This website has been created by children’s non-fiction author John Malam, who discovered the Horsnell brothers’ First World War letters.
John is a popular visitor to UK and international schools, offering a wide range of non-fiction writing workshops, talks and readings. He is experienced at working with all ages and all abilities, is a National Literacy Trust ‘Reading Champion', and a Patron of Reading.
John offers several First World War sessions, where he is in role as Corporal Frederick Horsnell, Military Medal, wearing a replica of Cpl Horsnell’s uniform (see photo, right).
In brief, the sessions are:
- EYFS / Reception – A short informal talk about the uniform worn by a First World War soldier, followed by a colouring activity;
- KS1 (Y1 / Y2) – Reading extracts from Cpl Horsnell's letters, followed by a chronological biography recount activity;
- KS2 (Y3 / Y4 / Y5 / Y6) – Reading extracts from Cpl Horsnell's letters, followed by a letter writing activity in the style of his letters;
- KS3 (and beyond) – could be a mixture of readings from Cpl Horsnell's letters, analysis of their content and style, research activity based on John's new First World War book, caption writing for First World War images, etc.
For full information about John's First World War sessions (and others), bookings diary and costs, please click the following links to go to the relevant pages of his personal website:
- To email John, click here
Let the First World War come to life for your children through the words and personal story of Corporal Frederick Horsnell, Military Medal – an eyewitness to history.