PIG Worksheets

PIG and the Baldy Cat

Task: To compose a snail-shaped ‘concrete’ poem.

Support: This can be as difficult a task as you choose to make it. The students could just use the words you give them, or they could make up their own words. This style of poem can be used to teach alliteration, with (for example) only words beginning with ‘s’ being used. The students could also add the body of the snail, made up with appropriate words, including the antennae. They could even add a tiara! You may want to support the task with a thesaurus.

Note: it is important to make clear to the students that they should turn the paper round as they write!

Extension: The students could write any number of concrete poems: butterflies, stick insects, elephants, etc. The synonyms for ‘red’ are particularly poetic and look great on a ladybird shape with ‘black’ words in the spots. Colours also look good on stripey animals.

PIG Saves the Day

Task: To complete the speech bubbles, giving the reasons why (in the story) particular characters were angry at Pig.

Support: Whilst it may appear easy, the task goes to the heart of the Pig books. Pig doesn’t understand the stresses that act on others, but he does feel the effects! His charm is in his inability to see the consequences of his actions. Luckily, his family are all united in supporting him. The worksheet can be used as a discussion stimulus, or can be divided up so that each group/student has a different section.

Note: it is important to make clear to the students that they should turn the paper round as they write!

Extension: The students could write a letter to Pig explaining what happened in each case. Alternatively they could write him an advice sheet in the manner of a magazine article, on the subject ‘Why women get upset’!

PIG Skives off School

Task: To invent some excuses for Raj.

Support: This is a slightly more difficult free-writing task, designed to encourage the students’ imaginations. Three speech bubbles need to be completed by the students, giving an excuse in each case. The fourth bubble gives the students the opportunity to think of Raj’s failing, plus an appropriate excuse. A small reward could be offered for the most flamboyant excuses produced. The students might enjoy acting out the various excuses that are created for Raj. (Some students may have plenty of experience giving excuses while looking innocent!)

Extension: This activity could be taken into more serious territory. Discuss whether lying is always wrong, or does everybody lie and does it not matter? Is lying actually necessary in some people’s jobs? Can lying be an art form? Is truth an absolute or is it relative? Do some people lie to themselves?