Dive into a world of giants, dreams, and creative classroom fun! Explore whimsical BFG projects, hands-on BFG activities, and magical BFG party ideas your students (or kids) will love. These activities are perfect for children, making them an ideal choice for engaging young readers. Perfect for book week or a Roald Dahl celebration!
Introduction to Roald Dahl's Works
Step into the extraordinary world of Roald Dahl, where giants roam, dreams are bottled, and every page is filled with wonder! As one of the most beloved authors in children's literature, Dahl's stories, especially "The BFG" (Big Friendly Giant), have enchanted generations of kids and inspired countless classroom adventures. His books are more than just fun; they're packed with rich vocabulary, clever wordplay, and unforgettable characters that spark imagination and laughter.
If you're planning a BFG novel study unit, you're in for a treat. These activities are a treasure trove for teachers, offering everything you need to guide kids through the story's twists and turns. From reading comprehension games to vocabulary challenges and creative activities, "The BFG" is perfect for readers in grades 2-5. And what better way to celebrate finishing the book than with a giant-sized BFG party?
Decorate your space, plan some themed games, and let your students step into the shoes (or rather, the enormous boots!) of the BFG himself. With Roald Dahl's magical storytelling as your guide, every lesson becomes an adventure, and every student gets to be part of the laughter parade.
Step Into Giant Country
Ever wanted to capture a dream in a jar or sip a little green frobscottle without floating off your chair? Whether you're a teacher planning a reading unit or a parent looking for a book-inspired activity, The BFG (that's the Big Friendly Giant, of course) is bursting with imagination, kindness, and just enough silliness to make your classroom sparkle.
When I teach The BFG, I love seeing my kids'/students' faces light up as they realize that words, even silly made-up ones, can build entire worlds. So let's stretch those ears and dive into some BFG projects, BFG activities, and a BFG party that will have your kids believing in dreams all over again. Encourage your students to read The BFG as part of these activities to enhance their engagement and comprehension.
✨ Dream Jars and Creative Writing Magic
BFG projects: Let's start with a classic, the dream jar!
You'll need: recycled jars, tissue paper, glue, LED tea lights, glitter, scissors for cutting, and imagination.
Have students use scissors to cut out tissue paper, labels, or decorations for their jars. Then, have them "capture" a dream in their jar by decorating it to reflect a theme: adventurous, cozy, funny, you name it. Next, write a short story or paragraph describing the scene inside. Use all five senses. What does it feel, smell, or sound like?
💡 Explorer Momma Tip: Add a QR code linking to each student's recorded reading of their dream. Display the jars in a "Dream Gallery Walk"; parents and students love this magical touch!
🧪 Frobscottle and Whizzpoppers: The Science of BFG Giggles
BFG activities: Frobscottle
Okay, let's be honest, kids love this because frobscottle sounds ridiculous. And yes, you can make it (without any real whizzpoppers).
Simple Frobscottle Recipe:
- Lime seltzer or lemon-lime soda
- A drop of mint extract
- Green food coloring
- Optional: a scoop of lime sherbet for some foam!
Discuss the science behind the bubbles; gases, carbonation, and why they rise (or fall, if you're in Giant Country!). Then challenge students to design their own potion with a silly name and explain what it would do.
💬 Teacher Humor Moment: "Remember, no actual whizzpoppers during science time, even the BFG has boundaries!"
🎨 Art and Maker Projects from the BFG
BFG projects, BFG activities
Now that the imagination is bubbling, it's time to create!
- Paper Plate Giant Ears: Staple to headbands and hold a "listening challenge."
- Trumpet of Dreams: Cardboard tubes, paint, and gold foil = instant dream trumpet.
- BFG Cave Dioramas: Shoeboxes of dream jars, snozzcumbers, and a cozy reading corner for the giant. For organization or aesthetics, have students place a label or decoration on one side of each jar or diorama. I like to have the kids write a paragraph or description of their scene and attach it to the diarama for a gallery walk.
- Collaborative Mural: "The Dreams We'd Catch", watercolor skies covered with students' dream silhouettes.
💡 Explorer Momma Tip: Turn this into a STEM/STEAM tie-in. Talk about scale and proportion. How big would your bed be if you were a giant? (Spoiler: your students will love measuring the hallway to find out.)
Character Analysis: Meet the Cast
Roald Dahl's "The BFG" is bursting with larger-than-life characters that leap off the page and into our imaginations. At the heart of the tale is the Big Friendly Giant himself, a gentle, wish-collecting giant with a heart as big as his ears. He's joined by Sophie, a quick-witted and courageous girl who isn't afraid to stand up to danger and think big. Together, they form an unlikely but powerful team, showing students the value of friendship, bravery, and believing in yourself.
