Overview

This 7-session term plan is designed for Year 7 students (ages 11-12) studying The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. It aligns with the National Curriculum for England’s KS3 English Programme of Study, focusing on reading comprehension, critical thinking, empathy development, and creative response to literature, all appropriate for this age group.

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National Curriculum Links

• Reading – comprehension:
  “develop an appreciation and love of reading, and read increasingly challenging material independently”
  Reference: KS3 English Programme of Study, Reading
• Reading – understanding and evaluation:
  “read critically and develop their own views about the texts they read”
• Writing – composition:
  “use imaginative and creative approaches to writing”
• Spoken language:
  “develop confidence, clarity and fluency in spoken language”

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Term Plan Overview: Themes in The Breadwinner

Week	Theme	Learning Objectives	Suggested Activities	Learner Levels (Emerging / Developing / Secure)	Assessment
1	Introduction & Context	- Understand setting (Afghanistan, Taliban era)	- Map activity: locate Afghanistan, discuss cultural/historical context. - Class discussion on what ‘breadwinner’ means.	Emerging: Identify key facts about setting. Developing: Summarise the historical context. Secure: Explain how context shapes story.	Class verbal contribution and map labelling
2	Family & Responsibility	- Explore Parvana’s role in family - Analyse family dynamics	- Role-play: Parvana’s family roles - Write a diary entry as Parvana	Emerging: List family members and roles. Developing: Describe Parvana’s responsibilities. Secure: Evaluate impact of her role on family.	Diary entry with peer feedback
3	Courage & Resilience	- Identify examples of courage - Understand resilience shown	- Group storytelling: recount a brave moment - Class debate on ‘What does courage mean?’	Emerging: Identify one example of courage. Developing: Explain why it shows courage. Secure: Compare Parvana’s courage with own experiences.	Group story presentation
4	Gender Roles & Equality	- Understand gender restrictions under Taliban - Explore gender roles critically	- Analyse key passages about gender - Discussion: How gender affects Parvana’s life	Emerging: Identify gender rules shown. Developing: Explain how they impact characters. Secure: Argue whether stories reflect reality or exaggerate.	Written paragraph with criteria-based marking
5	Freedom & Oppression	- Explore themes of freedom - Discuss oppression and power	- Hot-seating activity: students take roles of characters - Create a mind map of freedom vs oppression	Emerging: Define oppression in context. Developing: Connect oppression to characters. Secure: Analyse how oppression shapes choices.	Mind map and hot-seating reflection
6	Hope & Friendship	- Recognise positive relationships that bring hope	- Write a letter from Parvana to her friend - Group reflection on friendships that support us	Emerging: Name friends in the book. Developing: Describe friendships. Secure: Reflect on importance of hope and friendship.	Letter writing evaluated for empathy and tone
7	Creative Response & Review	- Synthesize understanding of main themes - Express learning creatively	- Create a narrated digital story or storyboard on ‘A Day in Parvana’s Life’ - Class gallery walk	Emerging: Use images to represent story. Developing: Add simple text or captions. Secure: Create a coherent, detailed narrative.	Digital story/storyboard assessed on creativity & understanding

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Detailed Example Session Plan: Week 4 - Gender Roles & Equality

Learning Objectives

• Identify and understand gender restrictions in the novel.
• Compare these restrictions with modern UK gender equality principles (linking to SMSC and British Values).
• Formulate own viewpoints critically and respectfully.

National Curriculum Links

• KS3 English: “read and critically analyse a range of texts”
• SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development): “promote equality and diversity”

Resources

• Selected extract from The Breadwinner highlighting gender restrictions
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printer copies of discussion questions
• Projector for text display

Activities (45 mins total)

Time	Activity	Detail
0-5 mins	Starter: Quick-write	Students write one sentence about what gender equality means to them. Class shares.
5-15 mins	Read and annotate extract	Teacher models annotation focusing on gender phrases. Students annotate in pairs.
15-25 mins	Class discussion	Questions: How is Parvana’s life controlled by gender? What would you do in her place?
25-35 mins	Writing task	Write a paragraph answering: How does The Breadwinner challenge or reinforce gender stereotypes?
35-45 mins	Peer assessment and plenary	Swap paragraphs for peer feedback using a success criteria checklist; discuss insights.

Differentiation

• Emerging: Sentence starters to scaffold writing.
• Developing: Structured paragraph with linking words.
• Secure: Write independently, include wider social comment.

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Unique WOW Factor Ideas for Teachers

• Augmented Reality Mapping: Using tablets or smartphones, students can explore Afghanistan virtually, deepening context understanding.
• Character Twitter Feeds: Create Twitter profiles for Parvana and other characters with tweets reflecting their experiences and feelings.
• Empathy Hot-seating: Students ‘become’ characters, answering peers’ questions in role, to deepen understanding of different perspectives.
• Digital Storytelling: Use simple tools (PowerPoint, iMovie) to create a multimedia narrative of Parvana’s story, combining visual and written skills.

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This term plan blends critical literacy, empathy, and creative expression with rigorous adherence to KS3 national curriculum expectations — designed to engage and challenge Year 7 learners while fostering a deep connection to The Breadwinner’s powerful themes.