Hello everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're really doing well.

My name's Ms. Afzal.

I am also doing really, really well, that's because I'm very excited to introduce a text to you.

It's a piece of historical fiction and it's called 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story', and it's written by Sufiya Ahmed.

Let's pause the video here while you go and fetch your copy of the text.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

I hope you're feeling ready.

I am so excited about this, I hope you are too.

Let's find out about who was this incredible woman, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can understand the context of 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story'.

There are some keywords in today's lesson.

Let's go through them, my turn, your turn.

Historical fiction.

British Empire.

India.

Trade.

It was good to hear those words from you loud and clear.

Let's find out more about what they mean.

Historical fiction is a genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events.

The British Empire is the colonies, dominions, and other territories ruled to some degree by and from Britain.

In this historical context, India refers to the British-controlled territories in South Asia during the period of British Colonial rule, including Punjab, the Sikh Empire's homeland.

Trade is the exchange of goods, commodities, and services.

So let's make sure we're on the lookout for these words and we'll find out more about them as we explore this text.

So in our lesson today, Introducing the Context of 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story', we'll be looking at first of all, exploring the historical context of the text, and next, first impressions.

So let's begin with the historical context.

'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story' is a novel written by Sufiya Ahmed with colour illustrations by Euan Cook.

The text is in the genre of historical fiction and is set between 1886 and 1928.

It follows Princess Sophia, a daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh of the Sikh Empire, as she goes on a personal journey and fights for equality.

And a Maharaja, it's a noun, is an Indian ruler and monarch.

Here is our text.

Look at that cover, oh my goodness.

The front cover can provide the reader with clues as to what might occur in the text.

What do you notice on the front cover? So pause the video here, take a really good at this front cover, and tell someone nearby everything that you notice.

Everything you can see.

Okay, so what did you notice on the front cover? You may have spotted a woman wearing a sash and a badge.

The colours of purple, green, and white are prominent.

Hmm, we'll find out more about those.

The figure is holding a sign which asks for votes for women.

It's followed by the initials W.

S.

P.

U.

Hmm, I wonder what those letters stand for.

A group of people in similar dress holding banners and signs.

They have their hands raised in the air, perhaps making a stand.

In the background are the Houses of Parliament where many laws are made in the UK.

It looks like a demonstration is taking place in the square.

Well done if you spotted some of these people and these things.

Check for understanding.

True or false? 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story' is a historical fiction text.

Pause the video while you decide if that is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer with one of these statements.

So A, 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story' is based on factual information, however it contains fictionalised elements such as conversations.

Or B, 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story' follows the life of Princess Sophia, the goddaughter of Queen Victoria.

So pause the video while you decide which of these statements justifies your answer.

Well done if you selected the first statement.

So this one is absolutely true, and this is more directly justifying and relating to the answer you gave earlier about 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story' being a historical fiction text.

Princess Sophia Duleep Singh's life was intertwined with significant events related to the British Empire's rule over India.

Before we begin reading the text, it's important to gain an understanding of the context in which it is set.

So the time and the place and what was happening.

The British Empire is the colonies, dominions, and other territories ruled to some degree by and from Britain.

The British East India Company was originally established in 1600 as a trading company, but instead of just trading, they started taking control of different parts of India and making money for themselves.

On this map we can see India and the Punjab state was originally part of both modern day India and Pakistan, which is to the northwest of India.

The British East India Company had their own army and made rules for the places they controlled.

Over time, they became really powerful and ended up helping Britain take over India completely.

From 1845 to 1849, there were a series of conflicts between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company.

Sophia's father, who was a child at the time, was deposed by the British in 1849, and deposed, this is a verb, means to be removed from power suddenly and forcefully.

Maharaja Duleep Singh moved to Britain in 1854 where he became a friend of Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria took an interest in him and his family who were brought up in Elveden Hall in Suffolk.

She became their guardian and looked out for them.

This text explores an important part of British history as well as celebrating diversity with strong themes of family and justice.

Check for understanding.

Who took care of the Duleep Singhs when they moved to Britain? Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, the British East India Company? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done If you selected Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria's decision to look after the Duleep Singhs was likely influenced by a combination of political, social, and strategic reasons aimed at maintaining British control over the newly acquired territories and ensuring the welfare of a former ally's family.

'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story' opens with Sophia on board a ship on its way to India from England in 1886.

She's hoping to visit her father's place of birth for the first time.

I'd like you to read pages one to five up to the mention of 'Catherine' and then answer the following question.

At the start of the chapter, how is Sophia feeling about being on the ship and how do you know? So pause the video while you read pages one to five.

And then talk to someone nearby about how is Sophia feeling about being on the ship and how do you know this? Let's see what's Sam has to say.

Sophia is nervous about being on board the ship.

She has a tight grip on the support bars.

It's very windy, which is making her hair blow in her face.

Well done if you came up with an answer like this one.

Sophia is looking forward to their stopover in Egypt.

Refer to pages three and four.

What language is Sophia's Indian nanny trying to teach the children? And which parent wants the children to learn it and which does not? So pause the video while you refer back to pages three and four.

And answer, what language is Sophia's Indian nanny trying to teach the children and which parent wants them to learn the language and which does not? Pause the video here.

Sophia's father, Papa, wants his children to learn Punjabi.

It is his home country's language.

