How to Train Your Dragon

PRIMARY SCHOOL Resources Drama ideas by Andrea Burton

A STUDY GUIDE by lee Burton & Andrea Burton

http://www.metromagazine.com.au

ISBN-13-978-1-74295-109-6 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2

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WORK SHEET 1 Themes Vikings Resources Dragons and Mythical Creatures Worksheets WORK SHEET 2 WORK SHEET 3 WORK SHEET 4 tarted Getting Started This section can be taught before This section can be taught before or after attending the show. Introduction ide Using the Study Gu Curriculum Links ions Using Learning Stat Synopsis of the Story ing the Arena Show Before attend The Production Contents © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 3 WorksDream alsic Theatr lobaland G Creatures Theatricals, a division of DreamWorks DreamWorks 2007 to develop Animation SKG, Inc., was established in show productions live stage and arena and produce of How franchise properties by the Company’s inspired Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and Your to Train including DreamWorks productions, Shrek. Current Dragon Arena Spectacular and Kung Your How to Train one-of-a-kind, global Fu Panda Arena Spectacular are for tours and immersive entertainment experiences Theatricals productions DreamWorks the whole family. that leadership team guided by the creative are films. feature award-winning develops the studio’s is an international entertainment Global Creatures that develops new and exciting theatrical group the world. to take to audiences around productions Technology arm, The Creature The animatronics invents and deploys the latest in animatronic Company, Walking design. Their hugely successful production with Dinosaurs – the Arena Spectacular, based on an BBC TV series, introduced the award-winning - a spectacle of unprecedented entertainment genre which captivates young and old alike. size and quality, discuss and create written texts, drama, visual arts and drama, visual arts written texts, create discuss and to the production. of their own in response multimedia first live performance this will be the children For many will on the experience ever seen, so building they have and creativity. enjoyment, imaginations heighten their

The arena spectacular will begin its world tour in The arena production Melbourne, 2012. The Australia in March commencing its will then tour to Auckland before will United States season in June 2012. Audiences and have the opportunity to experience a unique to state-of-the-art theatrical event that promises entertainment. every rule of traditional arena break Dragon Arena Your How to Train The DreamWorks opportunity to engage a rare Spectacular presents a book and film students in a live performance, based on be familiar with. There that most students will already spectacular in the arena many elements of theatre are in The primary school resources that can be explored. analyse, the study guide include opportunities to enjoy, want to become a dragon slayer. want to become a dragon a Viking teenager, who doesn’t who doesn’t teenager, a Viking life the epic adventure of Hiccup, life the epic adventure Global Creatures, have brought to have brought Global Creatures, Theatricals, in partnership with Theatricals, in partnership Chris Sanders, 2010). DreamWorks Chris Sanders, 2010). DreamWorks by Will Davies and Dean DeBlois & by Will Davies Sanders & Dean DeBlois, screenplay DeBlois, screenplay Sanders & Dean (directed by Chris Dragon (directed Your Train DreamWorks Animation film How to Animation DreamWorks entertainment event inspired by the event inspired entertainment Dragon Arena is a live Spectacular DreamWorks How to Train Your Your How to Train DreamWorks ction Introdu © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 4 , Design, Technology

Building materials such as Lego, Meccano, or play dough. Balls of string. Colouring pens. Scissors and glue. Colour magazines to cut up, newspapers paper for papier-mâché. or butcher’s Design and Technology wooden skewers. Large The Arts: Visual Arts, Media, Music and Dance Arts, The Arts: Visual to cut cardboard squares, paper coloured Poster paper, boxes, paper cups and plates. up and small cardboard English/Literacy • • • • • • • • Using Learning ions stat Resources listed at the end of The online and print resources many activities and this study guide will provide printouts that you can use both with the whole class of students at the learningand the groups stations. Visual Art • iculumCurr Links • Primary Level years 3–7 themes Dragons including history, Dragons in a range of texts and across media and digital. myths and legends, fiction, theatre, Vikings in literature. Vikings History,

