The commemoration events of 'The Great War' coupled with Sainsbury's use of this topic as an advert has brought this wonderful story to the forefront of many peoples minds. It is a story that has been told for 100 years and is a great story to explore with children in the run-up to Christmas.
Summary
The sound of gunfire in the WW1 trenches is replaced by the singing of Christmas Carols from both sides. One brave soldier, Jim, ventures into No Man's Land. Where he meets a German soldier called Otto. After the initial meeting, men from both sides wander into No Man's Land, playing football, chatting about their lives back home, burying their dead and for just a moment, forget about the horrors around them.
Teaching ideas
Discussion points
- How did the soldiers feel at this point?
- Did it always seem worse at Christmas?
- What did they think when they saw the enemy entering No Man's Land?
- Did the day change what they thought about the enemy?
- Was it right to enjoy themselves with the enemy on that day?
- Do you think everyone approved?
- Why did some of the officers disapprove?
Writing Opportunities
- Rewrite the dialogue between Otto and Jim or two other soldiers.
- Write a letter home detailing the day's events.
- Map the feelings of a soldier across the day - how does the soldier feel before, during and after the football match?
- Write a script to act out and recreate their own advert. Click here for a transcript of the Sainsbury Advert to use as a template
- Write poetry based on the Carol Ann Duffy Poem below.
- Create a newspaper report of the events.
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