Reading Comprehension
Chapter 1: August 1944
• Describe the scene in the shelter during the air raid.
• Why did Johannes his father support the Nazis?
Chapter 2: Sietske
• Where did Johannes want to meet Sietske that night and why?
• How did Johannes' father's membership affect Johannes and Anneke?
Chapter 3: Under the Bridge
• Why was it risky for Johannes to go out after curfew?
• How did Sietske's father react after he found them under the bridge?
Chapter 4: Minne
• Who was Minne going to kill if his father dies?
• Why would Johannes never be able to join the resistance?
Chapter 5: Visitors
• Why had Sietske taken the baby to Johannes' farm?
• How did his mother react when a black car turned into their drive way?
Chapter 6: Safe?
• How did Johannes' mother help Sietske and the baby?
• Was it safe at Sietske's farm? Who did the Nazis take with them?
Chapter 7: The Confrontation
• What did Johannes find out about his father's role, while Sietske's father was in custody?
• How and why did Johannes' father confront him when he came home that night?
Chapter 8: Butter for Aunt Siet
• Describe what happens when they were stopped by two German soldiers.
• What was the code Sietske used after the woman opened the door?
Chapter 9: The Plan
• Why did Grandfather question Johannes about Sietske?
• How does Willem react to Johannes' participation in the resistance?
Chapter 10 : The Raid
• Why did they raid the municipality office?
• What was Johannes his job during the raid?
A Time to Choose was inspired by historical facts. The main event, the raid on the House of Detention, which happened December 8, 1944, became the highlight of this novel. I was intrigued by this heroic deed of the members of the underground movement.
The movie 'The Overval' was produced in 1962 and I was able to see this movie with my classmates.
I realized quickly that to use this event in the context of 'A Time to Choose' , I had to minimize this operation as well as its preparations.
Pre-Reading Activities
Examine the cover
• What does the title A Time to Choose mean to you?
• Discuss the colours the artist used.
Chapter 11: Bicycle Thieves
• How did Johannes' father defend himself, when Grandfather grilled him about his membership in the party?
• What did Johannes discover while he and Anneke visited Mrs. de Jong?
Chapter 12: The English Pilot
• How did Sietske's family rescue the pilot?
• How did Johannes feel after the Germans had left?
Chapter 13: Captured
• What did Sietske ask from him?
• What did his father know about Sietske's family members who had been arrested?
Chapter 14: A Time to Choose
• Did his father know what would happen to collaborators after the war?
• Would his father be able to help Johannes if he got arrested?
Chapter 15: A Dangerous Assignment
• What did Piet's mother discover about Herr Obermann?
• What was their signal to start the operation?
Chapter 16: Inside the House of Detention
• Describe Minne's condition when Johannes found him in his cell.
• Where did they hide the freed prisoners?
Chapter 17: A Long Night
• Where were Minne and Johannes when the soldiers searched the houseboat?
• When Johannes reached the bakery whom did he expect to find?
Chapter 18: Evacuees
• What are evacuees and where did they come from?
• Describe what happened near the end of the war.
Chapter 19: Liberation
• What did the soldiers want when they came knocking at the van der Meer's door?
• Who were the men that came into the stable during milking time and what did they want?
Chapter 20: The Ordeal
• Describe the police officer's conduct when he dealt with Johannes and his mother
• What happened between Johannes and Minne at the cemetery?
Chapter 21: May 1945
• How did Johannes feel when his mother told him about Uncle Jan's trial and sentence?
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Character Study Write a character study of one the following people: • Johannes • Sietske • Durk van der Meer • Nynke van der Meer • Sietske de Boer • Minne de Jong • Add their portraits and compare character studies with classmates |
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• air raid • blackout • capitulate • informer • occupation • propaganda • evacuees • barrage • civilians |
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• collaborator • futile • confrontation • courier • interpreter • curfew • carbide • deportation • extinguish |
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Working in small groups, use the dictionary and choose five words from the list below. Describe the meaning of each word and use each word in a sentence. • Design a crossword puzzle using words from the list • In an Art activity express the meaning of one of these words through colour and images. (i.e. air raid --- using a grey or dark background, black outlines of airplanes, buildings and use splashes of orange and yellow to show the explosions and gunfire) |
Vocabulary
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Self and Society Compare Johannes' life in the Netherlands during the war and your life in today's society. Divide a piece of paper in half and write down the commodities we use on one side. On the other side, indicate what Johannes and his family used instead. |
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Discussion
Discuss in small groups:
a. The conflict between Johannes and his father
b. how you would feel if during wartime your parents belonged to the resistance group and your life and theirs was constantly in danger due to their activities.
c. what would you do if your parents' beliefs were different from yours?
d. discrimination against certain groups in society
e. oppression and dictatorship in certain countries in the world
f. nuclear warfare
g. biological warfare
h. terrorist warfare
i. the role of the United Nations
j. the role of Unicef
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Music Visit your local library, or go on the internet and find music that was popular during the Second World War. Vera Lynn, Marlena Dietrich, Glen Miller Band, Benny Goodman, the Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra etc. are some of the recording artists you might find. • List as many songs and artists as possible. If available borrow tapes records and CDs. • As a class or small group learn one of the songs. • Bring in an old record player. • many war hits are out on CD: for example, Vera Lynn's Hits from the Blitz is now available on CD. • Some examples of popular songs are: "There'll be Blue Birds Over the White Cliffs of Dover", "When the Lights Go On Again", "Comin' In On A Wing and a Prayer", "He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings", "It's Been a Long, Long Time", "Sentimental Journey" and "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To". |
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Fashion • Research the various fashion styles worn during the forties and organize a fashion show. • Complete this unit with a Forties Dance (the Jitterbug, Lindy Hop) |