The teaching ideas here draw on many areas of the draw on many areas The teaching ideas here themes. Many of them can curriculum and diverse activities to different be undertaken by allocating using learning in the same class centres. groups read learning before If you have not used centres . under been grouped The teaching ideas have and Dragons. Within two main themes, Vikings to opportunities are these main themes there others such as Conquering Fears, Identity, explore Rites of Passage and Accepting Difference. unit establishes the story and An introductory ideas. characters with a range of activities and ages it Each teaching idea has a guide as to the for but teachers can adapt is most appropriate them easily for most primary school levels. section can be used at any stage of The production activities and has been designed to the classroom or interactive whiteboard. as on a screen project has also of Media (ATOM) Australian Teachers a study guide to the film of How to Train produced . It has extensive activities on the book Dragon Your show. arena relevant to the also and the film that are the read It is not necessary for students to have to be involved in these book or seen the film in order themes activities. Many of them focus on the main Dragon. Your versions of How to Train of all three uide G Study ng theing Us © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 5 Having realized his fate is not to hunt and kill dragons, to hunt and kill dragons, his fate is not Having realized Berk’s Gobber, horrified to find that Hiccup is has convinced and seasoned warrior, blacksmith opportunity as the Hiccup the same Stoick to give must spend his days of Berk. Hiccup other teenagers learningwith Gobber dragons. how to defeat worst student in the class. Since At first, Hiccup is the this comes accident-prone, Hiccup has always been classmates Astrid, Snotlout, as no surprise to his When Tuffnut. her twin brother and Fishlegs, Ruffnut some things he has learnedHiccup is able to apply he hanging out with Toothless, about dragons while class. Astrid is envious and goes to the top of the follows Hiccup into the woods also suspicious. She Unable to explain his and discovers his secret. Hiccup takes Astrid flying. with Toothless, relationship get caught up It is on their first flight together that they returningnest. Hiccup and in a flock of dragons to their have failed Astrid have found what generations of Vikings Dragons like to find. But all is not what they expected. huge and terrifying subject to the rule of a are Toothless to feed the Vikings dragon. Dragons only steal food from being eaten themselves. the Red Death and to keep from for the dragons’ a failed search When Stoick returns from that his son nest, he is surprised but thrilled to hear father’s has talent. Hiccup tries to explain but his

lengths of coloured material, coloured shirts, shirts, material, coloured lengths of coloured you can vests, skirts and any other dress-ups may obtain. Depending upon the age level you and wish to include materials to make swords helmets. Musical instruments: any available. the Magic Dragon’ or for ‘Puff Lyrics other dragon song (See resources). Costume materials for Vikings and Dragons: and Dragons: Costume materials for Vikings Digital still and movie cameras. Digital still and movie glue, scissors. Poster paper, A computer. Books about dragons for inspiration to design students’ to design students’ dragons for inspiration Books about poems about dragons. cover or poster and own book from – download Worksheet Dragon acrostic website . recommended download from sheets – Storyboard website . – download from Comic sheets and instructions . Hiccup, a Viking teenager, wants to prove he has wants to prove teenager, Hiccup, a Viking Stoick, got what it takes to become a dragon slayer. refuses father, the brave village leader and Hiccup’s On the island of to let his gangling son join the fray. Berk, fighting dragons is a way of life and Hiccup is his worthiness to his father and to desperate to prove gain the acceptance of his peers, particularly Astrid. decision to disobey his father and venture Hiccup’s life-changing. He downs a out into battle proves mysterious Night Fury dragon with his crossbow, evidence of his but when Hiccup cannot provide success, he finds himself subject to the ridicule of his peers and the wrath of his father. he not only finds into the forest When Hiccup ventures the dragon, he finds himself unable to kill the beast. He the dragon, expecting the worse, but it does not releases and cannot fly away. hurt him. The Night Fury is injured names Hiccup befriends the dragon. He affectionately tail fin. brings it food and mends its broken it Toothless, causes him to realise friendship with Toothless Hiccup’s that the people of Berk have misjudged the dragons. • • Synopsis Drama, Dance and Music • • • Media • • • • English • © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 6

Before ing attend renathe A Show the official DreamWorks clip on the promo View website at . show may look like and – Discuss what the arena very true to the film version – because the show is at . dragons Ask students to try to work out how the watching the show. work while they are back at the students that after the show, Tell the to discuss school they should be prepared forms of performance in the show: different – what did the actors do? Acrobatics What kinds of costumes did the actors wear? there? Dance – what kinds were Describe the music. dragons did you see? How many different How did the dragon operators make the dragons move and seem alive?