But not all are as friendly as the BFG! The story's other titans, like the Fleshlumpeater and the Bonecruncher, are the stuff of nightmares, making the BFG's kindness shine even brighter. Through character analysis in your unit, students can dig deep into what makes each character tick.
Why does the BFG collect visions? What drives Sophie to help him? How do the giants' actions highlight the story's themes of empathy, perseverance, and the power of imagination? By exploring these questions, students not only improve their comprehension skills but also connect with the narrative on a personal level, making every lesson a chance to grow as readers and thinkers.
🎉 How to give a giant party featuring The BFG
BFG Activities: BFG party
After all that creative fun, you deserve a BFG Party! This works perfectly as a Book Week finale, reading reward day, or even a family night.
Set the scene at a Royal Breakfast
Because food is super important to a party we set the scene at the Royal Breakfast, which is also a chapter in the book. This is when the BFG sits down with the Queen and Sophie in the Great Ballroom and first tastes foods other than the "repulsant snozzcumber"!
There are fabulous descriptions in this section such as the ping-pong table with four 12-foot-high grandfather clocks for legs. Once in place, a nice cloth is smoothed on this "table" for the BFG with a garden fork, spade, and a sword (last used to chop off the head of King Charles the First) for silverware.
Be creative and set up your giant's place at the table. Your other guests and place settings can be placed at the same table or on a smaller one to create the desired effect.
Food & Drinks:
- Snozzcumber veggie trays (cucumber sticks and dill dip)
- Frobscottle punch (from our earlier experiment)
- Dream Jar cupcakes - swirl blue and white frosting and top with edible glitter
- Giant-sized popcorn buckets - perfect for a BFG movie night or as a fun, themed snack
Dress-Up Day:
Kids can come as Sophie, the BFG, or even one of their own dream creations!
For your BFG party, send out printed invitations that include the date, time, and location of the event. You can print these at home or use a template to make it easy for guests to remember all the details.
Games & Activities:
- Dream Jar Hunt - hide plastic eggs or jars with "dream" clues inside
- Giant's Footprint Race - relay race using colossal cardboard footprints
- Catch the Snozzcumber - silly beanbag toss using painted cucumbers
- BFG Movie Screening - host a showing of the BFG movie as part of the party fun, or give out movie tickets as party favors
Questions for after watching the movie The BFG
Here are some questions for after the movie for you to discuss in a book club, or you might bring them up in conversation the next morning after the slumber party:
- Did the movie effectively portray the book?
- Is the movie how you imagined the book to be in your head?
- Did the director cast the right actors in the character roles?
- What were the differences between the book and the movie?
- What was your favorite part of the movie? Is it the same as your favorite part in the book, and why do you think that is?
💡 Explorer Momma Tip: Set up a "Giant Photo Booth" with oversized glasses, dream jars, and a cardboard ear prop. Add a "#BFGLife" sign, if you're allowed, you'll thank yourself when newsletter photo day rolls around.
Cross-Curricular Connections: Bringing BFG to Every Subject
Why keep the magic of "The BFG" just in reading class? With BFG projects and activities, you can sprinkle a little mammoth-sized fun across every subject! In language arts, students can play with Roald Dahl's inventive vocabulary, decode his playful syntax, and hunt for literary devices hidden in the story. Social studies lessons can explore the world outside Giant Country. What was life like in Sophie's England, and how do dreams and legends connect cultures around the globe?
Math gets a Goliath twist, too! Challenge your students to calculate the size of the BFG's cave, estimate how far he travels each night to collect dreams, or even design their own dream jars using geometry and measurement. Science comes alive as you explore the biology of dreams, the mysteries of the human brain, and why sleep is so important for both giants and kids. With so many BFG activities and cross-curricular projects, your classroom will be buzzing with excitement and creativity.
By weaving the tale into every area of your curriculum, you help students see that reading isn't just about turning pages. It's about exploring new worlds, asking big questions, and dreaming up awesome ideas. The BFG is your ticket to a classroom where learning is as magical as a night in Giant Country!
💭 Reflect and Dream On
Wrap up your BFG unit by reflecting on the story's themes: friendship, bravery, and imagination.
Have students respond to:
"If I met the BFG, what dream would I ask him to give me?"
Additionally, ask students to share a thought they had while reading the book, or to write about what they think the BFG or Sophie thought at a key moment in the book.
They can write, draw, or record their answers, this makes a great display or digital slideshow.
🌙 Keep the Dreams Alive
Whether you're crafting glittering dream jars or hosting a frobscottle-filled BFG party, remember, imagination is the real magic. You don't need a huge trumpet to spread dreams; just a classroom (or home!) full of curious kids and a teacher willing to play along.
✨ Download your free BFG Party Checklist and Dream Jar Labels below!
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