Friendship, war and separation are some of the big themes that children can explore while reading Michael Morpurgo’s The Butterfly Lion.
How different would life be if your best friend were a lion? This is just one of the questions explored by Michael Morpurgo in The Butterfly Lion.
Told through recollections of a childhood friend, we are plunged into the past to learn about Bertie’s time growing up in South Africa, his transferral to an English boarding school and subsequently his role as a soldier in the First World War.
However, it is the themes of friendship, loyalty and overcoming the odds that children will identify with most in this wide-ranging tale.
Activities in this PDF include writing a
- persuasive letter from the main character’s perspective in boarding school
- survival guide for lions
- plot outline for the novel
Clare Pearson is deputy headteacher at Summerbank Primary School in Stoke. Previously, Clare was the Primary Advisory English Teacher for Stoke-on-Trent. Browse more great resources for Michael Morpurgo Month.
