Penguin Readers Factsheets level

T e a c h e r’s n o t e s 1

Babe-The Sheep-Pig
3

5
by Dick King-Smith
6

ELEMENTARY
S U M M A R Y
he Sheep-Pig is an enchanting children’s story 1978 at the age of 58. Since then he has published over
T about a polite little pig that learns to look after
sheep. Published in 1983, The Sheep-Pig
thirty children’s stories. King-Smith was born in
Gloucestershire, England, and fought in the Second World
immediately became a best-seller and won a book award War as a Grenadier Guard. He married and had children,
for children’s fiction. The captivating and highly working as a farmer for twenty years. He then switched

BABE - THE SHEEP-PIG

successful film ‘Babe’, based on the book, was released career completely, becoming a teacher in a village primary
in 1996. school for seven years. It was during this period that he
The story is a charming farmyard adventure on a farm wrote his first children’s story, and was so successful that
where the animals can talk to each other. Farmer Hogget in 1982 he became a freelance writer.
wins a clever little pig, called Babe, in a raffle. The farmer’s The Sheep-Pig, published in 1983, won an important
wife intends to eat Babe for Christmas dinner, but Fly, a Children’s Fiction Award, and in 1992 King-Smith was
kindly sheepdog, adopts Babe and is soon giving him voted Children’s Author of the Year at the British Book
lessons in how to be a sheepdog. Babe proves himself a Awards. King-Smith says of himself: ‘I came late to
hero, protecting Farmer Hogget’s sheep from thieves, and writing, after a good long time farming. Later I taught
wins the heart of Mrs Hogget, who gives up all plans of young children (and have ten grandchildren of my own),
eating him. So Farmer Hogget trains Babe to be a and it is their potential enjoyment of a story that makes
sheepdog - or, rather, a ‘sheep-pig’. But Babe’s methods writing one, for me, so enjoyable.’ The author lives in a
of herding the sheep are unusual; instead of chasing them 17th century cottage very near to the house where he was
he makes polite requests, and the sheep are so pleased born.
to be asked that they obey him! Farmer Hogget is so
proud of Babe that he enters the little pig for the
BACKGROUND AND THEMES
sheepdog trials...
Would-be novelists are often advised, ‘If you want to
THE FILM ‘BABE’ succeed, write about what you know’, and this is certainly
true in the case of Dick King-Smith. The author’s most
‘Babe’, the film, released in 1996, was a massive success successful stories are animal stories; he draws deep on
at the box office. It took the film’s producer and co-writer, his farm experience, and his love and knowledge of
George Miller, ten years to translate the story from book to animals provide his charming tales with warmth, authority
screen; he describes it as a ‘labour of love’. The film uses and humour. King-Smith’s talent is for making animals
all the latest technological developments, employing an seem human. But just as importantly, he tells a good
extraordinary blending of live animals and ‘animatronic’ adventure story, often with an unlikely hero who triumphs
ones - in other words, electronic animals. It is hard to tell against the odds. He narrates his tales with wit and
the difference, and the animal voices are excellent. tenderness. This tenderness is further revealed in the
There is a chorus of singing mice, and all sides of mother-baby relationships that recur throughout his
human nature are humorously displayed in the farmyard stories and are often very funny. Apart from The Sheep-
animals’ behaviour. In the cinema, Babe’s triumph at the Pig, among the author’s best stories are The Mouse
sheepdog trials made audiences cheer with delight. In Butcher, The Hodgeheg, Harry’s Mad, Ace, and The
addition, it has been said that the film has caused people Cuckoo Child.
to eat less pork - now that it is known that pigs can be
such charming, clever creatures! THE SHEEP-PIG: THEMES
On publication, The Sheep-Pig was instantly recognized
ABOUT DICK KING-SMITH as a modern classic. At the heart of the story is a series of
charming jokes. One joke is that the animals talk to each
Born in 1922, Dick King-Smith is an unusual man, a highly other in such a genuinely sweet and polite way. Fly the
successful children’s writer who published his first story in sheepdog is kind to Babe, and Babe is kind to the sheep.

