Lesson plan:

Characterisation

Many narratives are based around the growth of a character. The character develops by learning something through the course of a story. This episode provides a useful opportunity to teach students how to analyse a text in terms of character development. In this episode Bronson learns that looking after a baby is not a simple matter.

As a whole class

Before viewing ask students to focus on the way in which Bronson changes. View the whole episode The Cabbage Patch Fib. After viewing, list as a class all the things Bronson has learnt about what it means to look after a baby.

Satire

This episode also provides a useful opportunity to introduce or reinforce understandings about satire. The episode satirises the media's invasion of people's lives, its treatment of people as opportunities for news stories and, through Mr Gribble, the way in which they can be manipulated.

Class discussion

After viewing replay the scenes featuring representatives of the press and discuss the way in which they are presented.

• Do students think they are presented in a favourable or unfavourable light?
• What comments about their behaviour does the episode seem to be making?
• What about Mr Gribble's behaviour?
• Why is he so keen to be included in the media coverage?
• What does this suggest about how the media is seen and used by some people?

Replay the sequence where the cabbage people reclaim the baby, drawing attention to the way in this segment reinforces the earlier portrayal of the media.

Film language: theme music

This episode makes extensive use of theme music to convey ideas. The same theme is played every time Bronson holds the baby and changes when another character holds the baby.

Class discussion

Replay a section featuring the use of music in this way and discuss the way in which the music reinforces the ideas in the narrative.

Fantasy v reality

As a whole class

This episode has story elements of fantasy. Ask students to distinguish between the fantasy elements and the realistic elements. Into what catagory would they put the green baby?