Video summary
Presenters Dick and Dom explain why 'George's Marvellous Medicine' by Roald Dahl, and illustrated by Quentin Blake, is their favourite children's book.
They discuss the story, and read an extract, describing how it captures their imaginations and makes them laugh.
Animation helps to bring the story to life. The book tells the story of a young boy called George who is fed up with his bad-tempered Grandmother.
He concocts a special medicine for her using all the ingredients available in his house, with some very unexpected results.
This clip is from the series Bringing Books to Life 1.
George's Marvellous Medicine Teacher Notes
KS1 and KS2 English Discussion Questions
Before watching the video:
- Have you ever heard of Roald Dahl? What other books by Roald Dahl do you know?
- What makes a book marvellous to you? What kinds of books do you like to read?
- Look at the cover of the book (if available). Based on the cover, what do you think will happen in the book?
While watching the video:
- Pause at 01:33 - Who is the illustrator of the book?
- Pause at 02:10 - What are some of the ingredients George uses for the medicine?
- Pause at 03:54 - When Dick and Dom are reading, can you find words that rhyme?
After watching the video:
- What parts of the book did Dick and Dom find funny? Share one thing that made you laugh too!
- If you could step into the story and meet one character, who would it be and why?
- Would you want to try making your own special mixture like George? Why or why not?
KS1 and KS2 English Activity Suggestions
- Make Your Own Marvellous Medicine: Ask children to design and draw their own wacky concoctions using imaginative ingredients, just like George. They can then describe what effects their magical medicines would have.
- Design a Magic Potion Label: Have the children design colourful and creative labels for George's Marvellous Medicine bottles. They can include instructions, warnings and illustrations of the effects the potion might have.
- Comic Strip Creation: Have the children create comic strips depicting their favourite scenes or moments from the book. Encourage them to use dialogue and captions to retell the story in a visual format.
Take a look at our 500 Words resources for further inspiration around story writing.
These videos contribute to the current national curriculum requirements in:
- England - KS1/KS2 English: Develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read.
- Northern, Ireland - KS1/KS2 Language and Literacy: Extend the range of their reading and develop their own preferences.
- Scotland - 1st and 2nd Level Literacy and English: Reading - Enjoyment and choice.
- Wales - Progression Step 2/3 Languages, Literacy and Communication: Literature fires imagination and inspires creativity.
These discussion questions and activity suggestions provide opportunities to develop english and art and design knowledge and skills in meaningful contexts across all UK curricula, as well as visual literacy, critical thinking and imagination and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.
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