Young Adult Literature Portfolio

Teaching Package Assignment:Design a teaching package with assigned novel as a class reader including pre-, while-, post-reading and video activities and present in class.

Criteria: Well-designed, attractive, easily copyable work-sheet to go with assigned novel to promote, guide and facilitate the reading process as a class reader. Includes warm up, pre-reading activities, while-reading activities aimed at understanding and reader-response, and post-reading activities aimed at imaginative and critical reflection. Film version (if existing) must be integrated in activities. Accompanying teacher notes with model-responses only if appropriate.

We designed a teaching package that goes with the assigned novel “Private Peaceful” by Michael Morpurgo for VMBO-T-4/HAVO 3. The book is about a soldier called Thomas Peaceful, who is looking back on his life from the trenches of World War I. The novel is writen by Michael Morpurgo and was first published in 2003. (adapted freely from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Peaceful)

In this package you will find a teacher’s pack and a student’s pack with pre-, while-, and post-reading activities that go with the novel. We enjoyed working on this task and we hope you will find it both useful and enjoyable as well.

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

Jenny Frédérique

English Parttime -1BGroup 1

2012 – 2013

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Teacher’s Pack Private Peaceful

Introduction/pre-reading activities

1 – 2 lessons (depending on time schedule)

Lesson objectives: 1. Understand the context for which the text is based.2. Analyse the start of a text for effectiveness.

1. Let the students have a look at the title of the book and ask them if they know what the story is about. Is the topic of the novel any clearer upon seeing the cover of the book?

2. Read the blurb on the back of the book together in class and ask the students if they want to read the book. Why (not)?

3. Then show students the film trailer and ask them if they would go and see this film and if they have changed their minds about question 1. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUoA8njBZVA)

4. Ask the students what they already know about WWI. Write this on the board (i.e. make a mind map). When did this war take place, who were involved, the outcome of the war, etc.

5. Show pictures of the war (from a book or from the Internet), bring attributes to class (poppies, gas mask, etc.) to raise their interest.

6. Discuss the following in class: What is a good opening to a novel?Examples of students’answers:

- It makes you wonder what is going on;- It is descriptive;- It quickly grabs your attention;- Others? Ask students and write them on the board.7. Let them read the first few pages of the book (in class or at home, depending

on time) and ask them if they think the opening of the book is a good opening (and why).

8. Let them write a short paragraph, explaining their predictions for what they feel the rest of the story will be about, based on the first paragraph.

9. Let them have a look at the facebook page on WWI (see source reference for the link).

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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Activities while reading the novel3 – 5 lessons

Lesson objectives: 1. At the end of the lesson, students should be able to show an understanding of

how the author develops themes, values or ideas in the novel. 2. To explore and empathize with the characters in the book. 3. Let students work on their vocabulary in a fun way. 4. Check and see whether the students have read and understood the story, and working together with a classmate.

1. Let the students answer the following questions: - Who is the main character of the book? How does he/she relate to other

characters in the novel? (whole class reading pp. 25-33).- Draw Tommo’s family tree.

2. Students have to write the first chapter from a different perspective (e.g. Molly). They have to explain their choice of character.

3. Let the students answer the following questions: - What sort of things do you associate with the name “Grandma Wolf”? Read

pp. 30-34. - Does the name suit the character that Morpurgo is describing?- How would you describe Tommo’s feelings towards Granda Wolf?- Let them read pp. 35-43- Do your ideas about Grandma Wolf still fit?- Choose five words you would like to use to describe Grandma Wolf and find

one quote for each of these words to back it up.- Let them read pp. 43-46- Why did Grandma Wolf throw away Big Joe’s pets? How did this make you

feel?- What sort of relationship do you think Grandma Wolf has with the colonel?

Homework: Read pp. 46-61

In class:4. Let them read pp. 61-64Have a group discussion: How does the reader come to realise what Tommo does not – that Molly and Charlie are falling in love? Try to find at least two quotes from the text that infer that Charlie and Molly are falling in love.

5. Let the students finish the crossword puzzle and word search (from the website: www.michaelmorpurgo.com).

6. Give the students a quiz about the story and let them check their answers together with their neighbours.

Homework: Read pp. 64-86

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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In class:7. Let them read pp. 87-104Ask the following questions: - Would you have signed up after the officer’s speech? Why (not)?- Do you think Tommo was a coward for not signing up?- Devise a propaganda leaflet to persuade young men to sign up for the Army.

