Classroom Questions and Activities: Leora’s Letters – with thanks to Elaine Briggs

Yesterday someone ordered 10 copies of Leora’s Letters from Amazon. Another books club? They might find some of Elaine Briggs’s ideas useful! 

Not only has Elaine been an encourager and beta reader for several Leora stories, this retired teacher also came up with classroom topics and activities for Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II. Here is her list:

Have students choose a brother and complete maps of their various locations stationed during the war. Have students choose a brother and complete a timeline for him, including what training he received and where he was sent for combat.How do the letters let you know farming was very important to the war effort? What was the attitude of the brothers for serving in the war? Give examples. Explain how important letters were to both those who served and those at home. Why do you think censoring of the mail was important? Food was rationed during WW II. Why do you suppose the Wilsons didn’t mention it much? How was life during WW II complicated by having no electricity?

Elaine Briggs is also the author of Joe Dew: A Glorious Life, about her father (whose life was amazing), and also Yes! All Can!: Increase Reading Levels in Weeks, Resolve Conflicts and Build Character, Develop Leadership. Elaine enjoys writing things close to her heart, delights in family activities, and lives a on the farm near Milan, Michigan. She volunteers one-on-one tutoring with EBLI and loves that light-bulb moment when a student “gets” reading.