expectations get in the way of the truth. Suddenly the truth. Suddenly get in the way of expectations in the Dragon himself a contestant Hiccup finds expectations. everyone’s and unable to satisfy Olympiad an his weapons in Hiccup discards Mid competition, to dragons only fight that show the Vikings attempt to and the dragon Stoick intervenes defend themselves. hears death until Toothless attacks. Hiccup is facing flies in to save Hiccup, only to his cries. The dragon and angry Vikings. by the awestruck be captured took him to the dragons’ Toothless Hiccup lets it slip that to defeat the dragons once nest and Stoick is resolved warnings about listen to Hiccup’s and for all. He won’t instead to disown his son and the Red Death, choosing as guide. When the Viking Toothless use a restrained rallies his classmates. They mount fleet sets sail, Hiccup of the fleet. in pursuit training dragons and fly off Gobber’s Stoick, for the Red Death. unprepared are The Vikings decision, that he has made the wrong now well aware Vikings other is about to sacrifice himself to save the by a now is released when Hiccup arrives. Toothless Together with Hiccup. Stoick and reunited repentant flight and they take on the Red Death, luring it into it into an inescapable dive back to earth. forcing hurt. The evil dragon is defeated but Hiccup is find part of his Later and back in Berk, Hiccup wakes to leg made by by a prosthetic left leg has been replaced His grief is turned to joy when he steps outside Gobber. the better. to find that life in Berk has changed for © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 7 – Nigel Jamieson, the director How did it differ from the film? from How did it differ What were the most spectacular What were show? elements of the arena What other live theatre have What other live theatre students in the class attended? What did you enjoy most about How to Train watching DreamWorks Dragon Arena Spectacular? Your Which of your senses do you use watching live theatre when you are to watching media? compared What are the differences between the differences What are and film or television? live theatre • • • • The arenalike an epic live show will be theatre started past. Western show from in large arenas so this returns to that and spectacle. sense of wonder Theatre has been at the centre of every society we have lost a bit of in the world and maybe interactive experiences. that with computer and so much anymore go to church and don’t We there are not many experiences apart from the sporting arena where we gather in large we arenumbers and I think hungry for that, to groups to explorecome together in large the joy are tryingand sadness of theatre. We to return of a sharedto that large scale experience story and spectacle with with drama and humour, fire and flame and 1000 people all having the want people same emotional engagement. We to remember this experience as something wonderful that entertained and moved them. The story has to be told very not visually with good too much dialogue. Nowadays we have can do remarkable sound- microphones. We can project on we things. A boy can fly, do truly remarkable can things screens. We it with special effects, lighting etc. but when the power of the story. comes down to it, it’s • Discuss •

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN7NNKSrcpE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlQ26JVHRl0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djaoiekWjww w ve seen the sho • • •

before This can be discussed by Sonny Tilders created The dragons have been Company, Technology Creature and his team at The to life the stunning, life- brought work whose previous – The Arena With Dinosaurs like dinosaurs in Walking all of 24 dragons are Spectacular. Included in the cast Gronkle, film: Deadly Nadder, the the favourites from and Night Fury (Toothless) Nightmare, Monstrous creature animatronic Red Death, which is the largest Company. Technology ever made by The Creature with the class these clips on View featuring the dragons: YouTube tion c produ students or after the ha The © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 8

Sonny Tilders, the Creature Designer for The Creature Technology Company Technology Designer for The Creature Sonny Tilders, the Creature and so the in evolution and anatomy interested (CTC), has always been inside out was an exciting challenge. opportunity to build the dragons from concept and then constructed the skeletal The design team at CTC began with a general to add joints to allow movement decided where steel tubes. The team then from structure may find in an actual animal It was not possible to add as many joints as you and flexibility. dragon. of the and may undermine the strength as this would be far too time consuming stage of development. Pic 1. One of the dragons in the early your own dragon skeleton like this one. Using Lego or Meccano you could build tage One Stage agons d constructing the dr Designing an These pages can be projected and viewed or be projected These pages can whiteboard. viewed on an interactive dragons built were ow theHow © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 9

Adding Muscles various materials was the layering of of construction The next stage muscle materials in human anatomy these muscles. Just like that act as with the that the steel structure, steel bones. This means attach to the animal. be moved smoothly just like a real help of hydraulics, can to the dragon skeleton Pic 2 Adding muscles tage Two Stage © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 10

Pic 4 The the mechanical skeletal structure. This photograph of a dragon head shows real skull. similar to a cast forming a structure is now fully enclosed in a fibre structure tage Three Stage skin made out of fabric. with a covered are skeleton and muscles The dragon’s Pic 3 jaws that heavy bulldog-looking dragon has large, with skin added. This The Gronkle of 5m. high with a wingspan is 7.5m long and 3m This dragon its prey. it uses to ram © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 11

Creating smoke and fire on stage using dry ice. smoke and fire Creating flying, etc. Physical effects: smoke and/or fire. students undertake science activities to create Depending upon the age group • • Discuss Special Effects in the arena show • In the background of the photograph below you can see the Deadly Nadder. The dragon is 4m of the photograph below you can see the Deadly Nadder. In the background beak, long thin legs, massive wingspan of 9m bird-like high and 12m long. Look at the strong for his quick and explosive temper. feared skin. He is reptilian and brightly coloured Each dragon is then handcrafted to create its unique and appearance and personality. and appearance its unique to create is then handcrafted Pic 5 Each dragon © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 12 orksheet One – Characters in orksheet One – Characters Write an acrostic Dragon or Viking poem. Read poem. Dragon or Viking an acrostic Write poem creative Think have an acrostic Write tool online at . Write a letter or email to your favourite character. Write DreamWorks How to of DreamWorks a review Write Dragon Arena Spectacular for Your Train or blog. a website a newspaper, Write a short story about what happened Write next to Hiccup and Toothless. Write a brief description of how you Write made friends with an animal or tamed it (a pet, a wounded animal etc.). In 100 words or less, summarise the In 100 words the point of view of one of story from the characters (including dragons). • • • • • The whole class contributes to a storyline for theThe whole class contributes Dragon Arena Your How to Train DreamWorks it on the whiteboard. Spectacular and the teacher writes seen the film version who have Ask children between its story to describe any differences version. and the book or theatrical and how characters Discuss the Viking to life. them the actors brought Print out W Dragon and discuss. Your How to Train and have each group Divide class into groups that the story frame key moments from freeze then have to guess. the other groups Follow with any of these activities or a choice between them: offer • ingGett Started 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. – Nigel Jamieson, the director