Consider what facts to include – and what to leave out. Use persuasive language and explore other methods of persuasion such as the inclusion of images, style of font, size of lettering, headings etc.

Write a letter home to Molly, Mother or Big Joe and focus particularly on Carlies’ and Tommo’s feelings regarding the following:

- being away from home;- military training;- Sergeant Hanley;- their comrades.

Homework: let them finish the book.

In the last lesson we have chosen a drama activity.

Enact the trial scene, with characters from Charlie’s pastappearing as witnesses, giving evidence about his character. Whatwould they say about him and why?

Activities after reading the novel

Objectives: 1. Let students process their feelings towards the book. 2. Encourage students to read more about the Great War. 3. Raise awareness for the Great War and their victims.

1. The students have to make a poster with a poem. You can put these up in your classroom.

2. The students have to write a different ending for the book.3. Let the students read War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. Are there any

similarities between the two novels? Which novel did you like best and why?4. Collect money for the British Legion by organizing an event within your school

(e.g. reciting your own poem on a special “literature” night, participate in a “walk for WWI” with the help of your PE teachers).

5. Organize an excursion to Ypres and visit the trenches and the war museums.6. Research other WW1 soldiers.

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– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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Student’s Pack

Lesson 1

Homework:

1. Read the first few pages of “Private Peaceful” by Michael Morpurgo and think about the opening of the book. Is it a good opening? Why (not)? Explain!

2. Write a short paragraph in which you explain what you feel the rest of the story will be about.

3. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/English-Class-BC-1HV/444507908934426 and invite me as your “friend” on facebook. Then read the information on the site.

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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Lesson 2

1. Discuss in class: Who is the main character of the book? How does he/she relate to other characters in the novel?

2.Draw Tommo’s family tree

2. Write the first chapter from a different perspective (e.g. Molly) and explain your choice of character. To be handed in the next lesson.

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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Lesson 3

1. Answer the following questions:

What sort of things do you associate with the name “Grandma Wolf”?

Read pp. 30-34.

Does the name suit the character that Morpurgo is describing?

How would you describe Tommo’s feelings towards Granda Wolf?

Read pp. 35-43

Do your ideas about Grandma Wolf still fit?

Choose five words you would like to use to describe Grandma Wolf and find one quote for each of these words to back it up.

Read pp. 43-46

Why did Grandma Wolf throw away Big Joe’s pets? How did this make you feel?

What sort of relationship do you think Grandma Wolf has with the colonel?

Homework:

Read pp. 46-61

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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Lesson 4

Read pp. 61-64

1. Answer the following question and be prepared to discuss it with the rest of the class.

How does the reader come to realize what Tommo does not – that Molly and Charlie are falling in love? Try to find at least two quotes from the text that infer that Charlie and Molly are falling in love.

2. Finish the crossword puzzle and word search (see next page).

Homework:

Read pp. 64-86

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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Lesson 5

1. Answer these questions about the book.

TWENTY-FOUR MINUTES PAST TWELVE

How did Mother save the boys when Bertha was discovered missing?

What was Charlie’s new job?

How did Tommo become important to Charlie and Molly?

Why did Molly’s mother not want her daughter to see Charlie?

Who shot Bertha and why?

NEARLY FIVE TO ONE

Where was Bertha buried?

What was Tommo’s worst fear about what could have happened to Big Joe?

Where was Big Joe eventually found?

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Read pp. 87-104

2. Answer the following questions:

Would you have signed up after the officer’s speech? Why (not)?

Do you think Tommo was a coward for not signing up?

3. Devise a propaganda leaflet to persuade young men to sign up for the Army. Consider what facts to include – and what to leave out. Use persuasive language and explore other methods of persuasion such as the inclusion of images, style of font, size of lettering, headings etc.

4. Write a letter home to Molly, Mother or Big Joe and focus particularly on Carlies’ and Tommo’s feelings regarding the following:

o being away from home;o military training;o Sergeant Hanley;o their comrades.

Homework:

Finish reading the book.

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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LESSON 6

Enact the trial scene, with characters from Charlie’s pastappearing as witnesses, giving evidence about his character. Whatwould they say about him and why?

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Source reference

We used the following sources:

Novel:

Private Peaceful, Michael Morpurgo, 2003, Scholastic Inc.

Internet:

- www.michaelmorpurgo.com - www.facebook.com - http://yal.weebly.com/ - www.google.com (pictures)- http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource - www.youtube.com - www.booktrust.org.uk - www.harpercollins.com

– Private Peaceful – Jenny & Frédérique

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