© Pearson Education 2000

 level
Penguin Readers Factsheets 2
T e a c h e r’s n o t e s
It is difficult to write this kind of story without seeming Chapters 5-8
soppy, yet King-Smith achieves this. Another joke is that 1 Put students into pairs, and ask them to write the story
Babe unwittingly ‘saves his own bacon’ (saves his own of each chapter (chapters 5 to 8) in two to four
life) by learning how to act like a dog! Another is that sentences. They write on a piece of paper. They then
sheep hate being ordered around by sheepdogs, and cut up the sentences (with one sentence on one piece
resent being thought of as stupid - they want to be talked of paper) and give them to another pair of students.
to politely! Another joke is the idea of a pig playing a These students have to put the sentences in the right
sheepdog at sheepdog trials, and being on television. And order.
then there’s the idea of a pig that slims and takes 2 Put students into pairs. Students draw a picture from
exercise... There is a moral to the story of course, the any one of the chapters. They give their picture to the
moral being something like, ‘Never accept your other student, who has to say which chapter the
limitations. Be kind and clever and brave, and you can picture is from. The first student then describes his or
conquer the world!’ The Sheep-Pig is a great story for her picture to the second student.
children, and adults will happily admit that they love it too! Chapters 9-12
1 Put students into pairs. Ask students to look at the
pictures in these chapters. Ask them to write what
each person or animal is thinking (including all the
Communicative activities sheep on page 33!). They can then read their answers
to the class and the class can choose the best ones.
The following teacher-led activities cover the same
BABE - THE SHEEP-PIG

sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, 2 In pairs, students answer the following question:
and supplement those exercises. Further supplementary Who do you think is happiest at the end of the story
exercises, covering shorter sections of the book, can be and why?
found on the photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of
this Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK
readers, but with the exception of pair/groupwork
In groups, students write the story of The Sheep Pig from
questions, can also be used by students working alone in
the point of view of Babe. They begin the story with the
a self-access centre.
words: ‘The farmer took me in his arms . . .’
ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK
1 Put students into pairs. Ask them to look at the cover
of The Sheep-Pig and write down the names of the
animals on the cover. If they don’t know them, they
Glossary
can use their dictionaries or ask you, the teacher. Then
It will be useful for your students to know the following new words.
write the following on the board - they are anagrams of They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’ sections of exercises at
the names of the animals. Ask students to spell the the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman
names correctly. Active Study Dictionary.)
(a) ogd (b) rheso (c) eheps (d) gpi Chapters 1-4
(e) osego (f) iemc (g) ocw duck (n) this bird swims on water and people eat its eggs and meat
farmer (n) this person lives in the countryside in a house with a lot of
2 Teach students the word ‘favourite’. In pairs, students ground. He/she keeps animals.
ask each other what their favourite animal is and say field (n) ground with a wall or small trees round it; animals live here
why.
pig (n) a fat pink animal with a long nose; people eat pigs
Example: What’s your favourite animal? politely (adv) speaking in a kind way
My favourite animal is a cat because it is pretty. sheep (n) an animal with a thick coat of (usually white) hair; people
Then ask students to find others in the class who like make clothes from the hair and eat the animal’s meat
the same animal. They can then say (as an example): sheep-pen (n) farmers put sheep in sheep-pens to stop them from
running away
‘I like dogs because they’re friendly. (Maria) likes them
too’. stable (n) a house for horses
truck (n) a big open car; animals go in it
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION wolf (n) a big dangerous animal; it looks like a big dog
Chapters 1-4 yard (n) ground next to a house with a wall round it

1 Put students into pairs. Ask them to write down Chapters 5-8
everything they know about pigs. gate (n) a door in a wall outside the house; people often make gates
from wood
Example: Pigs are fat. They live on farms. People eat
trials (n) this is when animals do something (run, jump) and try to be
them. the best
Then ask students to answer this question:
Chapters 9-12
Ma says ‘You’re different, Babe.’ How is Babe different password (n) only you know these letters or words; in the bank, you
from other pigs? sometimes have to write them before you get money
2 At the end of chapter 3, Babe says, ‘Why can’t I learn points (n) you win these in a game; when you have more of them
than other people, you win the game
to be a sheep-pig?’ Put students into pairs. Ask them
to have this conversation between Fly and Babe. They
can then perform it for the class.

