Danny, the Champion of the World  was first published in 1975. It was inspired by the Buckinghamshire countryside Roald Dahl lived in, and the story brings together many elements of other books he’d written as well as giving the world an early glimpse of The BFG …

Before reading…
Ask the children to look at the front cover.
– What do you think the book will be about?
– What things can you see on the front cover?
– What sort of story will it be?
– Who might enjoy it?
Now read the blurb…
– Were any of your predictions correct?

1. The Filling Station & The Big Friendly Giant

Vocabulary
– What does it mean to ‘lavish’ something upon someone?
– Find an example of onomatopoeia.
– Define ‘eerie’.
– What is a ‘paraffin lamp’?
Infer
– Why did Danny’s dad have so much love to lavish upon Danny?
– How do we know that Danny and his dad are poor?
– Why did Danny love the caravan?
– Does Danny like his dad? How do we know?
– Why would you not call Danny’s dad ‘an educated man’?
Predict
– Will Danny always live in the caravan?
– What will happen to the relationship between Danny and his dad?
– How will the Big Friendly Giant be relevant?
Explain
– What is the effect of the opening line?
– How does Dahl make the caravan sound cosy?
– How does Dahl emphasise Danny’s love for his father?
Retrieve
– How old was Danny when his mum died?
– Where did Danny and his dad live?
– What furniture did they have?
– What does Danny think was ‘the most wonderful feeling of all’?
– What is the ‘Big Friendly Giant’ called for short?
– What is an ‘eye-smiler’?
– What does the Big Friendly Giant carry with him?
Summarise
– Summarise Danny’s dad in one word.
– Summarise how you feel after reading about Danny’s early-childhood?

2. Cars and Kites and Fire-Balloons & My Father’s Deep Dark Secret

Vocabulary
– What does ‘inevitable’ mean?
– What words does Dahl use to describe the sounds of the engines and cars?
– What is ‘personification’? Can you find an example?
– What vocabulary and phrases does Dahl use to make the dad’s secret sound mysterious?
– What is poaching?
Infer
– Why is it ‘inevitable’ that Danny should love engines and cars?
– Why must Danny go to school?
– Did Danny enjoy learning to be a mechanic? How do you know?
– Why is ‘poaching an art’?
– Why can you not blame Danny’s Granddad for poaching?
Predict
– What will the ‘deep dark secret’ be?
– Will Danny become a mechanic?
Explain
– What is the effect of calling a chapter ‘My Father’s Deep Dark Secret’?
– Is it safe for a child to play in a workshop?
– What is the effect of the illustrations of Danny?
– How does Dahl build tension?
Retrieve
– What does Danny’s dad want him to be when he grows up?
– How did they make the kite?
– What did Danny get for his eighth birthday?
– Who was ‘a magnificent poacher’?
– What are we told you can go to prison for?
Summarise
– How does the reader feel when Danny is looking for his dad?
– How would you feel if you were Danny hearing his dad’s story?

3. The Secret Methods & Mr Victor Hazell

Vocabulary
– Think of a synonym for ‘ravenous’.
– Define ‘mania’.
– What is a ‘snob’?
– What words does Dahl use to describe Victor Hazell?
Infer
– Why would no bird run if it had its eyes covered up?
– How do we know Mr. Hazell is rich?
– Why does Danny’s dad not like Mr. Hazell?
– Why does Danny’s dad wait until it is dark to go poaching?
– Why does Danny’s dad think it is safer to go poaching now than it was when his father did it?
Predict
– Who will Mr Victor Hazell be?
– What will happen to Danny’s dad?
Explain
– How does Dahl use italics in these chapters?
– How does Dahl show Danny’s dad’s excitement?
– Is poaching ethical?
Retrieve
– What are Danny and his dad eating?
– What is the ‘first big secret’?
– What is ‘Method Number One’?
– What is Method Number Two’?
– Where does the dad go to do his poaching?
– What was Mr. Hazell’s job?
Summarise
– Summarise Mr. Hazell in one word.
– Summarise the poaching methods in one word.

4. The Baby Austin

Vocabulary
– Think of a synonym for ‘gigantic’.
– What is ‘doom’?
– What is ‘petrified’? Think of a synonym.
– Find an example of onomatopoeia.
Infer
– Why does Danny’s dad wear a dark blue sweater?
– Why does Danny think it is ‘no good trying to work’?
– What is wrong with the clothes Danny is wearing?
– Why did the car ‘bounce and bump’ all over the place?
– How does Danny work out how long it would take to do six miles an hour?
– Why did Danny not dare to see if the police were coming after him?
Predict
– What has happened to Dad?
– Will Danny find his dad?
Explain
– How does Dahl make the woods sound scary?
– Did Danny do the right thing by going to find his dad?
– How does Dahl create tension at the end of the chapter?
Retrieve
– What time is ‘twilight time’?
– What time does Danny wake up?
– How late is Danny’s dad?
– Which way did Danny have to drive to get to Hazell wood?
– How long it would take me to do six miles travelling at fifteen miles an hour.
– What would happen if the police caught Danny?
Summarise
– How would you feel if you were Danny?
– Summarise this chapter in one word.

