Teacher's Note On The Diary of A Young Girl
Teacher's Note On The Diary of A Young Girl
Teacher's Note On The Diary of A Young Girl
LEVEL 4
PENGUIN READERS
Teacher Support Programme
Summary
The Diary of a Young Girl, written between 1942 and
1944, is probably the most famous personal diary ever
published and one of the most important literary works
of the Second World War. It was written by a teenage
Jewish girl whose family was forced into hiding in
Amsterdam during the German occupation. It is a work
which is given extra pathos by the fact that we know
something which the author did not know that her
familys hiding place would be discovered and that she
would end up being captured and ultimately killed in the
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. The diary paints a
touching and honest picture of an ordinary girl growing
up in extraordinary circumstances. The everyday concerns
of an adolescent girl family relationships, boyfriends,
hopes and dreams for the future are contrasted with the
horrific details of a secret life in hiding under constant
c Pearson Education Limited 2008
Teachers notes
PENGUIN READERS
Teacher Support Programme
LEVEL 4
Discussion activities
Before reading
1 Discuss, write: Ask students whether they write a
diary, and if so, why. Ask them to keep a diary while
they are reading this book.
2 Discuss: Ask the class to tell you anything they know
about the Second World War. Ask students to come
up and write a word, a date, or a fact about the war
on the board. Encourage students to mention the
Holocaust and the German invasion of other
European countries.
Teachers notes
PENGUIN READERS
Teacher Support Programme
LEVEL 4
Introduction
After reading
4 Discuss: When students have read the Introduction
(pages vvii) read out these sentences and ask the
students to correct the mistakes.
a The events in the book happen in Holland during
the First World War.
b The Frank family decide to hide in a secret house.
c They are hiding from the Germans, who are about
to invade Holland.
d Altogether, eight people spent the next three years
living in the secret home.
e Anne writes about her boyfriend and the warm
relationship she has with her mother.
f Anne wants to travel and marry when the war
ends.
g After 1943, the war news makes the Franks family
feel more hopeless.
h Anne died just after the British soldiers arrived.
Vocabulary activities
For the Word List and vocabulary activities, go to
www.penguinreaders.com.