Media Literacy
Clip 3: First day
Activity 5: Voice-overs and inner thoughts
Discover:
  • Discuss with the class about how much of this story is seen from Lily’s point of view.
  • Ask them to observe how this is achieved and have them take particular note about the use of Lily’s voice-over rather than straight dialogue.
  • Discuss the purpose of this soundscape in the film clip, and how this enables the viewer to know what is going on inside Lily’s head.

Reflect:
  • Have students write some advice they would give to Lily if they were her friend or her conscience disagreeing or at least questioning what she is doing.
  • What should Lily be doing to help her cousin who doesn’t speak English very well?

Download:
Students Activity Sheet: ML3.5

Student Activity Sheet: ML3.5

Clip 3: First day

Activity 5: Voice-overs and inner thoughts

NAME: ………………………………………………………………………...CLASS: ………………

(1) What is the purpose of the soundscape in this film clip, and how does it enable the viewer to know what is going on inside Lily’s head.

(2) Write some advice you would give to Lily if you were her friend or her conscience disagreeing with what she is doing. What should Lily do to help her cousin who doesn’t speak English very well?

Media Literacy
ACTIVITY 6: RIVALRY
Discover:
  • As a class, watch the opening scene of Episode 3: 1988: Lily, and then have students write down three or four words to describe the sort of person Lily appears to be. Some examples might be that she is competitive, likes to be a winner, and needs to be in charge of things. Then ask students to watch the arrival of Phoung and write three or four words that best describe her character.
  • Discuss Lily's initial expectations and anticipation of the arrival of her cousin Phoung from Vietnam. Ask students to discuss why Lily is excited at the prospect of her cousin Phoung staying with her.
  • After Phoung arrives, the story changes very quickly for Lily. Encourage students to think about what occurs between the two girls and why the situation changes. How does Lily view her cousin once she arrives?
  • Have students note further evidence from the episode about Lily’s competitive nature. Students compare observations and discuss. For example, ask students to respond to the following questions:
  • What does Lily mean when she says to Phuong that she will be ‘…the best show and tell in history?”
  • What does this tell the audience about Lily?
  • As a class, discuss:
  • Why the filmmaker wanted to have this in the scene, what does it indicate, or foreshadow will happen later in the story?
  • How Lily’s feelings unfold through these events?
  • The way in which the problem of rivalry between the two girls is finally resolved, what brings them together and why does this help them solve their differences?
  • The nature of competitive relationships and rivalry, looking at other examples in literature and films and the ways in which these problems are resolved.

Reflect:
  • Ask students to write down the problems that occur between Lily and Phoung to ignite their rivalry. and write a corresponding solution for each problem the girls face. These problems and solutions
    can be shared amongst the class to help promote discussion on the topics of friendships and problem solving.
  • Ask students to write a short imaginative narrative about two competitive friends whose rivalry causes a problem in their friendship but they also find a way to resolve it happily.

Download:
Students Activity Sheet: ML 3.6

Student Activity Sheet: ML3.6

Activity 6: Rivalry

NAME: ………………………………………………………………………...CLASS: ………………

(1) Write down three or four words to describe the sort of person Lily seems to be. (For example, she is competitive, likes to be a winner, and to be in charge of things.)

(2) Respond to the following questions:

  • What does Lily mean when she says to Phuong that she will be ‘…the best show and tell in history?”
  • What does this tell the audience about Lily?
  • Why did the filmmaker want to foreshadow here?
  • How does Lily view her cousin once she arrives? Lily now has a different view of the visitor who she sees as her competitor.

(3) List all the events where Phuong is better than Lily at or at least as competent as Lily.

(4) Respond to the following questions:

  • How do Lily’s feelings unfold through these events?
  • How is the problem of rivalry between the two girls finally resolved, what brings them together and why does this help them solve their differences?

(5) Write a short imaginative narrative about two competitive friends whose rivalry causes a problem in their friendship but they find a way to resolve it happily.

Media Literacy
Activity 7: Foreshadowing
Discover:
  • Ask students to watch the episode and have them look for seemingly unrelated incidents or items that don’t appear to have much purpose in the story at the time but later become significant to the plot. For example: mice, mouse traps, Archibald the class pet, and Lily’s mother’s glasses, and her mother’s amazing sense of smell.

Reflect:
  • Have students list possible items/events of interest they observed throughout the story and have them write an explanation of their significance of each to the story.

Download:
Students Activity Sheet: ML3.7

Student Activity Sheet: ML3.7

Episode

Activity 7: Foreshadowing

NAME: ………………………………………………………………………...CLASS: ………………

View Episode 3: 1988 Lily and look for seemingly unrelated incidents or items that don’t appear to have much purpose in the story at the time but later become significant to the plot. For example: mice, mouse traps, Archibald the class pet, and Lily’s mother’s glasses, and her mother’s amazing sense of smell.

List possible items/events of interest throughout the story and write an explanation of their significance.

Unrelated incidents or objects / Significance

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