Grades 3–4

Gr
ades3–4
D
Dan
ann
ny
yt
Danny h
t
he
eC
the Ch
ha
ampio
mpio
Championn
n
of
of
ofthe
eWo
the
ht rld
World
Wo rld
Roald Dahl
Ro
Ra
old
aldDDa
ahhl

.
nc
U LE
,I
ts
el P
M
ni
ov A
S
N
©
 DANNY THE CHAMPION
OF THE WORLD
by

.
nc
Roald Dahl

U LE
,I
Teacher
eacher Guide
eacher
ts
Guide
el P
M
ni
Written
W ritten by
ritten by
Rachel
Rachel Still
Still
ov A

Edited by
Edited by
S

Nancy Snow
Nancy Snow Smith
Smith

Note
The Puffin
The Puffin Books
Books edition
edition of
of the
the book,
book, published
published byby the
thePenguin
Penguin
Group, ©
Group, © 1998,
1998, was
was used
used to
to prepare
prepare this
this guide.
guide. The
Thepage
pagereferences
references
N

may differ
may differ in
in other
other editions.
editions.

Please note:
Please note: Please assess the appropriateness of this book for the age
©

level and
level and maturity
maturity of
ofyour
yourstudents
studentsprior
priortotoreading and
reading discussing
and it it
discussing
with them.
with them.

ISBN 1-58130-832-9 To order, contact your local school

supply store, or—
Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.
© 2004 by Novel Units, Inc., Bulverde, T exas. All rights reser ved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, Novel Units, Inc.
photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission from Novel Units, Inc. P.O. Box 433
Photocopying of student worksheets by a classroom teacher at a non-profit school who has purchased this publication
for his/her own class is permissible. Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school
Bulverde, TX 78163-0433
system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers, or for commer cial sale is strictly prohibited.
Novel Units is a registered trademark of Novel Units, Inc. Web site: www.educyberstor.com
Printed in the United States of America.
 Table of Contents
Summary .......................................................................3

About the Author .........................................................3

Major Characters ..........................................................3

Initiating Activities........................................................4

Vocabulary Activities.....................................................5

Four Sections ..............................................................13

Each section contains: Vocabulary, Summary,

.
Discussion Questions,
Discussion Questions, and and Supplementary Activities

nc
Supplementary Activities

Post-reading Discussion Questions ............................18

............................18

U LE
Post-reading Extension Activities...............................19
...............................19

,I
...............................19

Assessment..................................................................20
..................................................................20
..................................................................20

ts
el P
Skills and
Skills and Strategies
M

Strategies
ni
Comprehension
Comprehension Listening/Speaking
Listening/Speaking
ov A

Identifying attributes,
Identifying attributes, research,
research, Discussion, debate
compare/contrast, problem
compare/contrast, problem
solving, creative
solving, creative and
and critical Writing
S

critical
thinking, inferring,
thinking, inferring, predicting,
predicting, Creative writing, newspaper
evaluating, supporting
evaluating, supporting journalism
judgements
judgements
Critical Thinking
Literary Elements
Literary Elements Identifying main ideas and
Figurative language;
Figurative language; story
story supporting details, sequencing,
mapping; identify
mapping; identify the
the main
main recalling, questioning,
events of
events of plots,
plots, their
their causes,
causes, classifying, ordering,
N

and the
and the influences
influences onon future
future summarizing
actions; setting; identify
character’s traits and Across the Curriculum
motivations; identify author’s
©

Social Studies—geography;
purpose, theme Science—scientific method,
predicting outcomes; Math—
Vocabulary computation; Art—illustration
Synonyms, antonyms, using
context clues, distinguish and
interpret multiple-meaning
words and idioms, root words,
use a thesaurus/dictionary
Genre: fiction
Setting: the southern English countryside and Hazell’s Wood
Point of View: Danny, first-person narrator
Conflict: person vs. person, person vs. nature
Themes: honesty, bravery, kindness, friendship, fatherly love
Style: imaginative and entertaining adventure novel

Summary
Danny and
Danny and his
his father
father share
share aa peaceful
peaceful life in the
life in the English countryside, living
English countryside, living in
in an
an old
old gypsy
gypsy
wagon behind
wagon behind aa filling
filling station
station and
and automobile
automobile workshop. Danny grows
workshop. Danny grows
grows up
up listening
listening to to stories,
stories,