Published and distributed by Pearson Education

Factsheet written by Mary Tomalin
© Pearson Education 2000 Factsheet series developed by Louise James
 Penguin Readers Factsheets level

Student’s activities 1

Photocopiable
Babe - The Sheep-Pig 3
Students can do these exercises alone or with one or more
other students. Pair/group activities are marked. 4

5
Activities before reading the book
6
Look at the cover and answer these questions. (b) Where does Fly go with Farmer Hogget and
(a) The name of the book is The Sheep-Pig. Why do you why?
think the book has the name Sheep-Pig? (c) What do the young dogs say about sheep? ELEMENTARY
(b) Where do you think the story happens? (d) Why is Fly sad?
(c) Do you like pigs? Why/why not? (e) What does Mrs Hogget want for Christmas
dinner?
Now read the Introduction and answer these questions.
(f) What does Babe want to do?
(d) Was your answer to (a) right? What does a sheep-pig
do? 2 Work with another student.
(e) How does Babe learn to be a sheep-pig? Student A: You are a young dog. You work with

BABE - THE SHEEP-PIG

(f) Why do the farm animals like Babe? sheep. Talk about Babe to your friend.
(g) What is Farmer Hogget’s plan? Student B: You are the young dog’s friend. Ask
(h) What work did Dick King-Smith do before he wrote questions about Babe.
books? Chapter 4
1 These sentences are wrong. Make them right. Then
look at the book.
Activities while reading the book (a) Some animals are playing in the water.
(b) Ma gives Babe a sheepdog lesson.
CHAPTERS 1 - 4 (c) Babe gets all the ducks together.
Chapter 1 (d) Fly says ducks and sheep are clever.
1 Put the words in these sentences in the right order. (e) Babe meets a sheep. The sheep’s name is Fly.
(a) village a the there in party is. (f) Ma is in the stable because Farmer Hogget likes
her.
(b) sheep is Hogget Farmer a farmer.
(g) Ma likes dogs.
(c) are the ten tickets pence.
(h) Ma likes Fly because he is polite.
(d) quiet pig was the very.
(e) the kilos Farmer fourteen thinks is Hogget pig. 2 Answer these questions.
2 ‘Oh, listen now, there’s the phone’ said Mrs Hogget. (a) What does Ma call sheepdogs?
Who do you think is phoning and why? (b) What does Ma say about sheepdogs?
(c) What does she say about Fly?
Chapter 2
(d) Do you like dogs? Why/why not?
1 Who says these sentences? Write the answers, then
look at the book. Were you right? 3 Look at these sentences. Which sentences are polite,
and which ones are not so polite?
(a) ‘What’s in the box, Mum?’
(a) Go away! (i) Can you leave, please?
(b) ‘Dogs are clever animals.’
(b) I’d like a coffee, please. (ii) Give me a coffee.
(c) ‘She called us all "Babe".’
(c) Can you pass me the (iii) Give me the biscuits.
(d) ‘Stop that noise!’ biscuits? (iv) Move!
(e) ‘I want my mum.’ (d) Excuse me. (v) Can you speak more
(f) ‘All animals learn to leave their mothers.’ (e) Be quiet! quietly, please?
(g) ‘But you can live here with me’.
(h) ‘Perhaps I can be happy here with you.’ CHAPTERS 5 - 8
2 How many students in your class have animals at Chapter 5
home? Write their names and their animals.
1 Answer these questions:
Example: Maria has two cats. Peter has a dog and a
(a) Why doesn’t Farmer Hogget want to kill Babe?
horse.
(b) Babe goes to the north field. What or who does
3 Do you like these people or animals? Why/why not? he find there?
Babe Fly Farmer Hogget Mrs Hogget (c) Why are the sheep afraid?
The young dogs (d) What does Babe say to the sheep?
Chapter 3 (e) What does Mrs Hogget do?
1 Answer these questions. (f) Why does Mrs Hogget say, ‘You must thank
him’?
(a) Where can’t Babe go?
(g) How does Mrs Hogget think differently about
Babe now?