Teaching ideas choose a dragon 1. Using measuring tapes groups or draw and chalk its outline in the playground colour it in and a scale model on poster paper, Arts. Visual display – Maths, Design, Technology, of dragon 2. Students design and make a scale model with paper as wooden skewers or wire wings from skin. For example, Night Fury has a wingspan of 10 a model of 0.5 metre, so they could create metres, a scale of 1:20. Their wings could then be displayed to move in the wind. string or wires hanging from dragon 3. Students could make a wrestling cushions or other materials and out of large perform a movement piece with it.

These pages can be screened or printed and These pages can be screened in distributed to the students. See The Dragons the worksheets section of this study guide. They can be used at any time for discussion. The Dragons We travelled around the world twice looking for our cast. twice looking for our around the world travelled We What we wanted particularly in saw over 1000 people. We relation other teenagers was a to Hiccup, Astrid and the real had to have amazing emphasis on youth. The actors tried to place that in contemporaryphysical skills and we best hip-hoppers culture. There are of the world’s some and other street performers superb but also we needed do a double backflip through the air. acrobats who could can use an amazing physical skill found people that We the sort of skills you would to portray their character; We’ve or Buster Keaton film. see in a Charlie Chaplin been interested to try inner energy in the and find the as in the movie. characters rather than just portray them The actors come from every background imaginable – truly – so it’s from Cambodia, Asia, African Americans multicultural. he cast The © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 13 Dragons with no wings; the ability magical ways, to fly in more They symbolise good fortune, wisdom, long life and prosperity. In China people used to believe that dragons crops sent the rain each spring so people’s and they would have food to eat. would grow Some of them sleep on big piles of gold with one Some of them sleep on big piles of gold tries to eye open so they can catch anyone who is The dragon in The Hobbit steal their treasure. dragon’s this kind of dragon. People who took the gold would actually turn into dragons themselves. What kinds of dragons appear in eastern stories from cultures? » » » What kinds of dragons appear in western stories from cultures? » Wings for flight » Often destructive or evil » • Two of the smaller dragons from the Arena show. the Arena dragons from of the smaller Two Discuss dragons, dragons usually In tales that feature stories In some fire. have scales and can breathe than one head. Different dragons might have more have their own versions of dragons. cultures • ‘Dragons’ and other mythic creatures in mythic creatures ‘Dragons’ and other orksheet 2 – Learning Stations and select

View clips from Dragons: A Fantasy Made clips from View Real, the documentary by Animal Planet. and Animal Planet expanded its brand of fascinating first with the network’s family-friendly programming into the exploration of mythical animals – dragons. venture the world, and around from crews with production Working and animators, collaborating with top scientists, artists bring these mythical animals to life. the creators list for dragons the resource Read and choose from of dragons. and print out or discuss the features Dragons Mythic creatures take shape through imagination. shape through take Mythic creatures attempts reflect Many mythic creatures to describe the natural world. the world. around teach us about cultures Mythic creatures alive keep mythic creatures Cultures art and literature. through s Key concept Depending upon the year level and interests of your of your and interests upon the year level Depending can be taught in any sequence students these themes at the learning or in groups stations. and as a whole class Print out W Theme: Themes your students. wish to offer those activities you including myths history, across a range of texts and theatrical, media and digital. and legends, fiction, © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 14 tures What kinds of magical creatures are found in different found in different are What kinds of magical creatures the world? around and in stories from cultures What special powers do magical creatures have? What special powers do magical creatures How are magical creatures different different magical creatures How are everyday beings? from What is a magical creature? What is a dragon slayer? How do you become one? What is a dragon slayer? Listen to some songs about dragons. Listen to some songs Discuss students’ favourite dragon stories. Discuss students’ favourite Choose one of the dragons from the show and create the show and create of the dragons from Choose one movement dance with students a whole class dragon each other to make a giant forming in line behind could choose some music which dragon. The students or play a suitable rhythmic piece. home they bring from dragon and demonstrate these at a class demonstrate these dragon and groups Conference where Dragon Training dragons in new ways to train demonstrate the community. useful to specific behaviours Read about or access on the internet some myths dragon and other mythic creature’s and legends: fiction, plays and poems. mythical a particular culture’s Students can research to the class. their project beasts and present • • • Magical Crea • • • • •

