Category: Ako | Learn

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas|Chapter 13

Weeks passed. The memories of home in Berlin faded. He began to get used to living in “Out- With,” and stopped feeling unhappy about his new life. The reason being he had something to look forward to every afternoon, since he discovered he had a new friend in this horrible place. Bruno could see that there was something off about Shmuel every time they talked, he was incredibly skinny and was pretty dirty as well and when he heard his voice it was always quiet like a mouse, so he wanted to help the next time he went to Shmuel by bringing some food. Forbidden Friendship

“Are you eating again Bruno?” Maria asked Bruno.

If you were Bruno, how would you explain to Maria what you were doing?

His heart pounded, not sure of what to say, He needed to make up an excuse. His memories faded, he could hardly remember what Karl or Daniel or Martin looked like. 

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas|Chapter 12

Shmuel began speaking. He painted a picture of the past. He once lived happily with his family, but ruthless soldiers stole their freedom in a single afternoon. Although Shmuel laid bare his deepest emotional wounds, Bruno’s suffocating innocence blinded him to his friend’s agony. The unbearable heat of a tiny room shared with strangers seemed to rise from Shmuel’s memories, mingling with the bitter scent of sweat and fear that still haunted his clothes. Raging yet paralyzed. “All in one room!” Bruno gasped, entirely flabbergasted. How could Bruno remain so utterly blind to the cruel divide between their worlds? Shmuel softly described the times when he lived without fear, enjoyed simple pleasures, and imagined a brighter future. Shmuel poured his soul out, yet Bruno understood absolutely nothing.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas|Chapter 11

Many months earlier. Father received a fresh uniform. During family supper father discussed new plans for Thursday night, and no one had any other plans. Although it was a late notice, they couldn’t refuse. Mothers face seemed to take the shape of an “o” , surprised by the news of the Fuhrer/”Fury” coming.  Mental acquisitiveness.

“Who is the “Fury” and why is him coming over so surprising?” Bruno thought to himself.

Why did mother look as if she’d been handed a death sentence disguised as an invitation. Later that week the Furyeh arrived at our doorstep,  and came in with a beautiful blonde girl, barking orders and questions like the most important person in the room. That is where the story began.

The boy in the Striped Pyjamas|Chapter 10

I continued searching. The time seemed to stretch. I began to grow hungry, but as I was going to give up I saw a small spec. My curiosity took over, before I knew it the spec grew and formed into a childlike figure. The sight encouraged me, making me want to push forwards, and as I approached this figure I realised it was a young boy, my inquisitiveness motivated me to greet him. Interest sparked. As he greeted me back.

“What are you doing here all by yourself?” I questioned

Why was this boy here all alone? I stared into the sad eyes of this boy, sat down, and began to speak. After conversing with each other we both realised we were more alike.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas|Chapter 9

Nothing changed. Immense boredom overcame me. Bruno yearned for the comfort of his home in Berlin, yet the memories started to fade. We are not able to learn due to the fact that there is no school, because of this Father hired a tutor named Herr Liszt. I listened to Herr Liszt blab about science, and tried listing things that were meaningful to me like reading or art, but his sudden and booming voice humbled me. Total tedium. 

“Those things are useless to you”.  Herr Liszt insisted.

Why was Bruno’s  joy being taken away? Bruno jumped off his bed, rummaged through his wardrobe for an overcoat and old boots, and prepared to leave the house. He set off on his journey, getting closer to finding the mysteries of the fence.

Building Hope

After reading the Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas we talked about what people must have felt like having their whole world turned upside down. I couldn’t imagine what it felt like to go through such a horrible time. Yesterday we discussed how we could put their cloth of dreams back together again. We drew what we thought was right, we collaborated in two big groups and there was no rules since it was about using creative expressions. This Activity was inspired by the book Teaspoon of hope. I enjoyed this activity very much because we got to use our creativity.

Chapter 19 Mood-O-metre

or our literacy project, Me and my partner made this Mood-o-meter to track Bruno’s emotions in Chapter 19 of the book “The boy in the striped pajamas”.

Bruno starts Excited about his plan and Happy putting on his “costume.” His mood drops to Sad when it rains, and he becomes Worried inside the camp because it is not what he expected. Tragically, when crowded into the gas chamber, he innocently thinks it is just a shelter from the rain. He stays loyal to the end, holding Shmuel’s hand as his “friend for life.”

The boy in the striped pajamas|Chapter 8

Bruno lit up. Grandfather and grandmother had arrived.Grandfather gazed impressively of fathers new promotion, but grandmother looked disheartened. Although grandfather kept the conversation light hearted, Grandmother refused to keep her feelings hidden. Tension rose
“Is this what you wanted, to be a puppet on a string?” Questioned grandmother
Why was grandmother so agitated by fathers promotion? . “She knew what he was doing, what he was becoming, and what he had lost. That day the family dinner was ruined and nothing felt the same ever since.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

We listened to the audiobook of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. After each chapter we explored the mood and atmosphere of that chapter.

Mood is the whole story explained using one word.

Atmosphere is the vibe and the overall feeling of the story.

We worked collaboratively to summarize each chapter in 10 sentences. This helped us practise simple, compound and complex sentences. Some days we used a Gem to prompt us and some days we didn’t but that didn’t stop us from doing good work.

The boy in the striped pajamas| Chapter 7

Bruno was bored. He dragged a heavy tire toward the large oak tree. The afternoon sun shined down on the garden, and the house remained deathly silent behind him. Because he was desperate for some kind of adventure, he decided to build a swing to pass the boredom. The rough texture of the rope burned his palms while the smell of damp earth and old rubber filled his lungs as he struggled to knot the swing to a sturdy branch. Total disaster.

“Help me, please!” he cried out after the rope snapped.

Why did it have to be the strange, thin waiter who saw him cry? Pavel carried him inside, washed the bloody wound, and applied a clean white bandage with expert hands. He realized that the man who peeled potatoes was once a doctor who saved lives.