many months by land and
sea until he came to Libya. Here he met an old man
who told him that everyone in that land was
frightened of a dragon.
'Every day,' said the old man, 'the dragon demands
the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden and now all the
young girls have been killed. The king's daughter
alone remains, and unless we can find a knight who
can slay the dragon she will be sacrificed tomorrow.
The king of Egypt will give his daughter in marriage
to the champion who overcomes this terrible
monster.'
When St. George heard this story, he was determined to try and
save the princess, so he rested that night at the old man’s house
and at daybreak set out to the valley where the dragon lived. When
he was near he saw a beautiful girl dressed in pure Arabian silk.
She was Princess Sabra being led by her attendants to the place of
death. The knight spurred his horse and overtook the ladies. He
comforted them with brave words and persuaded the princess to
return to the palace.
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4. As soon as the dragon saw George it rushed from its cave, roaring
with a sound louder than thunder. Its head was immense and its tail
fifty feet long. But George was not afraid. He struck the monster
with his spear, hoping he would wound it.
The dragon's scales were so hard that the spear broke and George
fell from his horse. Fortunately he rolled under an enchanted
orange tree. The dragon tried to kill George with his poisonous
breath but the magic orange tree protected him. Within a few
minutes George recovered his strength and was able to fight again.
Then with his sword in his hand, he rushed at the dragon and
pierced it under the wing where the dragon had no scales. The
dragon did not die immediately and George allowed the princess to
lead it back to the castle by a rope, like a pet dog, and then he
killed the dragon in front of all the people.
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5. History /Geography - St. George – Questions and Answers
Where and when was St.
George born?
What religious beliefs did St. George follow?
What was George’s job?
Why did George get very angry with the
Roman Emperor?
Why was George tortured and beheaded in
Palestine?
In the Middle Ages what did
the dragon often signify?
George refused to give up his Christian faith
so the Roman Emperor had him tortured and
finally beheaded.
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6. George was a very brave Roman
Soldier.
It is believed that St. George was born
in Eastern Turkey around 270 AD
During the Middle Ages the image of a Dragon
was often used to signify the Devil.
What is the Emblem of St. George?
The Roman Emperor was a pagan who
worshipped many gods, he began to
persecute Christians for their religious
beliefs and many were killed if they did
not agree to renounce their faith.
St. George’s Emblem is a red cross on a white background.
George was a Christian. His parents were also Christians.
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7. Science
Looking after a Pet Dragon
I try to link subjects through a topic. If the children have previously studied
the topic ‘Caring for Pets’, in Science it is very easy to extend their knowledge
of factual informative writing into creative writing.
‘Dear Zoo’ by Rod Campbell is a great story for introducing the children to the
problems associated with looking after different animals.
After you’ve read the story ask them to consider what problems they would
have looking after a pet dragon? Consolidate the childrens’ suggestions by
looking at the ‘Pet’s Needs’ worksheet.
Below are some resources that might be useful. (The web page can be
translated into Spanish)
pet care
http://www.first-school.ws/activities/occasions/petcare.htm
For older children you can use more factual texts - the RSPCA resources
about exotic pets for example are very good resources. The site provides
lesson plans such as the one below.
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&
pg=ReptilesPetCare
Lesson Plan: Exotic Pets
This activity looks at the complex needs of exotic pets and the responsibility
involved in looking after them.
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8. Curriculum objectives
Children should learn:
to know about the responsibilities humans have towards animals.
to know that it is important to think carefully about whether a particular pet
will suit your lifestyle.
Starter activity
What is an exotic pet?
It is difficult to give a clear definition of 'exotic'. However, any animal that is
not native to the country where it is kept in captivity can be called an exotic
animal. Generally, these animals are not adapted to the climate and wild
environment in the country where they are kept. Therefore, they are often
completely reliant on their keeper to provide the appropriate captive
environment and food they need to stay healthy and to exhibit their natural
behaviours.
The RSPCA has rescued more than 2,000 exotic animals each year, since 2000,
who were abandoned or suffering unnecessarily.
Keeping a pet can be a lifelong commitment. Therefore, it's important to do
your homework before you buy any animal. Be sure that you can provide a
suitable diet, care and captive environment for the rest of the animal's life.
Examples of exotic pets:
spiders, such as tarantulas
frogs, toads, salamanders and newts from tropical countries
green iguanas, geckos and chameleons
exotic snakes
tortoises and terrapins
parrots and other exotic birds
monkeys
chinchillas, chipmunks and gerbils.
Why does the class think that people keep exotic pets?
Main activity
Focus on iguanas
Show the pupils a photo of an iguana. (There is one on the webpage)
Tell them iguanas come from tropical places in the Caribbean and in Central
and South America.
