Exploring and engaging with themes in 'Coming To England’
I can identify and reflect on the key themes in 'Coming to England'.
Exploring and engaging with themes in 'Coming To England’
I can identify and reflect on the key themes in 'Coming to England'.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- ‘Coming to England’ highlights Floella’s resilience and advocacy against racism.
- The text has themes of determination, migration, identity and overcoming adversity.
- Floella has a strong support network; she describes positive traits that she has learnt from both her parents.
- A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that Floella's experiences were only negative when arriving in England.
Experiences that Floella had in both countries were both positive and negative. Listing and discussing these either with talk partners, in small groups or as a whole class can be beneficial to build up an overall picture of Floella's life.
Keywords
Theme - A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
Convey - To convey means to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly.
Discrimination - Discrimination is treating a person or group of people differently and unfairly because of a certain characteristic.
Adversity - Adversity can be described as challenges, prejudice, and hardships a person had to confront and overcome in their life.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2021 Macmillan Children’s Book edition of ‘Coming to England’ written by Floella Benjamin, illustrated by Joelle Avelino, for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Coming to England
An inspiring true story celebrating the Windrush Generation
Floella Benjamin
Joelle Avelino
delicate, nuanced expression or behaviour; not obvious or explicit
remaining food from a meal; what is uneaten
the throat; the passage through which food passes into the stomach
a cruel and oppressive ruler who abuses power
someone pretending to have virtues or beliefs they do not possess
expressed joy or happiness; celebrated with delight
respect and approval; regarding someone or something with esteem
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly
treating a person differently because of a certain characteristic