Lesson Plan: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Lesson Plan: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Grade Level: Grade 2 or 3

Subject: Integrated (English, EVS, Art)

Duration: 2 Weeks (10 class periods, 40 minutes each)

Objectives:

By the end of the two weeks, students will be able to:

  1. Retell the story of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" in sequence, identifying key characters (Mr. Fox, farmers, Badger) and events.
  2. Describe character traits (e.g., clever, mean) using simple adjectives and examples from the text.
  3. Understand basic animal behaviors (e.g., digging) and habitats (e.g., underground) linked to the story.
  4. Recognize the theme of teamwork and relate it to their lives.
  5. Use new vocabulary (e.g., "fantastic," "ravenous") in sentences or drawings.
  6. Create art and perform role-plays to express story elements creatively.

Materials Needed:

  • "Fantastic Mr. Fox" book (physical copy or simplified read-aloud version)
  • Flashcards with characters (Mr. Fox, Boggis, Bunce, Bean, Badger) and words (e.g., "clever," "farm")
  • Pictures of foxes, farmers, and tunnels
  • Paper, crayons, glue, and scissors for crafts
  • Whiteboard/markers or blackboard/chalk
  • Worksheets for sequencing and vocabulary
  • Props (e.g., toy shovel, pretend food) for role-play
  • Chart paper for group activities
  • Optional: audio of the story or a short fox video

Week 1: Story Introduction and Characters

Day 1: Meeting Mr. Fox and the Farmers

Objective: Introduce the story and identify main characters.
Activities:

  1. Warm-Up (5 min): Ask: "What do you know about foxes?" Show a fox picture and list ideas (e.g., "They run fast").
  2. Story Time (15 min):
    • Read Chapters 1-3 (or a summary): Introduce Mr. Fox, his family, and the farmers (Boggis, Bunce, Bean).
    • Pause to ask: "Who is Mr. Fox? What do the farmers want?"
  3. Activity (15 min): Character Drawings
    • Students draw one character (e.g., Mr. Fox or Bean) and say: "This is Mr. Fox. He is clever."
    • Share in pairs.
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "Why are the farmers angry?"
    Homework: Draw a fox and write "Mr. Fox."

Day 2: Sequencing the Story Start

Objective: Retell the beginning events in order.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Show the book and ask: "Who did we meet yesterday?"
  2. Direct Instruction (15 min):
    • Recap: "Mr. Fox takes food. The farmers chase him with guns."
    • Use flashcards: Fox stealing, farmers shooting, hiding in hole.
  3. Activity (15 min): Story Steps
    • Students arrange 3 flashcards in order and say: "First, Mr. Fox takes chickens. Then, farmers shoot."
    • Draw one step (e.g., "Farmers with guns").
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "What happens after the farmers shoot?"
    Homework: Draw the next step (e.g., "Mr. Fox hides").

Day 3: Clever Mr. Fox

Objective: Describe Mr. Fox’s character traits.
Activities:

  1. Warm-Up (5 min): Sing a song: "Mr. Fox, Mr. Fox, so clever and quick!"
  2. Direct Instruction (15 min):
    • Say: "Mr. Fox is clever because he tricks the farmers."
    • List words: clever, brave. Ask: "Is Mr. Fox nice or mean?"
  3. Activity (15 min): Fox Traits
    • Students draw Mr. Fox and write one word (e.g., "clever"). Say: "Mr. Fox is clever because he runs fast."
    • Share with a friend.
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "What makes Mr. Fox fantastic?"
    Homework: Write "Mr. Fox is [word]" (e.g., "Mr. Fox is brave").

Day 4: The Mean Farmers

Objective: Describe the farmers’ traits and actions.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Review: "What’s Mr. Fox like?" Show homework.
  2. Direct Instruction (15 min):
    • Read Chapters 4-6 (or summary): Farmers dig to catch Mr. Fox.
    • Say: "Farmers are mean and angry." List: mean, big.
  3. Activity (15 min): Farmer Faces
    • Students draw a farmer (e.g., Boggis) and write one word (e.g., "mean"). Say: "Boggis is mean because he digs."
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "Why are the farmers mean?"
    Homework: Draw a farmer and write "Boggis is [word]."

