Mudpuddle Farm: And Pigs Might Fly - Activity Pack

'Mudpuddle Farm: And Pigs Might Fly' First Impressions

Read this extract from chapter five of ‘And Pigs Might Fly’ (p.181).

Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures: Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995; Illustrations © Shoo Rayner 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2017

Here, Pintsize is trying to explain and show his brothers and sisters how a pig can fly.

visit twinkl.com

Page 1 of 2

Quick Warm-Up Activity

If this is the answer, what is the question?

Question:

Answer: They were trailing around the farm looking for Pintsize.

Question:

Answer: Pintsize was standing in front of his brothers and sisters, telling them how to fly.

Role-Play Activity Can you pretend to be Pintsize the piglet and teach your brothers and sisters how to fly?

Top Tips: If you are acting as Pintsize, you must act out explaining how to fly.

Think about the things Pintsize did to try to fly. What did he do? How did he do it? What do you think he felt like? What can he tell his brothers and sisters?

If you are acting as one of the brothers or sisters, then you must be a good listener. Maybe you could ask Pintsize a question? What question could you ask him about flying? Don’t forget to put your hand up as Pintsize is the teacher!

visit twinkl.com

Page 2 of 2

Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures: Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995; Illustrations © Shoo Rayner 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2017

Work together in a group and take turns to be Pintsize or one of the brothers and sisters.

‘Mudpuddle Farm: And Pigs Might Fly’ Adult Guidance

This ‘And Pigs Might Fly’ activity pack contains an adult guidance sheet which includes an overview of the story and key skill questions that can be used to target pupils’ understanding as you are reading the book. The answer sheet contains example answers for the questions but pupils may have varied responses for some of the questions.

Additionally, there is an activity sheet for children who may have not read the whole text before. This contains an extract from the text, a warm-up task and a role-play activity.

Overview Pintsize, the smallest piglet on Mudpuddle Farm, was very excited. After overhearing Farmer Rafferty saying ‘pigs might fly’, he was determined to find out how. Despite being laughed at, he wanted to prove everyone wrong and show them that pigs could fly.

Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures: Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995; Illustrations © Shoo Rayner 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2017

But, flying was not as easy as it looked and, each time he tried, Pintsize only ended up annoying all of the other animals. Someone needed to teach him a lesson.

visit twinkl.com

Page 1 of 4

‘Mudpuddle Farm: And Pigs Might Fly’ Key Skills Questions

Think about the title of this story. Can you predict what might happen?

Predict

Retrieve

p.143: What did Farmer Rafferty do with his teeth?

p.144: ‘Go away, sun! You hear me? Run off and shine somewhere else. Go on, push off!’

Infer

?

Why do you think that Famer Rafferty shouts at the sun like this?

Explain Vocabulary

Explain Vocabulary p.150: What words has the author used to show that the animals feel uncomfortable?

Retrieve

p.156: Where did Primrose hide?

visit twinkl.com

Page 2 of 4

Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures: Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995; Illustrations © Shoo Rayner 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2017

p.145: Can you find a word that means ‘very hot’?

‘Mudpuddle Farm: And Pigs Might Fly’ Key Skills Questions

p.159: What route did Pintsize take when looking for really interesting things to do?

Sequence

Explain Vocabulary p.161: What do you think ‘pigs might fly’ might mean?

p.165: How do you think Pintsize feels when the crows laugh at him? Why?

Infer

Explain Vocabulary

p.166: Why are the words ‘UPSIDE! DOWN!’ written in big, bold, capital letters?

p.172: At this point in the story, what do you think Pintsize is thinking?

p.172: Why do you think Albertine thinks she needs to do something about it?

pp.176-178: Which animals did Pintsize land on? Who was the first? Who was next?

Can you name all the animals he landed on in the correct order?

p.178: Who did Pintsize like landing on most? Why?

Infer

Infer

Sequence

Retrieve

visit twinkl.com

Page 3 of 4

Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures: Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995; Illustrations © Shoo Rayner 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2017

Predict

p.170: What do you think will happen next?

‘Mudpuddle Farm: And Pigs Might Fly’ Key Skills Questions

p.179: Can you predict what Albertine’s idea might be?

p.185: How do you think Pintsize is feeling now that he is flying with a buzzard?

Predict

Infer

Explain Vocabulary p.194: What do you think ‘raining cats and dogs’ means?

Sequence

Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures: Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995; Illustrations © Shoo Rayner 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2017

What time of day is it at the end of the story?

visit twinkl.com

Page 4 of 4

Quick Warm-Up Activity Answers Example Answers Question: What were all the other farm animals doing?

Answer: They were trailing around the farm looking for Pintsize.

Question: Where is Pintside and what is he doing?

Answer: Pintsize was standing in front of his brothers and sisters, telling them how to fly.

Role-Play Activity Example Answers ‘Do you want to learn how to fly and be a flying pig like me? Then you have to watch and listen carefully. First you need to stand up on your two back trotters like this. Can you copy me? Then, you need to flap your front trotters up and down as fast as you can like wings. Now, can you jump up and down at the same time?

Watch me.’

visit twinkl.com

Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures: Text copyright © Michael Morpurgo 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995; Illustrations © Shoo Rayner 1983, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2017

Examples of what the children might say when they are acting as Pintsize: