Big Friendly Launch Lesson Guide Special Education ELA • Grades 1–2 45 Minutes
Big Friendly Launch: Teacher Guide
Unit Kickoff for The BFG by Roald Dahl • Characters, Predictions & Key Words
Core Learning Target
Students will identify 2 character traits of Sophie & BFG and predict if the giant is friend or foe using visual clues.
Target Standards
CCSS.ELA: RL.1.3 (Character traits), RL.1.7 (Picture clues), SL.1.2 (Ask/answer key detail questions).
Universal Supports
Multi-sensory props, TPR body gestures, visual sentence starters, and high-contrast color-coded trait cards.
Multi-Sensory "Dream Catcher" Kit (Teacher Props)
🫙
Dream Jar Jar + fairy lights
🎺
Dream Trumpet Paper towel tube
👓
Sophie Glasses Toy frames / paper
👂
Giant Ears Paper headband
Target Vocabulary & TPR (Total Physical Response)
GIANT
Huge person, taller than a house.
✋ Gesture: Reach arms high over head!
WHISPER
Speaking in a quiet, secret voice.
🤫 Gesture: Finger over lips, lean in.
DREAM
A magical picture in your sleep.
😴 Gesture: Hands together by cheek.
BRAVE
Doing something even when scared.
💪 Gesture: Flex muscles with a big smile!
Instructional Flow: Opening & Exploration
Phase 1: Mystery Hook & Sensory Activation (8 Mins) Slides 1–2
Teacher Script: "Dim the lights slightly. Tap the glowing Dream Jar. 'Listen closely... it's the witching hour. Everything is dark and quiet. Have you ever wondered what happens while the world sleeps?' "
Student Action: Cup hands behind ears to listen; practice the WHISPER gesture.
Phase 2: Book Cover Detective & Prediction (10 Mins) Slides 3–4 + Cover Worksheet
Teacher Modeling: "Display book cover. Use magnifying glass gesture. 'I see a tiny girl sitting on a giant palm. The giant has enormous ears. Does he look mean or friendly?' Point to his warm smile."
Scaffold: Have students vote with thumbs: Thumbs UP for Friendly, Thumbs DOWN for Scary. Worksheet: Guide students to circle their choice on the Cover Detective sheet.
The BFG Introductory Unit • Big Friendly Launch Page 1 of 2
Lesson Sequence Continued
Characters, Practice & Tiered Adaptations
Phases 3–5
Phase 3: Meet the Characters (I Do / We Do) (12 Mins) Slides 5–6
👧 Meet Sophie
Little girl, wears spectacles, lives in an orphanage, stays awake at night, very brave.
Prompt: "Show me your brave face!"
👣 Meet The BFG
Big Friendly Giant! 24 feet tall, gigantic ears that hear dreams, carries a trumpet & jar, kind heart.
Prompt: "Flap your big ears!"
Phase 4: Character Clues Activity (You Do) (10 Mins) Character Clues Activity
Distribute the Character Clues Activity . Students match or paste picture trait cards into Sophie's or BFG's column.
Partner Strategy: Pair verbal models with emergent learners. Checking: "Point to who carries the dream trumpet!"
Phase 5: "Dream Jar" Reflection & Exit Check (5 Mins) Slide 7
Each student writes or stamps one word inside their paper Dream Jar: "A good dream I would blow into the world is..." .
Tiered Access & Communication Supports
Learner Profile
Scaffold & Response Mode
Assessment Evidence
Tier 1: Non-Verbal / AAC / High Physical Support
Use 2-choice eye gaze / pointing board (Sophie vs. BFG). Pre-cut Velcro picture cards. Accept physical gestures (flexing for brave, hands for tall).
Points to correct character with 80% accuracy (2/3 trials).
Tier 2: Emergent Readers & Fine Motor Developing
Highlight tracing lines in yellow highlighter. Offer color-coded glue dots. Provide sentence starter: "The BFG has ____."
Pastes at least 2 traits per character and completes 1 stem.
Tier 3: Grade-Level Readers / Extension
Write their own prediction sentence explaining WHY they think BFG is friendly using evidence from the cover.
Writes independent sentence with picture support.
Anticipated Challenges & Sensory Accommodations
Fear of Giants: Some students may find the word "Giant" scary. Emphasize the letter F in BFG stands for Friendly . Compare him to a gentle puppy or protective grandfather.
Sensory Regulation: Dimming the lights during the Dream Jar hook should be gradual; keep fairy lights on to maintain a calm, magical ambiance without triggering darkness anxiety.
The BFG Introductory Unit • Big Friendly Launch Page 2 of 2
Big Friendly Launch Slides Story Explorers • Special Education ELA
Book by Roald Dahl
🌙 ✨ 🫙
The BFG
Big Friendly Giant
Who walks the streets while the world is fast asleep?
