Teacher guide · Confidence Lab · Harder · about 30 min

🧑‍🚀 Interview a Character

Pupils practise confidence and curiosity through "Interview a Character": Practise asking good follow-up questions.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🧑‍🚀 mission title and read the opening: "Meet your interviewee.". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Echo the Parrot's line as your prompt: "Say it clearly — I'm listening."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used confidence today.

What was the hardest choice in "Interview a Character", and why?
Write your first question — explain your reasoning to a partner.
They answer: 'It was lonely.' Best follow-up — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Write two more follow-ups that dig deeper — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Where could you use confidence outside school this week?
If you did this again, what would you change?

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

National Curriculum: English: spoken language — articulate and justify answers
PSHE: Relationships: communicating feelings and listening to others
PSHE: Health & wellbeing: resilience and managing setbacks

Pupil sheet

Name: ____________________ Date: __________

1. Meet your interviewee.
Clue — Who?: An astronaut who has just come home after a year in space.
2. Write your first question.
3. They answer: 'It was lonely.' Best follow-up?
☐ Was it fun?
☐ What was the loneliest moment?
☐ Do you like pizza?
4. Write two more follow-ups that dig deeper.