BUTLEIGH FARM

Written by Di Hickleton

Illustrated by Melanie Macilwain

View Di’s website – www.butleighfarm.com.au

I have had the pleasure of knowing Di for many years!

It is so exciting to have Di collect and generate engaging ideas from her beautiful picture story book and for me to share them with you!

 

Thank you, Di, for preparing the Take Away Teaching Ideas #29

READING:

BOOK INTRODUCTION AND DISCUSSION ABOUT PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

So many questions could be asked …..…….

“What do you think the book is about?”

“Why would these animals be chosen for the front cover?”

“What other animals might you see on a farm?”

“Where do you think this farm might be?”

“Unusual name for a farm. Do you think the illustration on the back cover has anything to do with it’s name?”

“How do you think the animals might work together?”

“What things could animals possibly help with on a farm?”

“Why do you think there is a shovel on the dedication page?”

“What secrets could the animals have?”

“Is Murgheboluc a real place?”

READ AND DISCUSS THE BOOK

So many questions and connections can be made throughout and at the end.

“What wonderings do you have after reading?”

Put questions, connections, and wonderings on sticky notes during and after reading.

Display and discuss.

“Is Butleigh Farm a real place?”

“Do you think the animals are real or made up?”

“Why would Di have put can you guess who else lives on Butleigh Farm? on the last page?”

“What might be this character’s name?”

AFTER READING ACTIVITY IDEAS

Text to Self – share a story about yourself that is related to a story or character in the book.

Record yourself reading Butleigh Farm. Remember to read fluently, with expression and at a good pace.

WRITING:

FOCUS ON THE 6+1 TRAITS OF WRITING

Critique the book using the trait checklists below.

Use them for your own writing following through each of the traits.

READ AND DISCUSS THE BOOK

“Does Butleigh Farm have a Bold Beginning?”

“Does it hook you in to read more?”

Compare it with other books.    Make an anchor chart.

Write a different beginning to Butleigh Farm.

Repeat for Mighty Middles and Excellent Endings

“Do the animals have personalities?”

“Which is your favourite?”   “Why?”

“Could you think of other words to describe the animals?”

Look at your own writing.

“Do you get a feeling that the reader will really know your characters?”

Look at the Meet the Characters page under Books on the website.

www.butleighfarm.com.au

AFTER READING ACTIVITY IDEAS

Make your own book trailer for a book you have written or a book you really enjoy reading.

“What are the important things to include?”

Make a class set of Character Cards.

“What are everyone’s likes, favourite food, favourite song, etc.

Research a farm animal.

Present a poster, PowerPoint presentation, etc about what you found out.

Include interesting facts, features, habitat, care needed, food, importance on a farm, etc.

Write a letter to Di or Mel telling them some of your questions or wonderings.

Bubbles and clouds – Using speech bubbles/ thinking clouds and pictures of the Butleigh Farm characters, draw a conversation between two of the characters.

MATHEMATICS:

SUBITISE

“Look fast with your eyes and subitise”.

– apples on page

– windmill blades

PROBLEM SOLVING

e.g.     If there are 3 different types of farm animals in the top paddock with a total of 24 legs, what animals could they be and how many of each?

MAPPING

• birds eye view
• directions

Design a map of what your farm would look like and include if you had one.

Look at the Explore the Farm page under Books on the website.

www.butleighfarm.com.au

MEASUREMENT

• perimeter
• area
• time – o’clock / half past
• timelines

e.g.  – 6 o’clock – Bonnie barks at chook house

– 7 o’clock – Nanny comes outside

– 7:30am – Pa’s coffee is ready

“When do other daily events happen?”

“What times / routines do you have at home?”

“Would the animals have same bedtimes as you?”

SHAPE

2D – plan a farm (see above)

3D – build a farm (Lego, blocks, cardboard, nets)

COUNTING

by 1s, 2s, etc

forwards and backwards

• apples (end pages)
• windmill blades
• flying birds
• chickens
• eggs
• sheep in paddocks –

feet, tails, eyes, etc

• fence posts
• stairs
• verandah posts
• garden beds
• flowers
• spots on Nanny’s gumboots
• stripes on Nanny’s top
• fence palings on front gate
• apples (complete book)
• sheep (complete book)
• shovels

STEM:

FARM MACHINARY

“What machinery / tools would you find on a farm?”

• how do they work?
• what do they do?

MATERIALS

– building animal enclosures – strength / waterproof / etc.

HABITATS

“What other animals could live at Butleigh Farm?”

“What would they need to be happy and comfortable?”

Design your own farm.

“What animals would you have?”

“What food would you have to buy / grow?”

– Sustainability!

ART:

“Do you think Mel has captured the animal’s characteristics in her illustrations?”

“Would you change how they look?”

Do some sketches of the animals.

Explore different mediums to create unique characters for your illustrations.

“Could this book be illustrated using only 4 colours like in Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion?”

Explore using different colours.

“Does it change the feel of the book?”

 

TEACHING FOCUS:

Butleigh Farm can be used for many specific teaching focuses. Check out the extensive list of examples below.

Finally …………

DID YOU FIND THE SHOVEL ON EVERY DOUBLE PAGE?

Enjoy and take care.

Andrea