MYSTERY GUEST / WHO’S IN THE BOX? / PRIVATE PROPERY
Introduction
A box containing items (real or photographs) belonging to an unknown person is on show.
The pupils have to work out as much as they can about the person whose belongings are in the box by using these belongings as clues.
Starting point
What sort of questions would the pupils ask about the person whose belongings are in the box. ?
Who, What, Where, When, Why and How could be used as starting points.
The Mystery Guest
In this case the mystery guest is Jerzy Bronowski a Polish dentist in his early 30s who has moved from Krakow to Liverpool to work. His wife and young family are still in Poland.
Suggestions for items in the box.
- Map of Poland
- Photograph of young woman and two children
- Photograph of a Polish football team / Jerzy Dudek
- A – Z of Merseyside
- Print off from internet, easyJet fares for one adult, Liverpool to Krakow return over Christmas
- Utility bill or envelope in character’s name with address in Liverpool
- Rosary beads / picture of Pope John Paul II
- Empty bottle of Lech beer
- Receipt from Polish deli in Kensington
- Latex ‘surgical’ glove
- Mirror for examining teeth
- Face mask
- Photograph of a car with a Polish licence plate
- Football socks or shorts (red)
- Polish flag lapel badge
- A few lengths of fuse wire
Take out one object at a time and prompt individuals or pairs to respond, e.g. What does this make us think about? Who might own this? Why?
Encourage pupils to build on/challenge/respond to each other’s responses.
Ask a teaching assistant or pupil to scribe the pupils’ responses on a flipchart or type into interactive whiteboard software.
When all objects have been seen and discussed pupils try to produce a brief pen portrait of the mystery guest.