.
apprenticing in
apprenticing in his father’s workshop,
his father’s workshop, andand enjoying
enjoying his
his father’s
father’s many
many inventions.
inventions. UponUpon turning
turning

nc
nine, however,
nine, however, Danny
Danny discovers
discovers that
that his
his father
father has
has aa dark
dark secret.
secret.Danny’
Danny’ss father
father isis aa poacher!
poacher!
Danny becomes
Danny becomes part
part of
of the adventure as
the adventure as he
he and
and his
his father
father plot
plot against
against VVictor
ictor Hazell,
Hazell, aa
villainous, wealthy
villainous, wealthy landowner.
landowner. TheThe father-son
father-son relationship
relationship isis the
the highlight
highlight ofof this
this delightful
delightfultale
tale
in which
in which high
high jinks
jinks lead
U LE
lead to
to the
the poaching
poaching of of most
most ofof the
the pheasants
pheasants from Hazell’s Wood.
from Hazell’s Wood. Pulling
Pulling

,I
off his
off his masterful
masterful plan
plan makes
makes Danny
Danny the
the champion
champion of of the
the world.
world.

ts
el P
About the
About the Author
Author
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl is
is one
one of
of the
the best-loved
best-loved stor ytellers in
storytellers in the
the world.
world. He He was
was born
born inin Llandaff,
Llandaff, South
SouthW ales,
Wales,
M
ni
in 1916,
in 1916, and
and educated
educated inin English
English boarding
boarding schools.
schools. AsAs aachild,
child,Dahl
Dahllovedlovedstories
storiesand
andbooks.
books.HeHe
was especially
was especially fascinated
fascinated with
with tales
tales about
about trolls
trolls and
and other
other mythical
mythicalcreatures
creaturesas astold
toldto
tohim
himbybyhis
his
ov A

mother. The
mother. The young
young Dahl
Dahl kept
kept aa diar
diaryy from
from the
the age
age of
of eight.
eight. He He wrote
wrote to to his
hismother
motherever y week
every week
from school,
from school, aa habit
habit he
he continued
continued until
until her
her death
death 3232years
yearslater
later.. As
As aa young
young adult,
adult, Dahl
Dahl worked
worked for
for
Shell Oil
Shell Oil in
in Africa
Africa and
and then
then joined
joined the
the Royal
Royal Air
AirFor ce as
Force as aa fighter
fighter pilot
pilot during
during World
World War
War II.
II.
S

Beginning in
Beginning in the
the 1940s,
1940s, Roald
Roald Dahl
Dahl wrote
wrote many
many successful
successful novels
novelsandandshort
shortstories
storiesfor
foradults,
adults,
such as
such as “Tales
“Tales of
of the Unexpected.” His
the Unexpected.” His wonderful
wonderful and and outrageous
outrageous children’s
children’s novels
novels such
such as as
James and the Giant Peach (1961),
(1961), Charlie and the Chocolate Factor Factoryy (1964), The Witches (1985),
and Matilda (1988)
(1988) all
all became
became best-selling
best-selling titles,
titles, earning
earning himhim the
the reputation
reputation ofof the
themost
most
successful
successful children’s
children’s writer
writer in
in the
the world.
world. Dahl
Dahl said,
said, “I’m
“I’m probably
probably more
morepleased
pleasedwith
withmy my
children’s
children’s books
books than
than with
with my
my adult
adult short
short stories.
stories. Children’s
Children’s books
books are
are harder
harder to
to write.
write. It’s
It’s
tougher
tougher toto keep
keep aa child
child interested
interested because
because aa child
child doesn’
doesn’tt have
have the
the concentration
concentration of of anan adult.
N

adult.
The
The child
child knows
knows thethe television
television is
is in
in the
the next
next room.
room.It’It’ss tough
tough to
to hold
hold aa child,
child, but
but it’
it’ss a
a lovely
lovely
thing
thing to
to try
try to
to do.”
do.” Dahl
Dahl died
died on
on November
November 23, 23, 1990.
1990.
©

Major Characters
Danny: devoted son who masterminds a plot to poach pheasants from Hazell’s Wood
Father/William: Danny’s loving father whose one vice is poaching pheasants
Victor Hazell: wealthy landowner who dislikes Danny and his father
All rights reserved

Doc Spencer: William’s friend; sets William’s broken leg

Sergeant Samways: village policeman; friend of William

© Novel Units, Inc. 3

 Initiating Activities

1. Preview the Book: Direct students to look at the book title and cover for Danny the
Champion of the World. Ask: What do you think this stor y will be about? Do you think that
this chapter book will be funny or serious? Have you read any other books by Roald Dahl?
Have students make some predictions and list their responses.

2. Predict: Have a student read the back cover aloud. Relate the information given on the front
cover and, as a class, predict how the plot will evolve.

.
nc
3. Make Predictions: Have students read the chapter titles and examine the chapter
illustrations. Ask students to make predictions about what they are going to read. Students

U LE
should record their predictions and review them after reading the book.

