Amazing Grace

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Grace loves to act out stories. Sometimes she plays the leading part, sometimes she is ‘a cast of thousands.’ When her school decides to perform Peter Pan, Grace is longing to play Peter, but her classmates say that Peter was a boy, and besides, he wasn’t black… But Grace’s Ma and Nana tell her she can be anything she wants if she puts her mind to it…

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

• Grace loves stories. What is your favourite story? Could you retell a story to a friend?
• Grace also makes up stories in her own head. Can you make up your own story or work within a group to make up a story?
• Think about the different ways that people tell stories (e.g. books, storytelling, films, audiobooks). What is your favourite way to enjoy a story?
• Could you act out the story of ‘Amazing Grace’?
• Grace acts out the stories that she hears. Can you act out a scene from your favourite story?
• Can you find out about the stories that Grace acts out at the start of the story? Could you retell them to an audience?
• Grace loves to act in pantomimes most of all. Have you ever been to a pantomime? Can you describe what it was like? Could you act out a scene from a pantomime?
• There are a number of other stories about Grace. Could you write a new story about her?
• Write a review of the story of Peter Pan.
• Watch / listen to different retellings of the story of Peter Pan. Which is your favourite?

Computing

• Use publishing software to make a poster promoting a play / pantomime at your school.

Design Technology

• Grace uses props to act out some of her stories. Can you choose a story and make some props that might be needed to retell it?
• Could you design a costume for a retelling of a popular story?

Art

• Look at the portrait of Grace on the cover of the book. Can you draw your own self-portrait, or a portrait of a friend?

Music

• Compose a tune that could be used in a retelling of a popular story.

Geography

• Grace and Nana visit a theatre to see the ballet. Can you find the location of theatres near to where you live? Could you plot them on a map? Can you plan a route from your home / school to the theatre? How would you travel there? How long might it take?

Physical education

• Can you watch some videos of ballet and describe, or event try to recreate, some of the movements?

PSHE

• The children in Grace’s class say that she can’t be Peter Pan, but her Ma and Nana tell her that she can be anything she wants if she puts her mind to it. What does this mean?