Module 3: Lettie’s World

World War II and 1940’s England 

(20 min)

  • Lead a brief discussion about what was happening in England in the 1940’s 

    • World War II: World War II or the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers.

Explore more about WWII with essays, images and videos on History.com 

  • The Blitz: a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War. The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term Blitzkrieg, the German word for 'lightning war'.

  • The Windrush Generation: in the mid-18th century, a small number of Afro-Caribbean people began migrating to port cities in England and Wales. Between 1948 and 1971, thousands of people arrived in the UK from Caribbean countries and have been labeled the Windrush Generation. It refers to the ship MV Empire Windrush, which docked near London on June 22, 1948, bringing workers from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other islands, to help fill post-war UK labor shortages. 

Learn more about the Windrush Generation from the BBC

Watch this video that explores the Windrush Generation Scandal, which began in 2018 after many Commonwealth citizens were wrongly detained, denied legal rights, and faced deportation because of strict new immigration laws.

Lettie’s Sketchbook 

(20 min)

Lettie cannot read or write, but she is a beautiful artist. She uses this gift to document her journey through a visual journal.

“To whoever takes in my Lettie. Lettie is a city girl and has never been in the country before. In fact, she has never been away from home and may be nervous at first. But she is a kind hearted girl, and I hope you will be kind to her and keep her safe. She is a sweet girl, but she wouldn’t say boo to a goose, and sometimes is a little fearful of her own shadow. She likes stories and music and loves to draw. She is none too keen on green vegetables.” - MOTHER

  • Explore Lettie’s Sketchbook and discover how she uses her strengths to overcome a disability and share her story.

    • What does Lettie’s sketchbook reveal about her journey?

    • What moments from the story are most vivid in her memory?

    • What items or moments seem to be most important to her?

    • What does Lettie’s journal reveal about her feelings? Feelings about her journey? Feelings towards her new home or Miss Pearce?

    • What does her journal reveal about her hopes and dreams?

The Journey

(20 minutes)

  • Choose a present day or historic figure (this could be someone from history, from your family, from a literary work, or even yourself).

  • Imagine their journey to a new place: 

    • Where are they from?

    • Where are they going? Why?

    • Who will they encounter?

    • What will they need?

    • What might they miss?

    • What will they take with them from home? (physically, mentally, emotionally)

  • Document the story of this journey through words or pictures. Guide students in discovering and celebrating their own unique talents and strengths by documenting this journey in different ways:

    • Write a journal entry or narrative poem

    • Draw a series of pictures

    • Create a short video

    • Record voice notes