Parvana

 

By Deborah Ellis

 

 

Context

 

Let's have a look at Afghanistan on a world map. Has anyone travelled to any countries near to there?

 

 

Think/puzzle/explore

What do you think you know about this country?

What questions do you have about this country?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before we conduct research on Afghanistan, I want you to complete this sentence in reference to Afghanistan:

 

'I used to think...'

 

Write down anything that you currently think about Afghanistan.

 

 

 

 

At the end of our novel study, I will ask you to complete the following sentence:

 

'But now, I think...'

 

That way, we can measure your learning :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Task-

Afghanistan

 

In pairs, conduct thorough research to find out about the following aspects of Afghanistan:

 

1. Geographical features (Climate (hot, cold, snow etc), terrain (mountainous, flat land, fertile soil, desert, etc.)

2. Religion

3. History

4. Social organisation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things we need to know before we can completely understand the text:

 

1. Afghanistan is a country that has been wracked by war at several periods throughout its long history and

continually since 1978 when the Soviets invaded from the north. There are various mentions of these wars throughout the book.

 

Glue the hand-out of dates into your book.

 

 

 

2. The Taliban- it is essential to know about the Taliban in order to understand this text.

 

Does anyone know about the Taliban? Or would you like to take a guess?

 

 

 

 

 

The Taliban emerged in the early 1990s in northern Pakistan following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

The Taliban's promise - in Pashtun areas straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan - was to restore peace and security and enforce their own austere version of Sharia, or Islamic law, once in power.

 

What is Islamic law?

The code of law derived from the Koran and from the teachings and example of Mohammed

 

What does it mean?

In both countries they introduced or supported Islamic punishments - such as public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers and amputations of those found guilty of theft.

Men were required to grow beards and women had to wear the all-covering burka.

The Taliban banned television, music and cinema and disapproved of girls aged 10 and over from going to school.

 

 

How would you feel if you lived world like this?