Alma

Ages: 9-11
Contributor:
Sam Collins

A girl discovers a doll that looks just like her… and she is desperate to get close to it.

Watch this video with your children and then try some of our teaching and activity ideas below.

Please ensure that this video is suitable for your children before using it in your classroom.

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

Pause the video at different points and think of some captions / speech / thought bubbles for that moment.
Write a newspaper article about reports of missing children in the area.
Choose one of the dolls in the shop and write a story that explains how that child got there.
Retell the story from the point of view of Alma.
Write a sequel to the story in which Alma and some other children in the shop try to escape.
Think of words / phrases / similes to describe the setting for this story.
Think of reasons why the town is empty. Where have all the other people gone?
Write an alternative ending in which Alma is rescued.
Create a character profile for the person who owns the shop.
Imagine that you were a bystander watching what happened to Alma. How would you describe it to somebody else? Would they believe you?
Make an advert for the shop that sells incredibly life-like dolls.

Use publishing software to create a ‘missing person’ poster to encourage people to help find Alma.
Can you create a stop-motion animation that retells the story (or part of it)?
Design a website to promote this short film to others.

Can you design a doll that looks just like you?
Look at a selection of dolls. What materials are they made from? How have they been made?

Listen to the music throughout the video. How does it make you feel? What instruments can you hear?

What words would you use to describe Alma’s emotions at different points in the story?
Discuss personal safety with your children. What should Alma have done to keep herself safe?