Chapter Book Kickoff Slide 1 of 7
Secret Word: Whisper Step 1: Get Ready to Listen
The Witching Hour!
It is the middle of the night.
Every person is fast asleep.
Everything is dark and still.
Can you make your quietest whisper?
🤫
Try the Action!
Put one finger over your lips.
Shhh... Lean in close!
Great Job Listening!
Big Friendly Launch Slide 2 of 7
Cover Clues Step 2: Be a Detective
What Do Your Detective Eyes See? 🔍
👧
A Little Girl
Sitting right inside a huge hand! She is tiny and wearing night clothes.
👂
Enormous Ears
Ears as big as truck wheels! What do you think he listens to?
😊
A Warm Smile
Look at his face. Does he look angry and mean, or gentle and kind?
Big Friendly Launch Slide 3 of 7
Make a Prediction Step 3: Vote with Your Thumbs
Is This Giant Friendly or Scary?
👍
FRIENDLY GIANT
Thumbs UP!
He is kind, gentle, and helps Sophie.
👎
SCARY MONSTER
Thumbs DOWN!
He is mean, loud, and wants trouble.
Sentence Stem: "I predict the giant is ______ because..."
Big Friendly Launch Slide 4 of 7
Character Profile 1 Step 4: Meet Sophie
👧
Sophie
The Brave Little Girl
👓
Wears Glasses
She wears round spectacles to see in the dark dormitory.
🏠
Lives in an Orphanage
She sleeps in a room with many other beds, but cannot sleep.
💪
Super Brave!
Even when she sees something impossible, she investigates!
Big Friendly Launch Slide 5 of 7
Character Profile 2 Step 5: Meet The BFG
👣
The BFG
Big Friendly Giant
📏
24 Feet Tall!
Taller than three grown-up teachers standing on shoulders!
🫙
Catches Good Dreams
He collects happy dreams in jars and keeps away bad nightmares.
🎺
Blows Dreams with a Trumpet
He blows sweet dreams through bedroom windows to sleeping children.
Big Friendly Launch Slide 6 of 7
Your Turn to Shine Wrap-Up Mission
🫙✨
What Good Dream Would You Catch?
Imagine you have a magical dream jar like the BFG.
What happy, wonderful dream would you blow into the world?
🚀
Flying in Space
🐶
Friendly Puppies
🍦
Ice Cream Castle
Ready for our Character & Cover Activities! Slide 7 of 7
Character Clues Activity Story Characters • The BFG
Character Clues Sorting Mat
Name:
Date:
✂️
Directions for Detectives
Cut out the picture clue cards on Page 2 . Glue each clue under the right character!
👧 Sophie
The Brave Little Girl
Glue Clue 1 Here
Glue Clue 2 Here
Glue Clue 3 Here
👣 The BFG
Big Friendly Giant
Glue Clue 1 Here
Glue Clue 2 Here
Glue Clue 3 Here
Complete the Sentences (Circle or Write)
1. Sophie is very brave / mean .
2. The BFG has giant ears / wings to hear dreams.
The BFG • Character Clues Sorting Mat Page 1 of 2
Cut-and-Paste Clues
Clue Cards & Character Portrait
Cut Carefully on Dashed Lines
Cut Along the Dashed Lines
👓 Round Glasses Helps her see
👂 Enormous Ears Hears tiny whispers
🏠 Orphanage Bed Sleeps with children
🎺 Dream Trumpet Blows sweet dreams
💪 Super Brave Not afraid of night
🫙 Glass Dream Jar Catches dreams
🌙 Night Clothes Wears white gown
📏 24 Feet Tall Huge friendly body
My Favorite Character Portrait
Draw Sophie or the BFG in the frame below:
I drew because
The BFG • Character Clues Sorting Mat Page 2 of 2
Cover Detective Worksheet Book Cover Detective The BFG by Roald Dahl
Cover Clues & Predictions
Name:
Date:
Part 1: I Spy on the Book Cover (Check the Clues You See)
✓
👧
A tiny girl in nightclothes
Sitting right in a giant hand
✓
👂
Enormous listening ears
Bigger than dinner plates
✓
😊
A gentle, warm smile
Friendly eyes looking at Sophie
✓
🌙
A dark nighttime sky
Streetlights and quiet houses
Part 2: What Do You Predict? (Circle One Big Choice)
👍
A FRIENDLY GIANT
He is kind, protects Sophie, and helps children have sweet dreams.
Circle Me: [ FRIENDLY ]
👎
A SCARY MONSTER
He is mean, scary, and wants to make big trouble in the town.
Circle Me: [ SCARY ]
Part 3: My Prediction Sentence
I predict the giant is friendly / scary because .
Clue Bank: he is smiling holds Sophie gently looks huge
🫙 Part 4: Draw a Happy Dream Inside Your Dream Jar
What sweet dream would you like to have tonight?
The BFG • Cover Detective & Prediction Worksheet Page 1 of 1