Sparks for thinking and talking- Activating Prior knowledge

Optional hook (s) to explore and discuss before the main drama:

kitchen wall clock (set at 9.30); unopened letters in a wooden box; item to signify Christmas; pair of dark, woollen men’s socks; wrapped parcel (brown paper and string), something to signify a WWI soldier (boots, whistle, hat, a photograph or medals), sheet music/ words for silent night or play a recording, a lucky charm.

Building up character

Build up a picture of Wilfrid Pell. Explain that we will meet ‘Pelly’ in the book and that he is a good friend of Joseph Downing, one of the main characters.

Adult to give the children a little bit of background information about Pelly.

Objects could be used to enhance the information- a joke book, a toy rat, something he has carved from wood, a diary extract (depicting a fun experience with Joseph).

Reflection

Discuss- What type of things do good friends do together?

What type of things do good friends do for each other?

Think of words or phrases to describe friendship. Record these for the children to see.

Sparks for Drama

Discuss and research the types of activities that adult friends may have done in 1913/14.

Ask pairs to depict an activity that Joseph and Pelly may have done together via a tableau.

You could:

• ask each group (or others) to add a caption to each scene
• select a suitable word from those generated to add instead
• question the characters

Please find a full unit of learning for this under our free resources section which would be suitable for Years 5 and 6 during the run up to Christmas.