Communicative activities

COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITIES (GROUP- PAIR WORK)
Chapters 1 - 3

1 Choose another title for each chapter. Each title must be an actual sentence from the chapter. The group must also give the reasons why they chose the sentences.
2 In pairs, describe Matilda from the point of view of (a) her father (b) Miss Phelps. Then describe Mr Wormwood from the point of view of (a) Matilda (b) his wife.

Chapters 4-6

1 In groups, answer the following questions.
(a) Who do you think is worse, Mr Wormwood or Miss Trunchbull? Explain your reasons.
(b) Do you think there really are teachers like Miss Trunchbull?
(c) Do you think there really are parents like the Wormwoods?
(d) What makes Matilda a funny book?

2 Write a description of ‘The best teacher in the world’.

Chapters 7-9

Agree on four words to describe each of these people:
(a) Matilda (b) Mr Wormwood (c) Miss Trunchbull (d) Miss Honey

Activities after reading the book

1 Write a quiz on the book - 10 questions in all. Then each group gives its quiz to another group. The winner is the group that answers its questions the fastest.

2 Decide on an animal that each of the four main characters (Matilda, Mr Wormwood, Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey) are similar to. Give reasons for your choice.

3 Look at these names: Wormwood, Trunchbull, Honey. Look up worm, bull and honey in your dictionary. Why do you think Roald Dahl chose these names? Choose new names for these people. Then compare with your friends. Which are your favourite new names?

4 Which parts of the book do you like the best? Explain why.

5 Impossible things happen in Matilda. What are they? Write them down. Do you think they are funny? Do you think they make the story better or not?

6 You have seen the film ‘Matilda’. How is the story in the film different from the story in this book?

7 Write the conversation that Matilda and Miss Honey could have when they go to Miss Honey’s house at the end of the story.