Daughter of Light is based on historical facts.

The story is set in the Northern province of Friesland, the Netherlands, during the second World War. The last winter of the five year war was the worst. People suffered terribly. Many died of starvation. In the big cities there was hardly any food. People from the larger cities traveled to the country side, where they traded food for personal items. Without fuel, people could hardly stay warm and the winter was bitterly cold. Just before Christmas the Germans cut the electricity, to save energy for themselves. It was during those dark times, that a small miracle happened and a little baby girl was born in a warm house with electric lights. When I read about this event it touched me deeply and I felt a need to write this story down. I have often wondered, how people went about their daily lives during the war. The diary of Pietsje de Vries- van der Laan helped me imagine a what life must have been like.

Pre -Reading Activities

Examine the cover:

• What do you think the story is about?

• Where and when does the story take place? How do you know?

• What does the title Daughter of Light mean to you?

• Discuss the colours the illustrator used.

• Before reading the book brainstorm together as a class on chart paper:

• What do you know about the second World War?

• Which countries were involved?

• Why was it called a 'World War?'

• Has anybody heard of Adolf Hitler before?

• What does the word 'Holocaust' mean?

• Do you know anybody who fought in the second World War?

• What are Nazis?

• What are concentration camps?

• Do you know what happened to the Jews

 

Reading Comprehension

Chapter one: Unwanted Visitors

• Why were Ria, her mother and brother so afraid when the soldiers knocked on their door?

• Why was Ria's father in hiding?

• Why was it so important for the family to get the electricity back?

Chapter two: The War

• Describe how Ria and her family heated their home.

• Do you know what the sign 'Verboten für Juden' meant? Why did the Germans put up signs like that?

Chapter three: Rachel's Locket

• Why did Rachel have to wear a yellow star?

• How and where did Ria find Rachel's locket?

Chapter four: Home School

• Describe why the children couldn't attend their school anymore.

• What else was going on at the de Boer's farm beside Home School?

Chapter five: Ria's Plan

• What does Bram mean when he says he does important 'stuff' for the resistance?

• What happened when the guards at city hall spotted Ria and Bram?

Chapter six: Getting Organized

• What were they going to do when Ria's mother went into labour?

• Did Ria's father think it was a good idea to see the mayor? And why not?

Chapter seven: Scared

• How was Bram going to distract the soldiers?

• What did Ria find out when she heard the Germans talking?

Chapter eight: The Mayor

• Was Ria able to tell the mayor they needed the electricity?

• Was the mayor a kind person?

Chapter nine: The Lost Locket

• How did Ria's parents react when she got home?

• How did Bram's parents find out that the farm was going to be searched?

Chapter ten: New Year's Eve

• Describe what had happened at the de Boer's farm in the early morning.

• What was Ria's job while she stayed with her mother?

Chapter eleven: Waiting

• What is a dynamo light?

• Something important happened while they were waiting. What was it?

• Why did they name the baby Annelise?

Chapter twelve: An Unexpected Visitor

• Describe why Ria's family had so many visitors.

• Do you think Ria's feelings for Bram have changed?

• What is an illegal news paper and why did they have to burn it after reading?

• Describe what happened when they heard the sound of a car driving down their street. Did the story have a happy ending?

Vocabulary

Working in small groups, find the meaning of the following words:

Drama Activities: 1. As a large group pretend you have to go to the park to find small pieces of wood to heat your home. Everyone should take on a different role (e.g. children, old people, women). It is bitterly cold and there is hardly any wood. You don't wear warm snowsuits but odd clothing to keep warm. Some people might even get into an argument about a piece of bark. After the activity discuss how you felt. 2. Make a circle. In the middle is Ria's family gathered around the table in their cold kitchen. The students in the circle create the sound of the engine of military trucks coming near. Act out the panic the family feels. What they would say and how they hide the father under the stairs. 3. Four students act out the part where Ria and Bram approach city Hall and are discovered by the soldiers. 4. In groups of four think of a brave and courageous activity that you have experienced or have heard of. Act out the actions, then freeze into tableau. 5. Think of a peace message. Write your message on a footprint cut out of construction paper. Stick all the footprints on the wall of the classroom or in the hallways of your school. Hold a Peace March. Follow the footprints and read the messages.

	Geography: • On the map identify the countries which were occupied by the Germans • Locate the Capitals • Locate the seas and oceans • Locate and name the countries that remained neutral (Sweden and Switzerland) Community Involvement Write or contact the local Legion Branch and invite World War Two veterans to visit the classroom and talk about their experiences. Care Packages: • Brainstorm how you could fill a care package. Use a shoe box and fill with e.g. soap, bandaids, face cloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, mittens, socks, small teddy bear or other small toy etc. . • Decide which war-torn country is in need of these packages. • Bring boxes and collect needed items. Fill the boxes and send them to the Red Cross or contact a Military Base

Food: Making Butter Use one carton of whipping cream and one glass bottle with lid. Pour the whipping cream into the bottle. Secure the lid. Take turns shaking the bottle until the cream starts to separate into butter and whey. Shake until the butter becomes one clump. Drain the whey. Spread butter on crackers and share with the class. Art: Create posters using symbols of war and peace. Have a poster contest promoting Peace. Peace in the Classroom. Peace in the playground. Discussion Topics: • Discrimination • Anti-Racism • Bullying What do names mean? Annelise means Graceful Light. Go on the internet, search names. Find out what your name means. Acrostic Poems Write an acrostic poem for Annelise, Rachel and Ria.

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Discuss the meaning of the following expressions:

• Ria would like to wipe the smugness from his face

• Bram, you are bragging

• The coast is clear

• The wind seemed angry

• Snowflakes melted on Ria's hot face and sent tiny rivers inside her coat collar