Safiyyah's War Exploration

Overview

This 60-minute interactive lesson invites Year 7 students to delve into chapters 5 and 6 of Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan, with a focus on developing their comprehension, critical thinking, and empathic skills. The session aligns precisely with the English National Curriculum for Year 7, emphasising reading fiction, understanding character, and drawing inferences. By engaging with the text collaboratively, students will enhance their ability to analyse literary language and structure contextually.

National Curriculum Links

• Reading - comprehension (Years 7):
  Pupils should be taught to:

  • Read and discuss an increasingly wide range of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction and reference books or textbooks.
  • Identify and interpret themes and conventions in and across a wide range of writing.
  • Make comparisons within and across books.
  • Explain and discuss their understanding of what they have read, including through formal presentations and debates, maintaining a focus on the topic and using notes where necessary.
  • Provide reasoned justifications for their views.

• Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation:

  • Consolidate understanding of grammatical concepts in reading - including modality, person, and verb forms - as applied in fictional writing.

• Spoken Language:

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
  • Consider and evaluate different viewpoints, attending to and building on the contributions of others.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson pupils will be able to:

1. Comprehend and interpret key themes, character motivations, and plot developments in chapters 5 and 6 of Safiyyah’s War.
2. Analyse and comment on the author’s use of language and structure to develop mood and character.
3. Explore empathy by role-playing characters to understand multiple perspectives within the story.
4. Collaborate effectively in small groups to discuss and critique thematic elements, using textual evidence.

Resources Needed

• Copies of Safiyyah’s War (chapters 5 and 6) — printed or digital versions
• Whiteboard or interactive whiteboard
• Sticky notes and coloured pens
• Role-play scenario cards based on characters from chapters 5 and 6
• Graphic organiser worksheets for character analysis
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Structure

Starter (10 minutes)

• Quick Recall Quiz (5 mins):
  Use a rapid-fire question round to recap events from chapters 1-4, validating prior knowledge and building engagement.
  E.g., “What is Safiyyah’s motivation?” “Name two important secondary characters introduced.”

• Set the Scene (5 mins):
  Teacher reads aloud or plays an audio excerpt of a vivid passage from chapter 5 to immerse students in the atmosphere and prompt curiosity.

Curriculum link: Develops listening skills and activates prior knowledge (Reading, Spoken Language).

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Main Activity 1: Close Reading & Annotation (20 minutes)

• Guided Group Reading (15 mins):
  In mixed ability groups of 5, pupils read selected extracts from chapters 5 and 6. Each group is assigned a focus area: language techniques, character traits, or plot progression.
  Groups highlight keywords, phrases, and instances of figurative language on printed extracts or digital devices. They annotate implications and emotional impact using coloured pens and sticky notes.

• Share and Build (5 mins):
  Each group shares their annotated findings with the class via an EWB or flip chart, encouraging discussion and comparisons.

Curriculum link: Supports analysis of language, structure and presentation (Reading: comprehension & vocabulary).

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Main Activity 2: Role Play and Empathy Building (15 minutes)

• Role Card Distribution (2 mins):
  Each student receives a role card representing one character from the chapters (e.g., Safiyyah, an antagonist, a secondary character). Cards include short character notes and motivations.

• Role Play Debate (13 mins):
  Students organise into small groups to improvise a scene exploring the perspectives of their characters relating to a pivotal conflict in chapters 5 or 6. The teacher prompts with key questions like:

  • “What does your character want at this moment? Why?”
  • “How might your character feel about the actions of others?”
  • “What decisions might your character make next?”

Curriculum link: Enhances spoken language, empathy, and understanding of character motivation and viewpoint.

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Plenary (10 minutes)

• Reflection Circle (7 mins):
  Students sit in a circle and each shares one new insight gained about a character or theme. Teacher captures key points on the board to reinforce learning.

• Exit Ticket (3 mins):
  Each student writes on a sticky note:

  • A key theme identified in chapters 5 and 6
  • One question they still have about the story or characters
    These are posted on a “Wonder Wall” for future exploration.

Curriculum link: Encourages reflection, consolidation of understanding, and critical questioning.

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Assessment

• Formative:

  • Group annotations and shared findings demonstrate understanding of language and character.
  • Role play participation reveals empathy and perspective-taking skills.
  • Exit tickets exhibit individual thematic insights and critical thinking.

• Summative: Suggestions for a written homework:
  Compose a diary entry from Safiyyah’s perspective reflecting on events in chapters 5 and 6, using evidence of language and emotion from the text.

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Differentiation & Inclusion

• Provide printed excerpts with vocabulary glossaries for pupils requiring additional support.
• Challenge more able learners to identify subtle language features such as modality or tone shifts.
• Use mixed ability groups to scaffold learning collaboratively.
• Ensure role play activities include diverse learning styles — visual, auditory, kinesthetic.

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Extension Ideas

• Comparative Analysis: Compare Safiyyah’s character development with a character from another novel studied in Year 7.
• Creative Writing: Rewrite a scene from the antagonist’s viewpoint to explore narrative voice.
• Cross-curricular Link: Investigate historical or cultural contexts influencing the novel’s themes.

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By embedding active reading, collaborative analysis, and empathetic role play, this lesson offers a memorable, curriculum-aligned approach to Safiyyah’s War that will inspire curiosity and deep literary engagement for Year 7 pupils.