Letters from the Trenches
classroomsecrets.comLetters from the Trenches – Y3m/Y4d/Y5e (Ruby) – Text© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
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classroomsecrets.comLetters from the Trenches – Y3m/Y4d/Y5e (Ruby) – Text© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
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Day resources here.
Letters from the Trenches – Follow-Up Work
How do you think the authors of the letters feel? How do you know?
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How do you think Eleanor feels about not receiving letters often from Peter?
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Do you think James’ mother and father would be happy to read his letter? Why?
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Why is there an exclamation mark in the text below? What effect does it have?
“Whilst I was in the trench on Christmas Eve a German soldier came over to our trench
to wish us seasons greetings. He was not fired at by anybody!”
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Are the letters formal or informal? How do you know?
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What is the main topic of the letters?
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classroomsecrets.comLetters from the Trenches – Y3m/Y4d/Y5e (Ruby) – Follow-Up Work© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
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What are your thoughts on war time and the trenches after reading the text? Why?
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Have you learned anything new about World War I after reading the text?
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Summarise what the trenches were like using the letters to help you.
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What does the word ceasefire mean? Use a dictionary to help you.
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If you could meet an author of one of the letters, what would you ask them?
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What do you think about letters from the frontline being censored? Is your view
different to one of your friends?
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classroomsecrets.comLetters from the Trenches – Y3m/Y4d/Y5e (Ruby) – Follow-Up Work© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
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Letters from the Trenches – Vocab 1
Write the meaning of each of the words.
frontline ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
trench foot ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
least __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
sparse _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
platoon _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
censored ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
reality _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
comrade ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
foresee ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ceasefire ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
no man’s land ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
surreal ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
commanding _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
classroomsecrets.comLetters from the Trenches – Y3m/Y4d/Y5e (Ruby) – Vocab© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
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Letters from the Trenches – Vocab 2
Write a letter in reply to one of the letters from the text. You must use the words in
the box below. Remember to write it in an informal style.
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platoon frontline foresee trench foot comrade sparse
classroomsecrets.comLetters from the Trenches – Y3m/Y4d/Y5e (Ruby) – Vocab© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
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Letters from the Trenches – SPAG
Explain how commas change the meaning of the two sentences below.
The soldier’s interests are reading, gardening, growing vegetables and running.
The soldier’s interests are reading gardening, growing vegetables and running.
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What is the name of the punctuation mark used between the two main clauses in the
sentence below?
My mother waited for the letters; my brother, the soldier couldn’t send them quick
enough.
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Rewrite the sentences below choosing the correct version of the verb.
The soldiers (was/were) happy to be playing football at Christmas.
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The soldier’s letters (was/were) sent every week to his wife.
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The trench (was/were) smelly, dark and full of water.
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The trenches (was/were) full of soldiers who were ready to fight.
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classroomsecrets.comLetters from the Trenches – Y3m/Y4d/Y5e (Ruby) – SPAG© Classroom Secrets Limited 2016
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