Y5 Literacy Hour outcomes

Y5 have used extracts from the book No Gun for Asmir as their recent texts to study during the literacy hour.

The context is a book written during the civil war in the old Yugoslavia. When President Tito of Yugoslavia died, the whole of the region went into civil war with all the old Countries trying to fight to become the countries they used to be including Bosnia as Yugoslavia. (That's like the United States of America which is a massive number of individual states wanting their own independence back)

The Siege of Sarajevo: 1992-1996

The book is about a child caught up in a Civil War of which he has no understanding and seeing his family split. He doesn't want to leave his parents but wants a gun, like his father, to fight the enemy. Asmir is not sure who the enemy is and dismayed when he to be sent to a safe area and stay with a relative outside the capital city Sarajevo which is under attack. Thus the title "No Gun for Asmir"

Asmir has seen the local chocolate factory , where his mother worked, totally destroyed. He describes the choking smell of burning chocolate. After that he wants a gun to fight whoever did it. But instead he is told he is going to be taken to a safe area and stay with a relative. (A bit like evacuees in London and the major cities during the second world war) He see homes destroyed etc.

Once out of the city he wants to hear news of his family , which is sent by an uncertain postal system.

The children were asked to write a diary as if they were Asmir.

Danielle Higgins, in Mrs Flint's class, really took this to heart.

The following diary extract is Danielle pretending to be Asmir. Apart from the references to civil war blood, look at how Asmir "gently" picks up the mail. The post is a precious lifeline of communication with his family. He finds the regular postman killed by a bomb.

This is a pupil who is really engaged and putting herself in Asmir''s shoes.

The following is a type up from Danielle's English book:

Wednesday 8th June-Danielle Higgins Literacy task.
To write a diary as if I was Asmir.

Dear Diary,

Today was the worst day of my life so far.

This morning I woke up fine about 12. 'O clock midday. Bombs were starting to fall.

But the worst thing was I wondered where the postman was (Fred) as it is unusual for him to be late.

So I quickly ran outside. I ran up to the gate but fell over a half wall.

I wonder what it was I saw Fred. .

I saw letters covered in blood!

I was terrified.

I picked them up .

I gently picked the mail bag off Fred.

It was so scary.

Danielle Higgins
Wednesday, 08 June 2005

This pupil knows it was something that meant a lot to her and she agreed to it being posted on the website

Martin Tibbetts
(I have added pictures from the Bosnian War archives)