With so much concern and focus in schools and communities on mental health, addressing trauma, overcoming adversity and adapting to new challenges and opportunities, perhaps through a growth mind-set, this lesson aims to work with students in an SMSC and personal development context to explore and discuss the nature of resilience.
This is done by using two extracts from Tom Palmer’s historical fiction work After the War to examine resilience as experienced by a composite character. This lesson enables students to approach these extracts with respect and empathy, reflection and hone close-reading skills, whilst also exploring the specific historical context underpinning the extracts and their contemporary relevance today. The lesson is intended for students in Years 7 or 8. Although possible extension tasks are suggested the lesson is intended to take 45min – 1 hour.
Lesson materials