Inspired by: My Secret War Diary - Week 2

Inspired by Marcia Williams' "My Secret War Diary," students are invited to delve into the nuances of distinguishing between statements of fact and opinion through the diary entries of Flossie, a character with strong personal views. The task involves reading her entry from Monday 18th September and identifying the factual statements and the opinions she expresses. For instance, students are asked to discern Flossie's factual information and opinions about a character named Mackeig-Jones. Additionally, they are encouraged to watch a British Movietone News report on the sinking of H.M.S. Courageous and discuss the vehement opinions expressed at the end of the bulletin. This leads to a broader conversation about the role of propaganda during wartime, both positive and negative, and how it shapes public opinion.

The role of women during the war is another key learning point, where students explore the various contributions made by women in support of the war effort. By reading about characters like Aunt Ethel, who joins the Women's Auxiliary Fire Service, and others who become Land Girls or join the Women’s Royal Naval Service and the Voluntary Aid Detachment, students gain insights into the diverse roles women played. They are tasked with researching one of these roles, drawing on resources such as the National Archives. Furthermore, the activity "War Talk" encourages students to analyse the layout of Flossie's diary as presented by Marcia Williams. They examine how layout devices like illustrations and headings contribute to the structure of the text, enhancing readability and guiding the reader through the diary's content.