Jordan has shown a great interest in having his Great grandmothers autobiography read to him. His great grandma was born in India in 1932 and her dad worked as a Commissioner for Excise under the British governmment. She talks about her experience as a child during World war 2 - going into bunkers, having to darken their homes etc. She lived in a home with ayahs, peons or government orderlies, chokra, marlee, and the Dohbi and talks about many experiences in her home. Everything was done correctly - table set with silver ware and many sets of cutlery - even a finger bowl. Great Grandma was sent away to boarding school - Bishop Cottons in 1942-1946. She talked about the different modes of transport - the old steam trains, sailing ships to get to England, a Tonga - Government cart, a landau or carriage. She talked about recieving mail while at borading school. Description of the furniture, the formal adults dining area. She talked about them leaving for Australia during the War of independence in India. As a child she was often dressed the same as Shirley Temple and the then princess Elizabeth and Margaret. autobiography will continue to be read as she talks about her life in Australia from 1947 - 2021. Jordan was able to see some of the silver ware first hand and it has been handed down to his grand ma. Jordan also saw many photos and dicovered how the cameras were quite different then - not coloured photos, very formal photos and many with people not smiling. From the photos he could also see the different dress styles and the types of houses. He also looked at the family tree and was able to see his family tree going back to 1851.

Art

• Jordan learned about different dress styles and types of houses from the old photos he saw.
• By examining the family tree, Jordan gained an understanding of his family's history and lineage.
• Jordan discovered the formal and proper table setting with silverware, which can inspire him to create his own artistic table setting.
• From the autobiography, Jordan got a glimpse into the different modes of transport during that time, which can inspire him to create artwork depicting vintage transportation.

English Language Arts

• Reading his great grandmother's autobiography, Jordan improved his reading comprehension skills and learned about different types of writing styles.
• Through the autobiography, Jordan was exposed to different historical events and learned how to analyze and interpret firsthand accounts.
• Jordan explored the use of descriptive language and vivid storytelling techniques used in the autobiography.
• By examining old photos, Jordan practiced his visual literacy skills and learned how to infer information from images.

History

• Jordan gained knowledge about World War 2 and its impact on individuals and families.
• Through his great grandmother's experiences, Jordan learned about life in India during the British rule and the War of Independence.
• Jordan discovered historical information about transportation methods, such as steam trains and sailing ships.
• By examining the family tree, Jordan learned about his ancestors and their place in history.

Social Studies

• Jordan learned about different social classes and occupations in India during the time his great grandmother lived.
• Through the autobiography, Jordan gained insights into the social and cultural norms of the time, such as formal dining etiquette and dress styles.
• Jordan developed an understanding of the global events and their impact on India, such as the War of Independence and the migration to Australia.
• By exploring his family tree, Jordan learned about his own cultural heritage and how it connects to broader historical and social contexts.

Continued development related to this activity can include creating a family tree project where Jordan researches and adds more details about his ancestors. He can also write his own short story or autobiography inspired by his great grandmother's experiences. Additionally, Jordan can explore different art mediums to create visual representations of the historical events and settings described in the autobiography.

Book Recommendations

• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: A powerful autobiography that provides insight into the life of a young girl during World War II.
• In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez: This historical novel follows the lives of four sisters in the Dominican Republic during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.
• Refugee by Alan Gratz: A compelling story that weaves together the lives of three young refugees from different time periods and regions.