,I
ts
el P
4. Anticipation Questions: Have students complete the Anticipation Guide on page 6 of this
guide and give reasons for their choices.
M
ni
ov A

5. Prediction Chart: Have students set up Prediction Charts (see pages 7–8 of this guide) to use
as they read the book.
S

6. Attribute Web: Have students create Attribute Webs (see page 11 of this guide) for each of
the following themes: honesty, kindness, bravery. Write the name of the attribute in the
center oval and the characteristics of that attribute in the surrounding boxes.
N

7. Writing Applications: Have students write summaries of each reading section that contain
the main ideas and the most significant details.
©

8. Brainstorming Synonyms: Ask students to list synonyms for the word champion.
All rights reserved

4 © Novel Units, Inc.

 Anticipation Guide

Directions: Rate each of the following statements before you read the novel and discuss
your ratings with a partner. After you have completed the novel, rate and discuss the
statements again.

1 ————— 2 ————— 3 ————— 4 ————— 5 ————— 6

strongly agree strongly disagree

Before
Before After
After
1. It is acceptable to break the law if you have a good reason
for doing
for doing it.
it. ______
______ ______
______

.
nc
2.
2. Adults
Adults always
always have
have the
the best
best solutions
solutions to
to problems.
problems. ______
______ ______
______

U LE
,I
3.
3. A
A life
life filled
filled with
with adventure
adventure isis the
the best
best kind.
kind. ______
______ ______
______

4.
4. It
It takes
takes money
money to
to have
have aa comfortable
comfortable life. ______ ______

ts
life. ______ ______
el P
5.
5. You
You can
can never
never tell
tell what
what people
people are
are really
really like
like until
until you
you get
get
M
ni
to
to know
know them.
them. ______
______ ______
______
ov A

6.
6. Always
Always respect
respect authority.
authority. ______
______ ______
______
S

7.
7. Friends
Friends are
are people
people you can
can count
you can on for
count on for help
help when
when you
you need
need it.
it. ______
______ ______
______

8.
8. A
A champion
champion is
is the
the smartest
smartest or
or strongest
strongest person.
person. ______
______ ______
______

9.
9. A
A great
great plan
plan must
must be
be carefully
carefully tested
tested in
in order
order for
for itit to
to work.
work. ______
______ ______
______
N

10.
10. Fear
Fear is
is easy
easy to
to overcome.
overcome. ______
______ ______
______
©
All rights reserved

6 © Novel Units, Inc.

 Prediction Chart

What characters have What is the conflict What are your Why did you make
we met so far? in the story? predictions? these predictions?

.
nc
U LE
,I
ts
el P
M
ni
ov A
S
N
©
All rights reserved

8 © Novel Units, Inc.

 Character Attribute Web

Directions: The attribute web below will help you gather clues the author provides about a
character in the novel. Fill in the blanks with words and phrases that tell how the character
acts and looks, as well as what the character says and feels.

Acts Says

1. ________________ 1. ________________
1. ________________

.
nc
2. ________________ 2. ________________
2. ________________
3. ________________ 3. ________________
3.
U LE ________________

,I
4. ________________ 4. ________________
4. ________________

ts
el P
_________
_________
M
ni
ov A
S

Looks Feels

1. ________________
1. ________________ 1. ________________
N

2. ________________
2. ________________ 2. ________________
3. ________________
3. ________________ 3. ________________
©

4. ________________
4. ________________ 4. ________________
All rights reserved

10 © Novel Units, Inc.

 Story Map

Title

Setting, Characters, Problem

.
nc
Beginning
Beginning

U LE
,I
ts
el P
M
ni
Important Events
Important Events
ov A
S

Climax (Turning Point)

Climax (Turning Point)
N

End
©
All rights reserved

12 © Novel Units, Inc.

Chapters 1–5, pp. 1–41
Nine-year-old Danny and his father live happily in a 150-year-old gypsy wagon in southern
England. Father is a mechanic and owns a filling station and automobile workshop. Danny and
Father love to work on cars, obser ve nature, invent machines, and tell stories. The BFG, Big
Friendly Giant, who catches children’s dreams and makes them come true, is one of their
favorites. Father reveals a secret he has been keeping from Danny: he likes to poach pheasants
off the land of rich, snobby V ictor Hazell. He also shares two of his favorite poaching methods:
The Horsehair Stopper and The Sticky Hat.

