Pistes d'exploration

Create a poster called A Canadian Hero: John McCrae. Summarize what you have learned about him, highlighting meaningful but little-known facts.

List the accomplishments of the multi-talented McCrae. Create a list of your own strengths, interests and talents, then rank them as John’s sister did. Share your list with a peer. Would they agree or disagree with you? Would they add anything or change the order of your list? 

Words were important to John McCrae. In your journal, write about words and what they mean to you. How is writing a purposeful activity? What type of writing do you like?

In the past, letter writing was a common method of sharing information. List ways we communicate today (texting, email, instagram, etc.). In teams, debate the following question: Do you think the art of letter writing will one day disappear? 

John McCrae signed his poems with his “artist’s mark” (see page 18). Practise writing your name in different styles and with different pens. Compare your signature today with how you used to sign your name.

Look at the front cover of the book. Discuss what you know about Remembrance Day, poppies and World War I. Who do you think John McRae is? Read pages 1, 34 and 35 to find out.

Discuss the text features of the book (e.g. photos, documents, artifacts). How do you read a page? Which feature do you think is the most effective?

Find five interesting facts about John McCrae’s personal and professional life. Share with a partner and with the class. Discuss the qualities that made John McCrae an extraordinary man.

Memorize the poem “In Flanders Fields,” paying attention to the rhyming scheme and punctuation.

Make a collage of old photographs of family or friends, similar to those in the book (use colour photocopies instead of the originals). Describe the photos by answering the questions who, what, when, where and why.

The Road to Afghanistan, Bunny the Brave War Horse, A Poppy Is to Remember

Mots-clés

Biography , Poetry , Canadian history , In Flanders Fields , John McCrae , Remembrance Day , war , World War I

Commentaire descriptif

People around the world know “the poppy poem” but few know much about its author, John McCrae. He penned his famous poem, “In Flanders Fields,” in 20 minutes following the terrible loss of a young Canadian soldier and close friend in 1915. This powerful tribute offers a glimpse into McCrae’s life, beginning with his birth in Guelph, Ontario, his teen years, and later, his time spent in medicine and the military. His love of family, sports and animals is also highlighted. Each spread features a separate chapter in his life through easy-to-read text that renders McCrae’s life accessible to a young audience while also providing opportunities for vocabulary expansion (e.g. Armistice, Boer, muskeg). Over a hundred photos, documents, handwritten artifacts, sketches and quotes lend the feel of a scrapbook, and help to put a face on this largely unknown man. The final chapters focus on the “poem that continues to inspire us” and on the significance of the poppy, two traditions with which most readers will be familiar. A glossary, index and timeline of significant life events rounds out the offering.