A powder made from the eyes of a dragon A powder made from stop. that could make bad dreams If you plant the teeth of a dragon, they will overnight grow into an army of men. What magical powers do dragons from different cultures cultures different What magical powers do dragons from powers. have? The bodies of dragons have special » » How Describe the main dragons in DreamWorks Dragon Arena Spectacular. Your Train To they? What colours and shapes are What personalities do they have? the story about dragons from Brainstorm words Children poster. or large onto a whiteboard to make a poem. then choose words a slow motion mock battle In pairs, choreograph between one of the teenagers and one of the dragons. In pairs sculpt each other as new species of dragons for a museum/art gallery collection. of their creation Orally describe the features for visitors to the gallery/museum. students use - In small groups sculpture Group blocks to build either student bodies, cloth and rostra the story OR a new species one of the dragons from of dragon. One of the students orally describes the Students characteristics of the dragon on display. could also add movement, then add sound effects. This can be extended by taking photographs to add to written description for class display. devise new ways to train a In small groups • • • • • • • • • © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 15

How did you overcome them? How did you overcome What fears did you have when you were younger? What fears did you have when you were How did he overcome his fears? How did he overcome What was Hiccup frightened of? Read some poems about Vikings and Vikings Read some poems about Vikings. listen to songs about In small groups, then as a whole class, hot seat then as a whole In small groups, (including some some of the characters students as Your Train How To DreamWorks from of the dragons) Dragon Arena in Spectacular with students working questions. interesting really to generate some groups to questions asked. in role respond Students in hot seat Write Your Name in Runes . • • • r and Overcoming fea rites of passage his fears and develop positive Hiccup has to overcome peers and villagers. father, with his relationships entire This theme could be discussed with the to the key class and then students respond discussing concepts alone or in friendship pairs, as fears can be challenging for children. Discuss • • • • ikings. orksheet 3 – My mythic creature. orksheet

Working in small groups students research some students research in small groups Working Vikings. historical and geographical facts about for could choose a topic to research; Each group villages, the history of the Vikings, example Viking and their clothing, weapons and tools and culture a presentation customs. Students then create art forms. to the class using one or more Vikings list for V the resource choose from Read and vikingr, a word derive from is thought to Viking The name Scandinavian languages. The for ‘pirate’ in the early Denmark, seafaring warriors from prolific were Vikings the late 8th to the mid 11th from Norway and Sweden France Britain, Ireland, Later they settled in Great century. time of the first known raids on the and Russia. From of Northumbria in 793 until the Lindisfarne the coast off in Britain in 1066 the in York Bridge Battle of Stanford powerful and influential people of the most were Vikings influence also a great were Vikings northern The Europe. for about 200 years. The Vikings Asia to America from into different became assimilated converted to Christianity, culture. Warrior civilisations and so ended the Viking these films yourself first to ensure 5 – 7 Preview Years suitable for viewing by your students that they are a 2006 ’, an episode from ‘Barbarians – The Vikings (43 minutes) – Part 1’ (15 minutes) . • Students complete W Students complete © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 16 ikings and dragons orksheet 4 – V iking Day at school – students wear being spontaneously improvise In small groups, teenagers as they take a members of the gang of Viking nest. They sail the ship ship to try and find the Dragon’s along the way, and encounter a number of adventures to such as a storm at sea, a sea dragon who threatens steal away their pet dragons, and finding a dragon egg. Individually create a short mime depicting an accident- Individually create and comic Use physical theatre teenager. prone other as possible. View elements to make it as humorous comic performances to stimulate ideas, eg. Mr Bean. – form small groups and each Class Performance – form small groups the arena a key moment from improvises group between human show focusing on relationships Link characters and between humans and dragons. with dragon polished improvisation each group’s humans. jokes, songs, oral descriptions of dragons/ Hold a V designed clothing, play games from the Viking the those times, hold a food tasting to represent time, display student-designed weaponry. • • if you wish to offer this activity comic strip if you wish to offer ages 10 and up. to your students from • ionExtens –es tiviti ac ing and Creat ingpresent their own students create Alone or in pairs or groups Your How to Train of DreamWorks representation Dragon Arena Spectacular as written, visual, dramatic, a poster, This could range from media or digital text. play or short dramatic play or song, poem, puppet 4, to a comic strip, in Year for the text storyboard in digital form and a mock-up of a short video, reviews for ideas). Two website in later years (see Worksheet Print out W Some other ideas • the director the director Nigel Jamieson, says: show, of the arena the the storyI think at the heart of is that it’s thing we are be our most frightened of could greatest strength as an individual or society. In this story saves the people. In it actually a society where fear of others is very real this is a great storyIn our for Australia. history periodically frightened we have been of different communities. ‘They are from overseas. Are us?’ and they going to change Then the richer. then they made us much next group arrive and each time we adapt. What do you think Nigel Jamieson meant by What do you think Nigel Jamieson meant Dragon Arena Your How to Train DreamWorks story for Australia? Spectacular being a great discuss what In pairs or small groups you believe Australians may fear? or hear that read What news stories do you view, fearful of ‘others’? suggest that Australians are dragons? In what ways is this similar to the fear of What is meant by rites of passage and what did this mean for Hiccup? keen to What rite of passage was Hiccup initially peers? be part of along with his teenage Viking of Pride’. of Shame for Hiccup into a ‘Walk the Walk Turn In pairs, identify some qualities that Hiccup possesses and as he (a student he trains Toothless even before walks down an aisle of two columns or teacher in role) of students, the students tell him the characteristics about, building self esteem. that he should feel proud Discuss Australian Aborigines rites of passage. Indigenous Australia website has for primary aged a description appropriate . • • • the world celebrate People around distinct developmental milestones. • • • • • his to the class Read t SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 17 rite Think illage our Dragon (2003) by Ages 6–10. illage.co.uk> YouTube animation with lyrics ‘Heart of a Dragon’ by Dragonforce Lair’ by Crystal Eyes ‘The Dragon’s W Read, from Online Comic Strip Creator tool for ages 8 up. Simple and very creative • Books and poems about dragons Y The novel How to Train Cowell is the first book in the How to Train Cressida Dragon series. Students can learn about more Your the book and series at and . Students will enjoy listening to the extracts from and teachers may by David Tennant the novel read the novel choose to download the PDF extract from in class prior to attending the DreamWorks to read Dragon Arena Spectacular. Your How to Train Story by Michael Ende, Dutton, The Neverending movie is UK, 1997. The book that the classic children’s based on. Dragons and flying dog dragons. Ages 8–12. University Press, Oxford Velde, Bait by Vivian Dragon’s 2008. Fantasy novel with dragons and magic. Ages 10–14. Ice Dragons a poem by Eric Finney Ages 6–10. How to Raise and Keep a Dragon by Songs the Magic Dragon’ ‘Puff • com/quizzes/humanities/beasts_of_myth/mythical_ dragons and stories about Information dragons.html> quizzes. Ages 10 up. in series of presented which are V activities at Activity Dragon themed V cultures. different beasts from that describes mythical as a whole class of for to explore This is a good resource beasts. mythical a particular culture’s students to research at the American Museum Mythic Creatures of Natural History Primary Teacher Primary Teacher the Vikings? ere