Ask them to think about the conditions iguanas are used to in these places -
heat, sun, monsoon conditions.
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9. How do the pupils think iguanas feel when they come to the UK? How are
conditions different here?
Show the pupils the factsheet ‘Suitable pets’ and ask them to read through it
with you. Read it a second time and ask the pupils to make a note of all the
different things you need to buy to look after a green iguana properly. Ask the
class to feed back what they noted. Write a list of their suggestions, which
might include:
vivarium
thermostat
hygrometer (to measure humidity)
special lights
heat sources
food
water
plants and branches.
In pairs, ask the pupils to compare a common pet, such as a dog, with an iguana.
What are the differences? What do dogs need to be happy and healthy and
what do iguanas need?
After feeding back these ideas to the class, ask groups of pupils to decide
whether they think animals such as iguanas make good pets. Ask the class to
share their experiences of exotic pets. Do they know someone who owns one?
Do they have an exotic pet themselves?
Vocabulary
exotic captivity non-indigenous
vivarium thermostat hygrometer
humidity
Please see RSPCA photocopiable handouts.
Linking Science and Literacy
Using the children’s previous knowledge of looking after pets the teacher can
then encourage children to write a fact sheet about looking after a dragon.
They will have to decide on the size and features of their dragon. To help feed
their imaginations their are various DVD clips you could show.
Film clips – DragonHeart, St. George, My monster and me
Science Debates – Could dragons exist? What factual evidence is there?
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10. Literacy
Once the children know the story of St. George and the Dragon
they can make up their own versions of the story by changing the
characters or adding details.
Try finding different versions on the internet, or in story format.
Children should be encouraged to try writing their own books. You
may want to use the cover below to get them thinking. Don’t forget
to help them by supplying lots of vocabulary.
Activity
In pairs or groups think about the vocabulary you would give to
children.
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12. Poetry - Rhyming Pairs
George was a knight.
His armour shone bright.
One day he heard a scream,
And there was the biggest dragon he’d ever seen.
He hurried on his horse to help the Princess.
The dragon had spoilt her nice new dress.
His firey breath made a hole appear.
But George frightened him off with his long pointed spear.
Back to the castle went George and the Princess.
Where she put on a more comfortable dress.
Activity
Find the rhyming pairs and check you’re understanding of the
vocabulary.
Making up poems is much more difficult than stories but children
love rhymes. I always provide the children with a model like the one
above and words that rhyme to help them when I ask them to do
poetry.
As a class we will ‘brainstorm’ words and write between 6 and 8 of
the best keywords from the topic on the board. Then I use a
rhyming dictionary to help me select words that rhyme with the
keywords. (I always do this prior to the lesson.)
It is essential that the children understand what all the words
mean before they compose their sentences.
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13. Children should work together in groups to make up 2 sentences.
The sentences must END with a keyword or rhyming word in order
for the poem to rhyme. It is like working backwards and children
do find it difficult. To help I often give them a strip of paper with
the keyword already written on it.
When groups have their 2 sentences they can share them with the
class and they can be organised with the other sentences to make a
class poem.
Activity – Make a class poem
Each group make up two sentences, one which ends in a keyword and one which
ends in its rhyming word
For Example:
One day a knight came riding through the GORGE
He was brave and true his name was GEORGE
Key Word or phrase. Rhyming word 1 Rhyming word 2
George Gorge Forge
Sheep Weep Peep
King’s Daughter Water Slaughter
Dragon Flagon Wagon
Fear Tear Spear
Fire Shire Deep fat fryer
Happily ever after Laughter rafter
Art – Looking at Paintings
The 2 books above both have pictures of St. George and the Dragon and are
great for getting children to talk about art.
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15. Investigating and Talking about a Painting
The artist Rogier van der Weyden was born in 1400 and died 1464.
He lived in Brussels and was a busy artist with many assistants and
pupils. This painting is actually quite small, about the size of your
hand and was painted with oil paints on to wood. The painting was
completed around 1435. There is so much detail in the painting that
experts think that the artist used a very fine brush and a
magnifying glass to help him.
What is the Princess doing?
Describe what she is wearing?
What do you think the dragon stands for?
What emblem tells you the man on the horse is St. George?
What is he doing?
Who do you think lives in the castle?
Why are there bones and skulls at the bottom of the picture?
Can you see the two men on horses travelling to the castle?
Dragon Collage
Use recycled materials and paints to create a Dragon for the
classroom.
Story Boards
The class can recreate books they have read or written themselves
for displaying on the wall.
Dragon Mask
3D Dragon
Use the template below to make your own dragon.
It is very difficult to see which way he is looking.
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