5. The Pit & Doc Spencer

Vocabulary
– Find an example of a simile.
– What does ‘plumb crazy’ mean?
– What does ‘necessary’ mean?
– Think of a synonym for ‘marvellous’.
Infer
– Why did Danny try to stay as still as possible and hold his breath?
– Why does Danny’s dad need to get out of the whole before the morning?
– Why does Danny’s dad have to hop instead of walking?
– How do we know that Dr. Spencer is old?
– How does Dr. Spencer catch trout?
– How do you know that Danny’s dad loves Danny?
Predict
– Do you think Danny’s dad will come back?
– What will happen at ‘The Great Shooting Party’?
Explain
– What is the effect of repeating ‘please’?
– Is Danny’s dad a responsible parent?
– Why does Dahl repeat ‘hop.. hop.. hop..’?
Retrieve
– What did Danny hear the voice calling out first of all?
– How wide and deep was the pit?
– Why did the keepers dig the hole?
– What does Danny use to get his dad out of the hole?
– Who do they decide to call?
– What is Danny’s dad called?
– How long had Dr. Spencer been looking after people?
Summarise
– Describe Danny in these chapters in one word.
– How does the reader feel when they read these chapters?

6. The Great Shooting Party & The Sleeping Beauty

Vocabulary
– What does ‘whoozy’ mean?
– What is a ‘triumph’?
– Define ‘revolutionize’.
Infer
– What makes the meat pie so good?
– Why did Danny think ‘God bless Doctor Spencer’? And ‘Mrs Spencer’?
– What was different about Danny’s father after the incident?
– Why does Victor make Danny’s dad mad?
– Why does Danny’s dad want to make the party ‘the biggest wash-out in history’?
– Why doesn’t Danny’s dad want Danny to tell his school friends about the plan?
Predict
– Will Danny’s plan work?
– Will Victor find out about the plan?
Explain
– Why is SORRY CLOSED in capitals?
– What is the effect of the ellipses in “Oh . . . well . . . I had . . . er . . .”?
– Is Danny’s dad’s plan a good idea?
Retrieve
– What time is it at the start of the chapter?
– What time is Danny’s dad brought back from the hospital?
– What is Danny given to eat?
– How far away is Danny’s school?
– What makes Danny’s dad ‘hopping mad’?
– What date is the party on?
– How does Danny plan to get rid of the pheasants?
– How many pheasants do they way to get rid of?
Summarise
– How does Danny’s dad feel when he sees Victor?

7. Thursday and School

Vocabulary
– Find an example of onomatopoeia.
– What does it mean to do something ‘occasionally’?
– What does it mean to get ‘steamed up about something’?
Infer
– What makes Danny’s dad a ‘true countryman’?
– Why does Captain Lancaster call himself captain?
– Why do students not like Captain Lancaster?
– Why is Danny so angry with Captain Lancaster?
– What happens to Danny’s dad’s appearance that informs us that he is angry?
– Why couldn’t Danny’s dad sleep?
Predict
– Will Danny’s dad do something to Captain Lancaster?
– What will happen on Friday?
Explain
– Which teacher would you most like to teach you? Why?
– What would you do if you were in Danny’s dad’s position?
Retrieve
– What does Danny say is ‘the most marvelous thing’?
– What is the name of the shop where they want to buy raisins?
– What is the nest of a song-thrush lined with?
– What colour are song-thrush’s eggs?
– Where is a cricket’s ear located?
– When was the school erected? And why?
– Name three of the teachers.
Summarise
– Describe Captain Lancaster in one word.
– Summarise how the reader feels at the end of these chapters in one word.

8. Friday & Into the Wood

Vocabulary
– What does it mean to have ‘butterflies in your stomach’?
– What does it mean to be ‘in good shape’?
– Define ‘motionless’.
– What does it mean to ‘hush’?
Infer
– Why did Danny dread this day?
– Why did Danny’s grandma go poaching with Danny’s dad?
– Why does Danny not feel hungry for baked beans on toast?
– Why did Danny’s dad pull the peak of his cap down low over his eyes?
– Why do Danny and his dad have to lie down flat?
– Why was Hazell wood a ‘poacher’s dream come true’?
Predict
– Will the plan work?
– What will happen at the party?
Explain
– Why is keep low all the time in italics?
– Is this a clever plan?
Retrieve
– What time did Danny get woken up?
– How long did it take to prepare one raisin?
– How many raisins had been prepared by midday?
– What shoes does Danny take off? What new ones does he put on?
– As well as pheasants, what other birds are in the wood?
Summarise
– Describe the plan in one word.
– Summarise how you would feel if you saw one of the keepers.

