Ravensthorpe Junior School – Creative Writing Workshops

I had a wonderful time working with Year 5 pupils at Ravensthorpe Junior School, spending a full day each with Class 5M and 5W. The pupils were very interested in the postcards from the collection and enjoyed trying to read the old-fashioned writing. We discussed any phrases and expressions that were unfamiliar to them, such as ‘grub’ and ‘chum’. After sharing some background information about life in the trenches, we discussed the vital role of the postal service during wartime. We also talked about censorship and the types of things that would not have got past the censor. The pupils then took on the role of either a soldier or nurse and wrote a postcard home to a loved one. They were given a great deal of information during the day and they coped brilliantly, taking on board everything they had learnt to produce wonderful postcards that would not have been out of place 100 years ago!