Dragons Dragons: Real or Imagined? Discovering Dragons A web quest that sets students the task of making a timeline, evaluating differences between dragons, debating with their classmates, and of their new knowledge concluding with a presentation about dragons and ancient civilizations. This activity Ages 10 up. could be done in pairs or groups. No Smoke Without Dragons This blog teacher resource learning. creative It has a host of dragon inspire poems and imaginative class activities. Quizzes Mythical Dragons that can be explored teaching and learning resource of students and it includes by individuals or groups there teaching ideas and activity sheets. For students that support is a quest, quiz, videos and other activities skills. literacy skills, history knowledge and creative class. The quest would be enjoyed by the whole A very useful collection of PowerPoints etc. to show students aged 8 up. Craft ideas, A safe internet portal to information and 3–6. Years activities for children A page of information and pictures or dragon-headed longships that the Vikings drekar to this page if used. Print out or give students access and Vikings in writing a story about interested they are of a ship. their ships or if they wish to make a model ship, shields, has instructions for making a Viking a tent, costumes, etc. games online The websites below have helpful resources have helpful resources The websites below and in researching for you and your students How based on DreamWorks completing projects Dragon Arena Spectacular. Your Train To Online ces Resour © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 18

h th ing Dragons 7 Fly - at various scales 3 x additional Night Furies (Toothless) - 3m long with 2m wingspan 2 x Gronkle wingspan - 4m long and 6m Nightmare 1 x Monstrous 1 x Skrill - 4m long and 6m wingspan Suits and Puppets 2 Skrills - 2.5m tall and 4.3m long Dragon Suits - 2m long 4 Wrestling 2 Stinger suit puppets - 2m at hips tall and 4.5m long 1 Kite Dragon - 2m wingspan Multiple Nesting Dragons (Zipplebacks) 1 Egg Biter Multiple Shadow puppets puppets 2 Wrestling Don’t be fooled, because the beautifully coloured Deadly coloured because the beautifully be fooled, Don’t aggressive, It is flighty, dangerous. also extremely Nadder is quick and explosive and has a which is temper, Height vanity. the worse by its made all preening 9m. of wingspan 4m by 12m long and at shoulder Nightmare The monstrous Nightmare dragon species, the Monstrous The flagship of the and iconic of known dragonis the most visually terrifying Height gel fire. is a kerosene weapon species. Its greatest 15.5m long and wingspan of 14m. at shoulder 3.5m by Red Dea a Red Death lives inside Massive and deadly, the demands food from it volcano on where and neck total length 12m+. other dragons. Head long. Head 5m wide and 6m long, tail is 20m family car) Each dragon weighs 1.6 tons (standard and 2 Voodoo and takes 3 people to operate: 1 Driver motion, one gross Puppeteers – one operates head and tail mouth, blinking and roars of minor movements: in charge of hydraulic hose, Each dragon contains 132 metres of foam, of fabric, 12.2 cubic metres metres 90 square 16 truck of paint. 7 kilowatts of power from 200 litres of cabling in each body. batteries and 1 kilometre movement along with control 24 microprocessors each. 15 hydraulic rams and 6 hydraulic motors ly Nadder dly The dea colour and piercing colour and piercing