Punjabi was also my father's home country language.

Sophia's mother does not want her children learning Punjabi and tells their nanny not to teach it.

We find out why each parent wanted or did not want the language taught as we continue to read.

Check for understanding.

Match each family member's name to their relation to Sophia.

Use pages one to five to support you.

So we've got family members Bamba, Eddie, and Victor.

And their relation to Sophia, younger brother, eldest brother, eldest sister.

Pause the video while you link the family member name to their relationship with Sophia.

Well done if you linked Bamba is Sophia's eldest sister.

Eddie is her younger brother, and Victor is her eldest brother.

We know Eddie is the eldest brother, he's mentioned as Papa's heir.

The Duleep Singhs are on their way to India.

However, each member of the family has a different opinion of their trip.

Choose three members of the family, discuss with your partner how they feel about the trip, and how do you know? You might like to refer to pages one to five to support you.

So here are some of the family members.

So we've got Catherine, Freddy, Sophia, Eddie, Papa, Mama, Victor, and Bamba.

So pause the video while you discuss with someone nearby how three members of the family feel about the trip and how do you know? Okay, so how did you get on with your task? Which three members of the family did you pick and how are they feeling about the trip? Let's find out.

So we're gonna hear from Andy.

Bamba sounds like the most excited to be visiting India even more than Sophia's father.

She wants to learn lots.

Okay, great.

All right, what about Izzy? Victor is frustrated, 'sullen' is the word used, about the trip.

He's described as hating the ship similarly to Sophia's mother.

And Jacob.

Papa is enjoying the trip.

The Indian crew, lascars, bow to him.

He is royalty and is respected.

Okay, some really, really great answers there.

Thank you for sharing those.

And really a great variety as well of ways in which they were feeling about the trip.

Okay, now we are on to first impressions.

Sophia's Papa likes being the centre of attention.

At the dinner, he talks with the other guests.

Read from pages five to page eight.

Read from page five to page eight, the end of the first chapter.

Why does Sophia's father use the term 'invader'? And what does he mean by this? Refer to pages six to seven for support.

So pause the video here while you read those pages and answer the question, why does Sophia's father use the term 'invader' and what does he mean by this? Here's Lucas.

I think Sophia's father uses the term 'invader' to describe the British Empire.

He describes being tricked out of his kingdom.

Thank you for that answer, Lucas.

Yeah, that's really something very tough.

Very, very tough that he experienced.

How might using the term 'invaders' have made the family feel and how might it have made other people feel? Do you feel that Papa and Bamba were right in using this term? Pause the video while you reflect on these questions.

It's quite a serious term to use as many of the dinner guests gasp.

Victor is embarrassed and annoyed at his father for using it.

I don't think Papa and Bamba were right to use the word.

It might offend some people and get them into more trouble.

However, her father does have a right to be annoyed.

He was not able to remain in the country of his birth.

This is really serious stuff.

Chapter one gives many clues about who the Duleep Singh family were and why Queen Victoria was so important to them.

Refer to chapter one for support.

The children were all born in England.

Why was this? Pause the video while you refer to that chapter for support and consider this question.

Here's Alex.

I think Sophia and her siblings were all born in England because their father was exiled.

Members of her family have different opinions about which country they call home.

And exiled, it's a verb, means not being allowed in your country of birth, being barred from your own country.

It's a really, really big deal.

Check for understanding.

True or false? Bamba enjoys her father using the term 'invaders'.

Pause video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

She absolutely enjoyed her father using that term 'invaders'.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer.

There is a silence as the word is used.

Bamba attempts to conceal a smile and speaks in a hush tone to her brother Victor, to annoy him.

Pause the video while you choose which of these justifies your answer.

Well done if you selected B.

Both of these statements are true, but it's statement B, which is the one that justifies your answer of Bamba enjoying her father using the term 'invaders'.

And now it's time for your next task.

Based on what we've read and discussed, I'd like you to create a mind map with your initial thoughts and questions that you have about the text.

So your initial thoughts about 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story'.

You may like to begin with, I wonder if, or I think that.

Maybe I noticed, I'm intrigued about.

Perhaps, I believe, I predict that.

So pause the video here while you create your mind map with your initial thoughts, questions about this text, and I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

I am curious, what is it? What is it that you've come up with? Maybe something like this.

I'm intrigued to find out more about Sophia's family and what happens to them.

What else? I predict Sophia will meet her godmother again.

I noticed similarities between Bamba and her father.

I wonder what the acronym on the front cover stands for.

Stick around, we'll be finding out soon.

Perhaps we'll find out some of the answers and confirm your initial thoughts as we continue exploring the text.

And I'm looking forward to doing that together.

In our lesson today, Introducing the Context of 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story', we have covered the following.

'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story' is a historical fiction text set between 1886 and 1928.

The text follows Princess Sophia, a daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh of the Sikh Empire, as she goes on a personal journey and fights for equality.

Princess Sophia Duleep Singh's life was intertwined with significant events related to the British Empire's rule over India.

This text explores an important part of British history as well as celebrating diversity with strong themes of family and justice.

Thank you for being here today.

There's a lot that we've covered so far and there's a lot more that we're gonna get into, especially again around exploring diversity and with themes of family and of justice.

Really, really important topics.

I'll see you at the next lesson.

Bye for now.