World War One: SOLDIER'S STORIES - Reading comprehension package

Did you know that the first and last soldiers to be killed in World War One are buried just feet apart? Have you heard the story about the American Naval Officer who escaped from a Prisoner of War camp, swimming up the River Rhine to safety? How about the tale of the soldier who spared the life of a young Adolf Hitler?

2018 marks the centenary of the end of World War One.

This collection of four guided reading activities, aimed at 10 to 14 year olds, tests children’s comprehension, retrieval, inference and deduction skills through some intriguing stories from the soldiers at war.

It will also promote reflective and engaging classroom discussion as children discover more about this important chapter in the world’s history.

Each activity has questions and answers, with an indication of how many marks are on offer at the end of each question. This is particularly helpful for children preparing for reading tests and exams, encouraging them to give fuller answers where required. The texts take the form of different written genres, such as diary extracts, letters, newspaper reports and information texts.

CONTENTS

A Tale of Two Soldiers: Private John Parr

The story of the first soldier to be killed in World War One

A Tale of Two Soldiers: Private George Ellison

The story of the last Allied soldier to be killed in the war, just minutes before peace was declared. Read about the extraordinary link between Ellison and Private John Parr.

Saving Corporal Adolf

How one British soldier’s humanity spared the life of future dictator, Adolf Hitler.

The Daily News

Stories of courage and loyalty from the war, including Edouard Izac, the American naval officer who escaped from a prisoner of war camp to pass on vital intelligence to his commanders.