9. The Keeper & The Champion of the World

Vocabulary
– Think of a synonym for ‘scary’.
– What descriptive words make the keeper sound scary? A tall bony man with a hard eye and
a hard cheek and hard dangerous hands.
– What is ‘loitering’?
– Define ‘groggy’.
Infer
– Why do poachers love poaching?
– Why does Danny’s dad ask the keeper if they are playing ‘20 questions’?
– Why does the keeper ask Danny’s dad if he fell in a hole?
– Why will Danny and his dad need a light later?
– What makes the Thump sound?
– What is Danny paranoid about?
Predict
– What will happen with Mr Rabbetts?
– Will Danny and his dad be found out?
Explain
– Why is the chapter called ‘Champion of the World’?
– What would you have done if you were Mr Rabbett?
– Why does Dahl italicise ‘I’ when he writes ‘if I were Mr Rabbett..’?
Retrieve
– What does Danny’s dad think the hawk saw?
– What type of apple do they eat?
– What is the head keeper called?
– How many pheasants do they collect?
– Who is the taxi driver?
– How many pheasants has Kinch poached?
Summarise
– How would you feel if you were questioned by a keeper?
– Summarise how Danny’s dad feels at the end of the chapter in one word.

10. The Taxi & Home

Vocabulary
– Define ‘cruising’.
– What does ‘scarce’ mean?
– What does ‘astounded’ mean? Think of a synonym.
– What does it mean if someone is a ‘rotten shot’?
Infer
– Why must you always walk home from poaching empty handed?
– Why would someone pour sugar into a car tank?
– Why should you ‘always choose a respectable woman to deliver your pheasants’?
– How did gypsies cook pheasants?
– Why are they going to need a deep freezer?
– What keeps pheasants nice and juicy when cooking them?
Predict
– Will the pheasants be safe?
– What will they do when they get home?
Explain
– Would you trust the taxi driver? Why?
– Why is ‘believe’ in italics?
– How could you compare this story to Robin Hood?
Retrieve
– Who is Enoch Samways?
– Where do they dump the pheasants?
– Who is Mrs Grace Clipstone?
– What date is it?
– What is the finest dish on earth?
– How many pheasants do they have left for themselves?
Summarise
– Describe the taxi driver in one word.
– Describe how Danny and his dad feel when they get home safely.

11. Rockabye Baby & Goodbye Mr Hazell

Vocabulary
– What is a ‘champion’?
– Find an example of onomatopoeia.
– What does ‘extraordinary’ mean?
– What is a ‘rapscallion’? Can you think of a synonym?
Infer
– Why do they call Danny the ‘champion of the world’?
– Why does Danny’s dad speak Mrs Clipstone’s name ‘proudly’?
– Why is Mrs Clipstones pram good for carrying pheasants?
– Why did the pheasants not die?
– Why is Victor’s face pink?
– Why did Victor not want the pheasants on his car?
– Why was it good that the pheasants flew in the opposite direction from Hazell wood?
Predict
– What will happen in ‘Goodbye Mr Hazell’?
– How will the story end?
Explain
– If you were Danny, would you like being called ‘champion of the world’? Why?
– What is the effect of capital letters and exclamation marks in these chapters?
Retrieve
– What time does Danny’s dad call Dr. Spencer?
– How long does it take Dr. Spencer to get to them?
– What is the safest way to deliver pheasants?
– What is Mrs Clipstone’s baby called?
– What is Mr Hazell wearing?
– What did Sergeant Samways do to make the last few birds fly off?
Summarise
– How would Danny feel when he saw the pheasants flying?
– How would you feel if you were Mr Hazell?

12. Doc Spencer’s Surprise & My Father

Vocabulary
– What does ‘pity’ mean?
– What is the difference between a cock and a hen?
– What does ‘speechless’ mean? Can you think of a synonym?
– What is the difference between strolling and walking?
Infer
– Why does Dr Spencer think Danny will ‘go a long way’?
– Why does Mrs Clipstone think her baby will ‘never be the same again’?
– Why is Danny surprised that his dad wants to lock the pumps?
– Why can’t they order the oven over the phone?
– Why does Danny’s dad love Toad-in-the-hole so much?
Predict
– Will Danny be a great inventor?
– What would happen in a sequel to this story?
Explain
– Why is Danny’s story a ‘fine story’?
– Why do you need to pluck a pheasant?
– Why does Dahl repeat ‘and after that’?
Retrieve
– How many cars and lorries had lined up to see the sight?
– What does Mrs Clipstone threaten to put under Dr Spencer’s bed?
– What do they find laid out on their workbench?
– What is Toad-in-the-hole?
– What different foods do they think about roasting?
– What type of fish do they fish for?
– What has Danny been trying ‘so hard to tell’ us?
Summarise
– Summarise the story in three sentences.
– Describe Danny and his dad’s relationship in one word.

More details : here