ickler Boy: Tales of Childhood T Boy: Tales of Childhood Boy: Tales of Childhood Tickler Independent Contract ickler by T Tickler Independent Contract Name:______Number of activities to be completed: ______Tickler Name:______Number of activities to be completed: _____ ickler About the Book 1. Language Arts 2. Writing T 7. Roald Dahl shares some of his most memorable boyhood At the beginning of Boy, Roald Dahl includes Roald begins writing weekly letters to his moth- Art 8. stories in Boy: Tales of Childhood. Since all the stories are a note to the reader explaining that this book er when he is only nine years old because on According to Roald, every boy who goes to an Writing true, the insights from these pages certainly give the reader is a collection of stories taken from the events Sunday mornings every boy at St. Peter’s English preparatory school takes a tuck-box In the chapter “Captain Hardcastle,” Roald can- a fair overview of who Roald Dahl was and why he wrote the of his own life. He says that these are not is required to do so. Strict supervision limits with him. Inside a tuck-box a boy stashes all not finish his writing assignment “The Life Story way he did. important events; they are the things that the content of their letters, but Roald’s mother of his treasures and the weekly goodies his of a Penny” because he has broken the nib of There are some funny accounts, such as the Great Mouse for some reason have been seared on his saves every letter he writes to her. Pretend you mother sends from home. Reread the first few his pen. He is scared to ask Captain Hardcas- Plot in which he and some fellow classmates learn the memory. What events in your life are forever are one of Roald’s classmates and are allowed pages of “First Day” about Roald’s treasures. tle for a nib, so he can’t finish his story. Think consequences of sweet revenge when they enter mean Mrs. seared into your memory? Write a descriptive an opportunity to write home totally unsuper- Think about what you would pack in a tuck-box about what Roald might have been thinking. Pratchett’s sweet-shop and sneak a dead mouse into a jar story about an unforgettable experience that vised. What stories would you tell about your of your own. Then make a tuck-box by deco- Then write your own story titled “The Life Story of Gobstoppers. There are also some terrifying stories, such you have had. Then illustrate your story. funny classmate Roald? Write a letter to your rating a box and placing the things inside that of a Penny.” as the one about his first automobile ride in which he nearly mother in which you highlight some of Roald’s you would want to take with you if you went loses his nose. Expect the unexpected in this hilarious fun and crazy antics. away to school. account of Roald Dahl’s boyhood.