© Pearson Education 2000

 level
Penguin Readers Factsheets 2
Student’s activities

2 Write a letter from Farmer Hogget to a friend. In the Example: I live on a farm. I am fat and I eat a lot. I am
letter Farmer Hogget writes about Babe. pink and I have very small eyes.
Chapter 6 Ask: What animal am I? The other student has to
answer you.
1 Answer these questions.
(a) Why does Farmer Hogget take Babe to the north Chapter 10
field? 1 Are these sentences right or wrong?
(b) When Fly runs behind the sheep, the sheep don’t (a) Babe likes television.
go down the field. Why not? (b) Farmer Hogget is going to take his wife to the
(c) Why do the sheep want Babe? sheepdog trials.
(d) Why do the sheep call Babe a ‘sheep-pig’? (c) Farmer Hogget tells his wife about his plan.
2 In groups, act out Chapter 6. Four people play Babe, (d) Babe works with the sheep every morning and
Fly, Ma and Farmer Hogget. The others are the sheep. afternoon.
(e) Babe’s problem is that the sheep will be different
Chapter 7 at the trials.
1 Finish these sentences: (f) Only some sheep know the password.
(a) Babe wants to ............................. . (g) Babe can learn the password. Then the sheep
(b) Fly isn’t young now. She wants to will go into the sheep-pens quickly.
............................. .
BABE - THE SHEEP-PIG

(h) The sheep tell Fly the password because they

(c) The sheep want Fly to ............................. . like Fly.
(d) Farmer Hogget wants to take ............................ . (i) Babe is going to learn the password.
(e) At the sheepdog trials, Farmer Hogget doesn’t 2 Write a password poem for your class.
want people to ............................. .
2 Answer these questions. Chapter 11
1 Finish these sentences. Use these verbs.
(a) What things can Babe do with the sheep?
wash watch
(b) What happens at the sheepdog trials?
(a) Farmer Hogget .................... Babe.
3 Write a conversation between two sheep. They are
talking about Babe and about Fly. (b) Mrs Hogget ..................... television.
2 Do you think Babe will win the sheepdog trials?
Chapter 8 Why/why not?
1 Answer this question:
How does Babe help the sheep when the men and 3 Find the word ‘plural’ in your dictionary. What are the
dogs come? plurals of these words?
Example: (a) pig - pigs
2 Work with another student. Make this conversation. (b) man - ................... , (c) woman - ..................... ,
Student A: You are Farmer Hogget. You think Babe (d) sheep - ................ , (e) wolf - ....................,
hurt Ma. Tell your wife about it. (f) television - ..................... , (g) mouse - .....................
Student B: You are Mrs Hogget. Listen to your
Chapter 12
husband’s story. What do you think? Tell your
husband. 1 Answer these questions.
(a) The best dog gets (i) 100 points. (ii) 85 points.
CHAPTERS 9 - 12 (b) The papers for the trials say (i) animal. (ii) dog.
Chapter 9 (c) When they see Farmer Hogget and Babe, people
1 Complete these sentences: (i) laugh. (ii) shout angrily.
(a) Babe feels ..................... because the boss is (d) For each gate, Babe gets: (i) 20 points. (ii) 10
angry. points.
(b) The ‘long, black thing’ in the farmer’s hand is a (e) Babe gets (i) 85 points. (ii) 100 points and wins
.................... . the trials.
(c) Farmer Hogget wants to .................. Babe 2 At the end of the story, what does Farmer Hogget say
because he thinks Babe ............... a sheep. to Babe?
(d) The .................... phone Mrs Hogget and tell her 3 What do you think Babe says to Fly after the trials?
about two bad dogs. Have the conversation with another student. Then
(e) When Farmer Hogget hears this, he ................. write their conversation.
that Babe did not kill the sheep.
(f) Farmer Hogget looked carefully at Babe’s face Activities after reading the book
and saw ............... .
(g) The sheep tell Fly about the .................... . 1 Do you like The Sheep-Pig? Say why/why not. What
(h) The sheep talked to Fly when she spoke to them do you like best about it and why? Do you think the
................... . story is funny? Which parts do you think are funny?
Would you like to read the book again? Why/why not?
2 Work with another student. Think of an animal. Talk Write 12-20 lines about these questions.
about the animal but say ‘I’. 2 What lessons does The Sheep-Pig teach you? Write
down four things.

Published and distributed by Pearson Education

Factsheet written by Mary Tomalin
© Pearson Education 2000
Factsheet series developed by Louise James