THE FIREWORK-MAKER’S DAUGHTER

BY PHILIP PULLMAN

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES
 The firework-maker’s daughter

Pre reading
Working with the cover
Students will be shown the cover of the book but not
the title. They will look carefully at it and they will think
what kind of story it may be (i.e. crime, fantasy, science-
fiction.) They should justify their answer.
Besides, students may be asked the following questions:
Where does the story take place? Look at the
background; look at the child’s clothes. Why do you
think the child is looking at the volcano? What do you
know about volcanoes? Are they dangerous? Students
will share their thoughts with the rest of the class.

Working with the title

Students will think about the title. What do you know
about fireworks? When do people use fireworks? How
would it be to be the daughter of a firework-maker?
Students share their thoughts with the rest of the class.

Working with the blurb

Students will read the first sentence “you want to be a

Firework-Maker? Walk into my flames!” who do you
think may say this? Who is he /she talking to? Students
will work in pairs to share their comments and thoughts.
Students will read the whole blurb. They will be asked
the following questions: What does Lila want to be?
What does she have to do to achieve her dream? What
does she need for her trip? Does she know this? Will it
be easy for her to become a firework maker? What do
you think? Why?

The characters
Students will look at the cover of the book and the title.
Who are some of the characters involved in the story?
(The child, the father) students will describe both
characters and make deductions about them. They can
discuss appearance, age, personality, likes and dislikes,
type of relationship between them.

Predictions
Students will look at the title and the pictures in
chapters one and two. They will think of key words for
the story (fireworks, volcano, mountains, elephant,
pirates…). The words may be written down on a poster
to be checked after students finish reading the book.
Which words appeared in the story? Which key words
can you add now?