Discussion Questions
Vocabulary 1. How is the boy’s gypsy wagon home different from your own
home? (Answers will vary. p. 6)
caravan (2)
lavished (3) 2. Why would the BFG explode bad dreams instead of using them

.
engineers (4) to make powders? (Answers will vary, but could include the fact

nc
kerosene (6) that this make-believe character is supposed to be a comfort to
slightest (8) Danny, not something to fear. p. 11)
brilliant (9)
phony (9)
U LE 3. Why is it surprising that Father does not own a car? (Father loves

,I
engines and knows how to fix them, but cannot afford to own a car.
intent (10) pp. 14, 16)
grindstone (17)
4. Why does Danny’s father want him to have a good education?

ts
quirks (25)
el P
(Father wants Danny to become an inventor and designer of engines
and knows that he will have to have a good education to do so. p. 16)
M
ni
5. How does Father define poaching? How does Danny define this word? With whom do you
agree? (Father says that poaching is an art; Danny believes it is
is stealing; Answers will vary. p. 29)
ov A

6. Describe the secret poaching methods Danny’s father reveals in Chapter 5. (The Horsehair
Stopper involves putting a horsehair in a raisin. When the pheasant eats the raisin, it becomes
S

stuck in its throat, and the pheasant will not move its feet after wards. The Sticky Hat involves
putting glue around the edge of a paper cone before placing the cone inin a shallow hole in the
ground. Pheasants will eat the raisins placed inside the cone, get the “hat” stuck on their heads,
and being unable to see, stop moving. pp. 35–39)
7. Why is Father proud to tell stories about his own father’ s poaching methods? (Father believes
that his own father was like a scientist, discovering poaching methods thr ough much
experimentation. p. 37)
N

8. Why does Danny want to poach with his father? (Danny likes spending time with his father .
His father was Danny’s age when he began poaching with his own dad. p. 41)
9. Do the secret methods of poaching seem realistic or make-believe? (Answers will vary.)
©

10. Prediction: What do you think will happen during the boy’s ninth year that is exciting but
not exactly fun?

Supplementary Activities
1. Art: Have students draw a picture of the gypsy wagon home.
2. Art/Writing: Have students create a bedtime story about the BFG.
All rights reserved

© Novel Units, Inc. 13

 Assessment for Danny the Champion of the W orld

Assessment is an ongoing process. The following ten items can be completed during the novel study .
Once finished, the student and teacher will check the work. Points may be added to indicate the level
of understanding.

Name ________________________________________________________ Date ______________________

Student Teacher

_______
_______ _______
_______ 1. Keep aa list
1. Keep list of
of words
words that
that you
you dodo not
not recognize,
recognize, along
along with
with the
the page
page

.
number,
number, in in aa reading
reading journal.
journal.

nc
_______
_______ _______
_______ 2. Write
2. Write aa newspaper
newspaper review
review for
for Danny
Danny the
the Champion
Champion of
of the
the W orld.
orld
World

_______
_______ _______
_______
U LE3.
3. Complete
Complete Character
Character Attribute
Attribute Webs
Webs (pages
(pages 9–10
9–10 of
of this
this guide)
guide) for
for

,I
Danny,
Danny, Father,
Father, and
and Mr.
Mr. Hazell.
Hazell.

ts
_______
_______ _______
_______ 4.
4. Draw
Draw two
two illustrations
illustrations that
that you
you would
would add
add to
to this
this book.
book.
el P
_______
_______ _______
_______ 5.
5. Complete
Complete the
the Story
Story Map
Map (page 12 of
(page 12 of this
this guide)
guide) with
with details
details from
from
M
ni
Danny
Danny the
the Champion
Champion of
of the
the W orld.
orld.
World

_______ _______ 6.
6. Write
Write aa new
new chapter
chapter for
for this
this novel.
ov A

_______ _______ novel.

_______
_______ _______
_______ 7.
7. Write
Write aa newspaper
newspaper article
article about
about the
the outcome
outcome of
of the
the poaching of
poachingof
of
S

120
120 pheasants
pheasants before
before opening
opening day.
day.

_______
_______ _______
_______ 8.
8. As
As you
you read
read the
the novel,
novel, keep
keep aa list
list of
list of the
of theactivities
the activitiesthat
activities thatDanny
that Dannyand
Danny andhis
and his
his
father
father enjoy
enjoy doing
doing together
together and
and cite
cite page
page number
number references.
references.

_______
_______ _______
_______ 9.
9. Write
Write aa new
new law about
law about the
about the ownership
the ownership of
ownership of wildlife.
of wildlife.
wildlife.

_______
_______ _______
_______ 10.
10. In
In an
an essay,
essay, present
present the
the pros
pros and
and cons
cons of
of poaching.
poaching.
N
©
All rights reserved

20 © Novel Units, Inc.

 NU8329

©
N S
ov A
M
el P
U LE
ni
ts
,I
nc
.