About the Author 3. Art 4. Art 9. In “The Bicycle and the Sweet-Shop,” Roald Uniforms are required in the schools Roald Science 10. Roald Dahl was born on September 13, 1916, in Llandaff, South . Dahl was a fun-loving, Dahl details the glorious candies he loves so attends. He describes in detail the two different When Roald’s oldest sister dies from appendi- Art mischievous child. His father died when he was four. Dahl attended Llandaff Cathedral School, much in Mrs. Pratchett’s sweet-shop. Reread uniforms he has to wear in “First Day” and citis and his father dies from pneumonia, One of Roald’s great interests as an older boy then boarding school at St. Peter’s, and finally a well-known private school, Repton. Dahl was never this section, in which he describes everything “Getting Dressed for the Big School.” Think there are no miraculous antibiotics available is photography. Through his talent in this area, a superior student. He was a natural athlete, but was not considered a leader. from Bull’s-eyes and Glacier Mints to Liquorice about the type of uniform you would want to to help fight off the bacteria that caused these he becomes friends with Arthur Norris, an art After his schooling, Dahl chose to work for the Shell Oil Company Bootlaces and Gobstoppers. Then draw what wear if you had to wear one. Draw and cut out illnesses. Penicillin was not even discovered teacher. Norris spends time talking to Roald in Africa rather than go on to college. In 1939, he joined the Royal Air you imagine the candy counter in the sweet- a boy and a girl paper doll. Then design, color, until 1928, eight years after these two deaths. about the great artists and sharing his love of Force, serving first as a pilot in Africa, and later as an assistant air shop looks like filled with all the colorful, and cut out two uniforms for each paper doll, Research the discovery of penicillin by Sir art. Choose a famous artist, sculptor, photogra- attaché in Washington, D.C. During this time, he was interviewed mouthwatering candies. Be sure to draw a one for winter and one for summer. Share your Alexander Fleming. How did he accidentally pher, or painter. Research to find out about this by the Saturday Evening Post. The interviewer didn’t take notes, so sign next to each candy telling what it is. paper dolls with the class, explaining why you discover it? Devise a simple experiment person’s life and work. Then create a piece of he picked up the notes Dahl took for him. Finding that these were chose the uniform styles and whether you think in which you grow mold and use it as a focal art in the same style as this artist. On an index actually a story, the reporter sent them to the magazine under Dahl’s uniforms are a good idea for school. point in a presentation to the class about the card, write the title of your piece and a few facts name. Dahl later stated that becoming a writer was a complete fluke. miracle antibiotic, penicillin. about the artist whose style you copied. His first children’s book was called . Later, Dahl made up bedtime stories for his five children, learning from them what 5. 6. children like. He kept their interest by throwing in unexpected twists. Social Studies Language Arts 11. This technique is characteristic of Roald Dahl, one of the best-known In the opening chapter of Boy, Roald Dahl Every summer Mrs. Dahl packs up her large Science 12. authors of humorous books for children. shares some of his family ancestry as he intro- family and travels from England to Norway for a The boys in Roald’s school have the great Social Studies duces the reader to his grandfather, father, vacation on the island of Tjöme. Roald calls this fortune to occasionally get to sample Cadbury In the 1920s and 1930s, Roald lives in South and uncle through some of their stories. From “The Magic Island.” Create a travel brochure chocolates. The boys are part of the testing ® Wales and England. His family spends their 1820, when his grandfather was born, to 1984, to advertise this island as the perfect spot for a process for new products. This experience summers in Norway, where his grandparents Student Contract Materials List when Roald Dahl wrote the book, many import- family’s summer vacation. Reread the chapter causes Roald’s imagination to explore the live. He attends boarding schools in Weston- • Activity #7: cardboard box, arts-and-crafts supplies ant events occurred, some of which he shares “The Magic Island” to refresh your memory. development of candy by the chocolate super-Mare and Derby. Obtain a copy of page • Activity #1: paper, pencil paper, pencil in the book. A fun way to organize a family his- Focus on the details that would compel your company. Use your imagination to help you 7 from your teacher to learn where these places • Activity #2: paper, pencil • Activity #8: reference materials on penicillin, tory is to make a timeline that highlights someName classmates to choose this beautiful location for invent a newBoy: candy Tales bar. of ChildhoodThen obtain a copy of are. • Activity #3: construction paper, crayons or markers • Activity #9: 1 experiment materials of the important events in theBoy: family. Tales Obtainof Childhood a their next family vacation. Use illustrations to page 6 from your teacher to develop your new /2" x 11" poster board, white drawing Sherbet Sucker • Activity #4: 8 “Boy: Tales of Childhood” paper, scissors, crayons or markers • Activity #10: reference materials on artists, copy of page 5 from your teacher and make a really sell the island. A Boy and His Homecandy bar idea! copy of page 5, 1 sheet of 12" x 18" Name art supplies, index card timeline of your own. Answer Key • Activity #5: Find the locations where Roald Dahl grew up, went to school, and went on vacation. construction paper, scissors, glue, crayons • Activity #11: copy of page 6 Page 7 or markers • Activity #12: copy Latestof page 7 Invention: The New Candy Bar • Activity #6: white drawing paper, crayons or markers Directions: Study the map below. Highlight each ofSherbet the Sucker following locations: Llandaff, South Wales; N You have been assigned the task of creating a new and delicious candy bar for kids everywhere. ® Sherbet Sucker ©The Mailbox Bergen 2 3 OSLO Cardiff, South Wales; Weston-super-Mare, England; Derby, England; London, England; Newcas- W E Fill in the spaces below to develop your new2 candy bar. Tjome ® tle, England; Oslo, Norway; and Tjöme, Norway. Then answer the questions that follow. S ©The Mailbox ©The Mailbox® NORWAY Scale: 1 inch =190 miles 4 SWEDEN Bergen N OSLO Boy: Tales of Childhood SCOTLAND ______Tjome (Name of new candy bar) W E North Sea

DENMARK Taste Description S NORWAY Newcastle 12 1 11 Scale: 1 inch =190 miles SWEDEN Name 2 Manchester Timeline of Mine 10 Liverpool

Ingredients 3 Derby 9 ______ALES Cambridge Dyfed W ENGLAND 4 SCOTLAND Llandaff 8 CARDIFF ______Bristol Channel Roald Dahl wrote Boy: Tales of Childhood in order to share some memorable events in his life. Another 7 5 ______North Sea LONDON 6 DENMARK Weston-super-Mare way to share memorable events is with a timeline. Create a timeline of interesting events in your life by following ______English Channel the directions below. Newcastle 1. Cardiff ______2. Bristol Channel 3. northwest 4. Cut out each box. ______Manchester Liverpool 4. about 240 miles Directions: 5. On a sheet of construction paper, draw 5. about 570 miles ______Derby 1. Pick a date with which to begin your timeline. This can be a timeline with ten places to glue the boxes, alternating Appearance Description 6. south ALES Cambridge your birth, your first memory, or an event that someone placement on top and bottom to allow for more room. Dyfed W ENGLAND ______Llandaff has told you about but you don’t remember. 6. Glue each box onto the timeline in its proper order. ______CARDIFF Below or above each______box, on the opposite side of the Bristol Channel LONDON 2. Interview family members or friends to help you remember 7. ______Weston-super-Mare the details of nine other important events in your life. timeline, draw an illustration of each event. English Channel 3. In each of the boxes below write the date and a brief ______explanation of the event that occurred on that date. ______1. Llandaff, South Wales, is the birthplace of Roald Dahl. What large city is it near? ______

Advertising Slogan 2. Weston-super-Mare is where Roald attended St. Peter’s School. What body of water Wrapper Design separates Weston-super-Mare from Cardiff? ______

3. is near Derby, England. What direction is Derby from London? ______

4. The Dahl family took a five-hour train trip from London to Newcastle. About how many miles is it from London to Newcastle? ______

5. From Newcastle, the family took a boat trip to Oslo, Norway, lasting two days and one night. About how many miles is it from Newcastle, England, to Oslo, Norway? ______

6. From Oslo, in which direction did they travel to reach their final destination of Tjöme?

® ______©The Mailbox 6 ©The Mailbox® 7 5 ® ©The Mailbox ©The Mailbox® 8