Lesson Plans for Fantastic Mr. Fox
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Day 1
Vocabulary Words
shallow - Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth, low, not deep
p. 3 - He was so short his chin would have been under water in the shallow end of any swimming-pool in the world.
lurk - To move secretly; sneak; creep around
p. 8 - He always approached a farm with the wind blowing in his face, and this meant that if any man were lurking in the shadows ahead, the wind would carry the smell of that man to Mr. Fox's nose from far away.
crafty - Skilled in or marked by underhandedness, deviousness, or deception; sneaky; sly
p. 9 - We will wait there until he comes out. Then . . . Bang! Bang-bang-bang."
"Very clever," said Bunce. "But first we shall have to find the hole."
"My dear Bunce, I've already found it," said the crafty Bean.
glum - Moody and melancholy; dejected; down; blue; sad; low
p. 15 "It will never grow again," said Mr. Fox. "I shall be tail-less for the rest of my life." He looked very glum.
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Read Chapters 1-4.
Answer Comprehension Questions.
Activities for Chapters 1-4
Portals Skillsheets
Toilet Paper Roll Farmer http://www.dltk-bible.com/t/cfarmer.htm
Toilet Paper Roll Fox http://www.dltk-kids.com/t/cartoons/cswiper.htm
Make a Venn Diagram describing each of the farmers. See example below. Next have students illustrate each farmer. Make a display placing the Venn Diagram in the middle. Next place each farmer next to his description.
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Day 2
Vocabulary Words
desperate Undertaken out of extreme urgency or as a last resort, frantic, anxious, worried
p. 24 - Now there began a desperate race, the machines against the foxes.
extraordinary - Beyond what is ordinary or usual, odd, unusual, unexpected, surprising, bizarre
p. 28 - It was such an extraordinary sight that the crowds of people came rushing out from the surrounding villages to have a look.
obstinate - Stubbornly adhering to an attitude, opinion, or course of action, determined, stubborn, pigheaded, unmoved
p. 28 - The people jeered and laughed. But this only made the three farmers more furious and more obstinate and more determined than ever not to give up until they had caught the fox.
prance - to walk with a lofty proud step, often in an attempt to impress others, strut
p. 40 - He pulled himself up through the gap in the floor and started prancing and dancing with joy.
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Read Chapters 5-10.
Answer Comprehension Questions.
Portal Skillsheets
Fox Coloring/Drawing Sheets
http://www.coloring.ws/t/animals/color-fox.htm http://www.coloring.ws/t/animals/fox.htm http://www.dltk-kids.com/t/rhymes/cgingerbreadfelt4.html
Online Jigsaw Puzzle http://www.kidzone.ws/sg/animals/39.htm http://www.coloring.ws/puzzles/252.htm
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Day 3
Vocabulary Words
pluck - To pull out the hair or feathers of: pluck a chicken.
p. 44 - "Hurry up , child, and start plucking those chickens!"
foggiest - Clouded or blurred by
p. 46 - I've been digging around in circles for three days and nights and I haven't the foggiest idea where I am!"
suspend - hang freely, dangle
p. 54 - A thread of saliva side down one side of his jaw and hung suspended in mid-air, then snapped.
respectable - worthy of respect; deserving of esteem and respect; upright, decent; good
p. 59 - "There's nothing wrong with being respectable," Badger said.
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Read Chapters 11-14.
Answer Comprehension Questions.
Portal Skillsheets
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Day 4
Vocabulary Words
brilliant - radiant; dazzling; sparkling; gleaming; shining; bright
p. 62 - Mr. Fox gave a brilliant smile, flashing his white teeth.
accustom - To familiarize, as by constant practice, use, or habit; get used to; become familiar with; adjust to
p. 62 - As their eyes became accustomed to the gloom, they began to see what looked like a whole lot of big glass jars standing upon shelves around the walls.
quiver - To shake with a slight, rapid, wobbly movement; shudder; quake; shiver
p. 70 - He could feel the Smallest Fox's body pressed tightly against his own, quivering with excitement.
colossal - massive; huge; oversize; gigantic; enormous
p. 77 - He let fly another colossal belch.
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Read Chapters 15-18.
Answer Comprehension Questions.
Skill Worksheet - Who is it? http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading48/who_is_it.htm
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Use the Jan Brett Website to print out character masks. Use these masks to act out the story of Fantastic Mr. Fox.
| Rabbit | Fox | Badger |
| Mole | Mouse |
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Fantastic Mr. Fox A matching game to reinforce characters in this popular Roald Dahl novel. http://www.quia.com/custom/2198main.html