Bullring Kid and Country Cowboy
Aims
To make students interested in the book.
To give students an insight into some of the characters in the book.
To encourage students to think about the ideas in the book.
Pre-reading Activities
1 Tell students that the title of the book is Bullring Kid and Country Cowboy. Now tell them that the Bullring is a busy shopping center in the city of Birmingham and that the story is an adventure story. Elicit what students expect from an adventure story.
Suggested answer: A story in which the main characters have adventures and are sometimes in danger, but they make everything all right in the end.
2 Ask students to look at Illustration 1 (a picture of the tiny island of Sark, where some of the action takes place). Elicit their impressions of Sark and write descriptive words on the board. Now ask students to read Extract 1. Tell them that Fizza is one of the main characters in the book. Ask What have you learned or what can you guess about Birmingham from this extract?
Possible answer: Birmingham is a big, noisy city with lots of cars and people, but with lots to do and see.
3 Tell students that Sark is sometimes called “The island that time forgot,” and elicit why they think this is. If necessary, tell them there is a clue in Illustration 1.
Suggested answer: There are no cars on Sark – people walk or use bicycles or horses.
Ask What do you think it would be like to live on Sark? Working in pairs, students now think of a similar short description for a big city like Birmingham in no more than five words. Write their suggestions on the board, and have students vote for the most popular description. (NOTE: Students are not allowed to vote for their own description). Ask Which would you most like to visit: Birmingham or Sark? Why?
Louise Clover
4 Ask students to read Extract 2 and to re-read Extract 1 if necessary. Elicit what students have learned about Fizza from the extracts.
Possible answer: Fizza is a city girl – she loves the noise and the bustle of Birmingham, where she lives. She practices judo with her dad and is quite good at it. He teaches her to be as brave as a man.
Elicit students’ opinions of Fizza by asking Do you like Fizza? Do you think you are similar to her in any way? What is your opinion of Fizza’s interest in judo?
5 Ask students to read Extracts 3, 4, and 5c. Elicit what students have learned about Fletcher from the extracts.
Possible answer: Fletcher is at home in the countryside. He is rude to strangers (or just shy and seems rude). He is good with animals. He is interested in knowing more about Fizza and has been watching her. He has red hair and green eyes.
Elicit students’ opinions about Fletcher by asking Do you like Fletcher? Do you think we have learned everything about him, or do you think there is more to find out?
6 Tell students the title of the book again and ask Who do you think is Bullring Kid?
Answer: Fizza.
And Country Cowboy? Answer: Fletcher.
Talk about cowboy movies and cowboy/cowgirl names. Elicit (or give) examples of cowboy/cowgirl names.
Possible answers: Wild Bill Hickok, Hopalong Cassidy, Buffalo Bill, Calamity Jane.
Working in pairs, ask students to think of a cowboy name for themselves and another for their partner. Students then compare notes and comment on their new names. Share some good examples with the whole class.
7 Ask students to look at Illustration 2 and elicit what they think is happening in the picture.
Answer: Fletcher is laughing as he watches Fizza trying – unsuccessfully – to get onto a horse.
Working in pairs, ask students to think about what