y – Toothless largest wing-to-body ratio of all dragons, largest

fly higher, faster and longer than any dragon. Height fly higher,

eyes, as well as its smaller size, heavy chest and short neck. Possessing the The Gronkle body and is distinguished by its robust The Gronkle endowing tiny wings that can flap with velocity, relatively or sideways. While it with the ability to fly backwards smashes and crushes enemies with attacking, the Gronkle its extendable tail, or by using its head as a battering ram. Height at shoulder 3m by 7.5m long and wingspan of 5m. 5 Large Dragons 24 dragons - 10 species different Show in the Arena The Dragons Joe Nigg, Barrons Juveniles, 2006. Guide to Juveniles, 2006. Barrons Joe Nigg, All ages. dragon at your house. keeping a UK, and Row, Harper Yep, Dragon series by Laurence novels tetralogy of fantasy Dragon series is a 1992. The 12 up. Ages Yep. author Laurence by Chinese-American Ballantine by Piers Anthony, Dragon on a Pedestal A bad dragon is on the Books Inc., 1992, USA. Ages 8–12. country. the loose destroying Birthday Party by Ian McMillan. The Dragon’s Ages 6–10 a range of are Harry Potter novels and films. There novels (including dragons) in these mythic creatures Buckbeak the and films, including Fawkes the Phoenix, Unicorn, Werewolves, Hippogriff, Giants, The Basilisk, For a Mermaids, Centaurs, Gryphons, and Trolls. included in the Harry description of these and how they are Wiki The Dragon Stone A booklist of children’s The Night Fur and most intelligent of the dragon species, the The rarest Night Fury is distinguished by its dark at shoulder 2.5m by 8.5m long and wingspan of 10m. it can © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 19

rite the meaning of the highlighted words. rite the meaning of

iccup Hiccup for Hiccup he is not Chief. Unfortunately Viking whose father Stoick is the brawny Hiccup is a young Viking warrior his own also smart. He decides to become a Viking but he is accident-prone and he’s very strong keen to fight dragons, along with teenagers are while the other Viking way by inventing things. Unfortunately, When Hiccup of an outsider. even more wry sense of humour only serves to make him the adults, Hiccup’s he begins an exhilarating and complicated double life. wild dragon, an injured befriends his vicious enemy, In one sentence continue the description of each character. 1. In one sentence continue 2. W Name rain Your Dragon to rain How T cters in Chara One Worksheet Astrid of the class. Her competitive, way and is the heartthrob and tough, Astrid embodies the Viking Striking, energetic help but be smitten. Hiccup can’t but to impress, to beat and hard makes her hard determined and fearless nature double life Astrid is the first to become suspicious. When Hiccup begins to show the strain of leading his secret , but with a heart in the right place, Gobber is Stoick’s sidekick. A muscle-bound and crass, but with a heart in the right place, Gobber is Stoick’s Gruff it. Gobber is appointed to drill the giant of a man, Gobber is a warrior and has the scars to prove teenagers, to become expert dragon slayers. When he is not fighting namely Berk’s new recruits, blacksmith. dragons or training teenagers how to fight dragons, Gobber is Berk’s Gobber and commanding in battle, Stoick is ambitious A hero Tribe. Viking Stoick is the supersized chieftain of the understand his He doesn’t warrior. become a true Viking for Hiccup but does not believe he will ever to Dragon Training. Stoick sends Hiccup boy, clever misfit son. Hoping to bring out the man in his Stoick Toothless of Berk know little about Night Furies but that does not stop them from is a Night Fury dragon. The Vikings Toothless friend and ally. teeth, becomes Hiccup’s Toothless, named for his retractable being terrified of the creatures. © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 20

Snotlout Snotlout is the perfect Viking. on ideas and he smells horrible. In other words, short mean, strong, He’s her. on impressing , Snotlout likes Astrid and is always intent A thick-skinned extrovert Fishlegs Clumsy and accident-prone, intelligent than he looks. and certainly more Fishlegs is big in size His inexhaustible arsenal is unsuited to the rigours of dragon fighting. rather like Hiccup, he teenagers. Viking and annoys the other both impresses of facts about dragons t t and Ruffnu Tuffnu for their kind of outrageous situation is too risky fraternal twins. No are and Ruffnut Tuffnut as one. twins move and think lightning speed, the and able to move at fun. Lithe © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 21 tion a tion a tion a , Design, Technology using a computer with key words from the story. the from cloud using a computer with key words or word ordle iking longboat.

Viking Times newspaper about Times headline for the Viking page story rite a front role-play interviewing one of the characters from How to interviewing one of the characters from Interview: role-play with a Viking as a radio interview or filmed. Dragon. This could be recorded Your Train or dragons. or short news item about Vikings Make a commercial some that promotes a one-minute radio or television commercial create In groups or services for your dragon. life or exploration products aspect of Viking For example: longship or toughest shield for the latest and fastest Viking » a commercial » dragon mobile wash or dragon tinned or dry food. David Attenborough! Make a film or audio mockumentary about a dragon sighting at your school – think : in a group create a short re-enactment of the story a short re-enactment create Shadow puppet play: in a group effects. using shadow puppets, music and sound such as rustling a soundscape of dragon sounds using musical instruments and objects Create sound recorder. the soundscape using a DVD camera or Record paper and water. a dragon dance to. could create Find some music that a group instruments, synthesiser verbal dynamics, simple percussion soundscapes using body percussion, Create sounds of battle, sounds of dragon attack. Village, the sounds of daily life in Viking to create board game or poster. Dragon board Your Make a How to Train Make a paper dragon or dragon kite based on one of the dragons. clay own dragon. This could range from Design and make a small model of your to using model kits such as Meccano and Lego. or papier-mâché dragon that moves and then advanced activities could involve making a robot More a soundtrack of sounds to accompany that particular dragon. creating Make a V Hiccup and Toothless. Draw a picture to go with the headline. Draw a picture Hiccup and Toothless. comic creator. show using a comic strip template or online the for a scene from Design a comic strip Make a W a chopstick and string. or paper plates, paper squares Make a story mobile: use coloured a hole in the string through paper and thread a brief sentence about each stage of the story on the coloured Write and attach the strings to the chopstick and hang your mobile up. the top (you can make the hole with a skewer) W • • • • Media Learning St Learning St Drama, Dance and Music • • • • • • • • Visual Art •

tivities ion Ac ing Stat Learn Your Dragon to Train How Two Worksheet • • • • ning St English Lear Choose one activity from the ones below that have a tick in the box. Some of the ones below that have a tick in from Choose one activity at the learning pairs or groups stations. these can be done in © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 22 ture

Where does it live? Describe its habitat. 3. Where What can it do? Use complete sentences and make them as interesting as possible. as possible. and make them as interesting 2. What can it do? Use complete sentences as high as the clouds. Use symbols and analogies, e.g. it can fly own mythic crea Design your as possible, Use as many descriptive words 1. What will it look like? scaly legs’. eyes’, ‘long, green shiny wings’, ‘round, e.g. ‘Large, What is a Mythic Creature? amuse us. fantastic beings that enchant, terrify and are Mythic creatures Name ic creature My myth THREE Worksheet © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 23

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R A

horror horror A

or anger A Fast movement- draw curves around the part of the Fast movement- draw curves around e.g. dragon wings body that is moving quickly,

E HEE

HEE H H thoughts Zzz

normal speech

Dizzy or sick characters have their head a spiral around Zzzz... ACTION by lines, Speed is represented the character moving away from Comic Sound Effects Crash Other balloons Speech balloons You can copy or cut out the Vikings and dragon characters or draw your own. and dragon characters cut out the Vikings can copy or You DreamWorks How to Train How to Train on DreamWorks frames draw a short comic strip based Using the comic strip or design characters. figures can use stick Dragon Arena Spectacular. You Your Name ic strip com dragons Vikings and orksheet 4 Worksheet © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 25

STEP 1 Pencil your comic using the template provided. Be sure to draw your word balloons first. to draw your word sure Be comic using the template provided. STEP 1 Pencil your lettering is legible. your erase your pencils. Be sure STEP 2 Ink, then carefully Title ip ic str Com © 2011 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Dragon Arena Spectacular © 2011 DreamWorks Your How to Train DreamWorks This study guide was produced by ATOM. (© ATOM 2011) ISBN-13-978-1-74295-109-6 [email protected] For more information on Screen Education magazine, or to download other study guides for assessment, visit . Join ATOM’s email broadcast list for invitations to free screenings, conferences, seminars, etc. Sign up now at . For hundreds of articles on Film as Text, Screen Literacy, Multiliteracy and Media Studies, visit .