A Writing Root for Malala: My story of standing up for girls' rights

Overview and Outcomes:

This is a 15-session Literary Leaf for Malala: My story of standing up for girls' rights which covers all aspects of the Upper Key Stage 2 content domains.  Children will learn about Malala's family history in Pakistan and use inference and comparison to understand her beliefs and motivations, as well the emotions she and members of her family experienced as the story unfolds.  There will be opportunities to explore the meaning of new words in context and children will compare aspects of Malala's life and the history of her country as the story progresses. Finally, children will examine the legacy of Malala's story as a whole and the messages they will take with them after reading. 

Synopsis of Text:

The extraordinary true story of a young girl's courage in the face of violence and extremism, and an incredible testament to what can be achieved when we stand up for what we believe in. 

This illustrated adaptation of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai's bestselling memoir, I Am Malala, introduces young readers to the remarkable story of a teenage girl who risked her life for the right to go to school. 

Raised in a changing Pakistan by an enlightened father from a poor background and a beautiful, illiterate mother, Malala was taught to stand up for her beliefs. When terrorists took control of her region and declared that girls were forbidden from going to school, Malala refused to sacrifice her education. And on 9 October 2012, she nearly paid the ultimate price for her courage when she was shot on her way home from school. 

The book follows Malala's incredible journey to recovery in the aftermath of the attack, from the life-saving surgery she received in a Birmingham hospital to her reunion with her family and their eventual relocation to England. Today Malala is a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest ever person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Her story of bravery and determination in the face of extremism is more timely now than ever.

Links to Curriculum areas, other Literary Leaves and Planning Sequences:

Protest, activism, girls' rights, education, peace