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anne frank for an 8-yr-old - homework help please!!!

12 replies

fullmoonfiend · 13/01/2006 18:23

My ds (just turned 8) has to write a speech about Anne Frank despited the fact that they have not talked about her at school. (They are currently doing ''world war 2 and the Jewish Faith as 2 separate topics). I have read the book many times, but I am at a loss to explain many of the themes - religious and racial hatred and persecution, gestapo, extermination camps etc on a suitable level for him. Have done a google search but not come up with much for this age group. Any primary school teachers got any advice, pointers, suggestions for websites etc?
Hoping someone can help! (It's a far cry from the colouring in homework he had last year )

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WigWamBam · 13/01/2006 18:36

There is an education guide here which is from the Anne Frank Haus site. If you click on Data there's a lot of information she might find useful.

The Anne Frank Haus website is here .

ScummyMummy · 13/01/2006 18:43

Really surprised an 8 year old is doing Anne Frank. Much too young for the full version IMO and what's the point of doing it if you don't read it and take in the full story? I would be speaking to the teacher (in tactful, enquiring sort of way, natch.).

fullmoonfiend · 13/01/2006 18:44

Thanks a lot WWB - very useful. Guess what we will be doing this weekend? I wish I were brighter. Or he were brighter. Or both!

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fullmoonfiend · 13/01/2006 18:46

Thanks you ScummyMummy - that's what I feel actually. Not helped by the fact that he is dyslexic and has to write down his homework himself. So first we have to translatehis writing in the homework book!!

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fullmoonfiend · 13/01/2006 19:03

Bump! Anymore teachers used to explaining this to 8-yr-olds?

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Miaou · 13/01/2006 19:31

Not a teacher, but here are some things I remember from reading Anne Frank that he might like to consider:

Contrast between how they lived before and how they lived after they went into hiding: eg they could go out, go to school, see friends, have visitors etc, but once in hiding the only people they saw were the friends who brought them food, so she must have been very lonely

Cramped conditions - she had to share her bedroom with an elderly male dentist who did his exercises at 6am!

Small things became big things because there was so little for them to do - an argument with her sister over who was reading a book; when her favourite pen went in the fire by mistake

She had to stay inside the annexe for two years - that's two years without ever walking out into a garden or playing outside.

The constant fear of being found out, and what might happen to them if they were.

There was an episode in the book where she had bad toothache and there was talk of sending her "outside" to see a dentist - the thought of which was both exhilarating and terrifying for her. Another where one of the people who was bringing them food was almost knocked off her bike by solders and she shouted at them - Anne talked about what could have happened if they had searched her, as she was carrying illegal passbooks and food for them.

Don't know if that's any help at all.

Celia2 · 13/01/2006 19:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cam · 13/01/2006 19:47

fullmoonfield, I believe the main interest in Anne Frank for this age group comes from Anne Frank's Diary which you can easily buy in all bookshops. I took my dd to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam when she was aged 6 and by coincidence, the Diary was talked about in a school assembly the following term.

I agree with Miaou its the child's perspective of what was terrifying times that makes the story so important.

tensing · 13/01/2006 19:47

My daughter also 8 loved doing Anne Frank, as did my older two when they were younger.

Youngest son (5) can also tell you all about her he read a childrens book about her in the summer

fullmoonfiend · 14/01/2006 13:04

Cam, I have the book (and have read it many times) but we only have the weekend to do this homework and so don't have time to read the whole book! I'm still a little horrified that he is expected to do this project without having read the book or apparently, even talked about her at school. (His memory is sometimes poor but I think he'd remember hearing something about her if it had been covered at school) But thanks to you and everyone else for your thoughts and suggestions - all very helpful! I only wish we had more time to do the subject justice.

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Cam · 14/01/2006 19:05

That doesn't sound very good of the school fmf, normally this kind of homework would come about after the topic had been covered at school rather than as a precursor to it!

tensing · 14/01/2006 21:52

Have you been on the website of the museum, I'm sure they have a very good children's section.

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