If you’re looking for James and the Giant Peach planning ideas, the final chapter of the book provides excellent inspiration for an imaginative role-play session in which children work as a team to design their own theme park.

James and the Giant Peach planning

When planning a drama session based on a story, begin by looking for the potential problems in that story. Every good story contains them, for without a problem, it is almost impossible to have a plot.

There are many problems encountered in James and the Giant Peach. This session focuses on the last chapter, which details the success in America of James and each of the creatures, and the position of the peach stone in Central Park as a visitor attraction.

The problem is that there is no similar visitor attraction in the UK – which is, after all, where James grew up.

What pupils will learn

• Ways of resolving difficulties through discussion
• Ways of using the information in a story to inspire further imaginative work
• That working as a team can often be a good way of solving problems

Jane Bower is a primary advisory teacher and creative practitioner who leads hands-on workshops and INSET in art, drama, dance and writing in schools. Discover more resources for Roald Dahl Day.

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