Boy - Lesson 7 - First Day at School PowerPoint

The English Teaching Resources designed for a lesson titled "First Day at School" aim to impart an understanding of autobiographical writing through the lens of Roald Dahl's experiences as depicted in his book, 'Boy'. Students are set to explore the key features of this genre, including writing from the first person perspective and using personal pronouns like 'I', 'me', and 'my'. By reading chapters ten and eleven of 'Boy', the class will delve into Dahl's own memories of school, providing a template for their own writing task. The objective is to write a letter home in the style of Roald Dahl, reflecting on the initial days at a new school, while incorporating new characters and vivid descriptions to bring the narrative to life.

During the lesson, students are encouraged to think critically about the narrative techniques used in autobiographical writing. They will examine how characters such as Mr Maxwell, the "lank young teacher", are introduced and described in a way that paints a vivid picture for the reader. The aim is to enable students to identify and utilise similar descriptive language in their own writing. The culminating activity involves imagining themselves as Roald Dahl and composing a letter home, detailing the events and impressions of the first few days at St Peter's School. This task provides an opportunity for students to practice the key features of autobiographical writing they have learned. The lesson concludes with a plenary where students can share their letters with the group or, if unfinished, complete them as homework.