Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 40

CLASS ACTIVITIES

CLASS ACTIVITIES FOR

THE FORGOTTEN PEARL
The Forgotten Pearl launch in Sydney, Belinda found several props to make a lovely display.
Ask the class to make a similar display for this book or any of the time-slip tales.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. What were some of the different
feelings towards war before
October 1941? Did some people
remember WWI and were against the
war? Were people keen to fight? How
did attitudes change after the bombing
of Darwin?
2. What do you think is the most
important theme of the book?
Find examples of scenes and quotes in
The Forgotten Pearl which explore this
theme. How is this theme relevant
to you?

40 randomhouse.com.au/teachers

3. Do you think Poppy changes
through her adventures?
Brainstorm some of the ways Poppy
changes throughout the book.
4. What kind of film do you think
The Forgotten Pearl would make?
Workshop ideas, including: cast,
setting, key scenes, style and genre.
5. Brainstorm some of the roles that
women and children played on the
Home Front during the war. What
do you think life would be like for your
family if you lived during a war now?

Propoganda and
the war

Research recruitment posters for the war.
What sort of language was used? What
emotions do they appeal to? How is the
enemy portrayed? Were these posters
effective? What persuasive elements do
they have?
Ask students to create their own
recruitment posters. Investigate
newspaper reports about the bombing of
Darwin. See http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/
del/article/8233704.
Was the above article entirely made
up of facts? Is emotive language used?
Is the focus on Australian deaths or how
valiantly Australians withstood it? Which
words indicate the latter? What is the aim
of the article? Would mass hysteria have