the boy in the striped pyjamas

[workshy]

my yr5 DD watched this in school the other day

school sent home a permission slip explaining that it was a 12 but was related to a topic they had been covering in school

I know about the film and chatted to DD about it and was confident she would be ok so I gave my permission -obviously lots of parents had absolutely no idea what the film was like and many DCs were upset by it

is it really a film they should be showing to 9&10 year olds?

[Yellowtip]

So how exactly did you tackle the teaching of the Holocaust to your Y5s and 6s the mrz (the whole point of the thread....). And what did you explain about Niemoller? I've seen what you copied and pasted but was that all you said?

[mrz]

Not in the depth you would probably want Yellowtip but as I didn't teach the children I can't comment on the exact content of the lesson. They didn't watch TBITSP or similar works. I know they looked at images from the camps web sites (mainly of objects).

[Yellowtip]

It must be fairly clear by now that I strongly believe the subject of the Holocaust to be inappropriate at KS2. Depth is required when it is finally taught, but it shouldn't be taught then.

Are you the KS2 teacher at your school mrz, or are you responsible for him or her? You say you 'know they looked at images from the camps web sites (mainly of objects)'. There are no images of objects that I've seen or can imagine that could be anything other than deeply, deeply disturbing to ordinary children in KS2. I've just looked up some of these images from the better known camps: each and every one is still extremely distressing to me, and I'm a tough nut. What exactly were the objects in question, what was the purpose in showing the children (given the warning in the HMDT resource packs about unsuitability of certain material) and how was the background explained?

These are very direct questions I know, but as a teacher teaching or broaching this subject please reassure me about these images and perhaps also reassure others who have shown they share my concerns.

[MissAnnersley]

This is a remarkable film and story link here.

The object in question was a suitcase and was delivered to a museum in Tokyo.

The suitcase opened up an amazing journey of discovery for children in Japan, Canada and the Czech Republic.

[Yellowtip]

Did Hana survive MissA?

Unfortunately, I can't find any images of objects from camps which convey any sort of hope.

[mrz]

It is another freely available resource open to teachers to download

www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads/BookPdf/TeachersNotes/9781741141672.pdf

[MissAnnersley]

No she didn't Yellowtip but her brother George did. As the museum worked to find out who the suitcase had belonged to they discovered that George Brady was alive and living in Canada with his family. He has a number of children and grandchildren.

In the film George partly narrates the story ( which is told in flashbacks) and then it cuts to the work in the museum and then the children in Canada and the Czech Republic who began to work together on a project.

George eventually visits the museum in Tokyo with his daughter.

This is a link to a clip

[Yellowtip]

I clicked on that link hoping it was going to answer my question to you mrz.

I've read down now and see Hana did die in Auschwitz.

The comments on the Amazon website about teachers/ experience in this particular area are quite instructive.

[Yellowtip]

Thanks MissA, I might well buy the film.

I've tried to find the two little children whose parents helped my grandfather but we drew a blank. This thread has made us think of a clue we might have missed, so we might try agian.

[MissAnnersley]

They really are Yellowtip I agree. You really would need to see the film.

Here is a link the website.

link

[MissAnnersley]

Sorry xpost.

How wonderful if something on this thread has given you a clue.

[mrz]

Sorry Yellowtip I was cooking lunch and hadn't seen your question

I am a member of the SMT and subject coordinator and as such part of my role is working with and supporting other staff.
The children weren't shown indiscriminate images but a few carefully selected to convey the message of the extent of man's inhumanity to his fellow man and to try and show the victims were people just like us. I know images of the gates, barbed wire and discarded shoes were used but not exact details.

[Yellowtip]

I've watched the clip. I'd love to see the film. It's incredibly moving to listen to George.

[MissAnnersley]

George visited Dundee on Holocaust Memorial Day and spoke to a large group of school children about his experiences.

[WatneyShed]

Jolly interesting programme on R4 (natch) right now btw.

[flumpybear]

This would really upset me, I wouldn't watch the film as it's too harrowing (well I assume it is!) there's no way on earth I'd let a child see that film or anything like it
My DD still says her Christmas okay upset her as it was about chimney sweeps (kids) - she's 8....

[Ginmummy1]

flumpbear, why resurrect a 5-year-old thread?

[flumpybear]

Weird it was on my feed?!

[Jly72]

There is nothing in the primary curriculum related to WW2. There are skills that need to be delivered and some prescribed themes which are: the Stone Age, the romans, Anglo saxons and Vikings, ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and a local topic of the schools choice. We do WW2 and how it affected our area as we have air raid shelters in the school that have been turned into a museum. We do not do the boy in the striped PJ. My sons school are doing it and I found this forum as I was interested into whether it was just me that found it too advanced in its theme. More annoying is that they started reading Goodnight mr tom and didn't finish it.