Day 5: Animals and Tunnels

Objective: Explore animal habitats in the story.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Ask: "What do the farmers do?" Show drawings.
  2. Direct Instruction (15 min):
    • Say: "Mr. Fox lives in a tunnel underground. Foxes dig!"
    • Show a tunnel picture: "What do you see?" (e.g., "dark hole").
  3. Activity (15 min): Tunnel Art
    • Students draw Mr. Fox in a tunnel with his family. Say: "Mr. Fox digs a tunnel."
    • Add one word (e.g., "deep").
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "Where do foxes live?"
    Homework: Write "Mr. Fox lives in a [word]" (e.g., "tunnel").

Week 2: Teamwork, Vocabulary, and Creative Fun

Day 6: Mr. Fox’s Clever Plan

Objective: Understand Mr. Fox’s problem-solving.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Ask: "Where does Mr. Fox hide?"
  2. Story Time (15 min):
    • Read Chapters 7-10 (or summary): Mr. Fox digs deeper to escape.
    • Ask: "How does Mr. Fox trick the farmers?"
  3. Activity (15 min): Plan Drawing
    • Students draw Mr. Fox digging and say: "Mr. Fox digs to get away."
    • Write: "Mr. Fox is clever."
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "What’s Mr. Fox’s plan?"
    Homework: Draw Mr. Fox’s next trick (e.g., "digging more").

Day 7: Teamwork with Friends

Objective: Explore teamwork in the story.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Ask: "How does Mr. Fox escape?"
  2. Story Time (15 min):
    • Read Chapters 11-14 (or summary): Mr. Fox and Badger dig to find food.
    • Say: "Mr. Fox works with friends to get food."
  3. Activity (15 min): Team Picture
    • Students draw Mr. Fox and Badger together. Say: "They work as a team."
    • Write: "Friends help."
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "How do friends help you?"
    Homework: Write "I help my friend by [word]" (e.g., "playing").

Day 8: Vocabulary Fun

Objective: Learn new words from the story.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Ask: "Who helps Mr. Fox?"
  2. Direct Instruction (15 min):
    • Teach words: "fantastic" (great), "ravenous" (very hungry), "dig" (make a hole).
    • Say: "Mr. Fox is fantastic. The animals are ravenous."
  3. Activity (15 min): Word Art
    • Students pick one word, draw it (e.g., "ravenous" – hungry fox), and say: "The fox is ravenous."
    • Write the word.
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "What does ‘dig’ mean?"
    Homework: Write 1 sentence with "fantastic" (e.g., "My friend is fantastic").

Day 9: Role-Play the Feast

Objective: Act out the story’s ending.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Ask: "What’s a word we learned?"
  2. Story Time (15 min):
    • Read Chapters 15-18 (or summary): Mr. Fox finds food and shares a feast.
    • Ask: "What happens at the end?"
  3. Activity (15 min): Feast Play
    • Students role-play: One is Mr. Fox ("I dig for food!"), others are animals ("Thank you, Mr. Fox!"). Use props (e.g., toy food).
    • Say: "We eat together!"
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Ask: "Why does Mr. Fox share?"
    Homework: Draw the feast and write "Mr. Fox shares."

Day 10: Review and Fox Craft

Objective: Summarize the story and create a craft.
Activities:

  1. Recap (5 min): Ask: "What did Mr. Fox do at the end?"
  2. Review (15 min): Story Talk
    • Show flashcards (Mr. Fox, farmers, tunnel). Students say: "Mr. Fox is clever. He digs."
    • Ask: "What did you like best?"
  3. Activity (15 min): Fox Craft
    • Students make a paper fox (fold ears, draw face, add tail). Say: "My fox is fantastic!"
    • Write: "Mr. Fox."
  4. Wrap-Up (5 min): Share crafts. Ask: "What did you learn from Mr. Fox?" Celebrate with a cheer.
    Homework: Tell family one thing about Mr. Fox (e.g., "He helps friends").

Assessment:

  • Formative: Participation in story retelling, role-plays, and discussions; accuracy in drawings and homework.
  • Summative: Day 10 craft and talk (scored out of 6: 2 for craft, 2 for word use, 2 for story idea).
  • Observation: Ability to sequence events and describe characters during activities.

Extensions:

  • Story Link: Read "The Magic Garden" (Marigold) and compare clever characters.
  • Nature Walk: Observe tunnels or animals outside and draw them.
  • Game: Play "Farmer Chase" (run and hide like Mr. Fox).

Notes for Teachers:

  • Simplify the story for Grade 2 (e.g., focus on key events) or add detail for Grade 3 (e.g., farmer traits).
  • Use local examples (e.g., Indian foxes) for EVS connection.
  • Keep activities short and fun to maintain engagement.
  • Support shy students with group roles or teacher prompts.