Programme content:
Song: All about our school, no 16: 鈥業 am special鈥 Vox pops: children talk about people who are an inspiration to them
Story: The Lady with the Lamp by Rob John
Reflection: on the life and work of Florence Nightingale, carrying on the legacy of the inspirational people
Pre-programme questions:
- Who are your heroes? What does it mean if we call someone 鈥榓n inspiration鈥?
- Have you heard of Florence Nightingale? What do you know about her?
Story synopsis:
A young solider, Private Browning, is in the British Army during the Crimean War. He sustains injuries and is sent to Scutari to receive treatment. He is reluctant to go as he has prior experience of the terribel conditions at the hospital. However when he arrives he is amazed to find how different it is: fresh air, clean beds and the care of nurses where previously there had been rats and the smell of drains - conditions ideal for the spread of disease.
Browning speaks to another patient who tells him a lady called Florence Nightingale is responsible for the change. He describes how formidable Nightingale is - even the army officers are in awe of her.
One night, Browning sees a figure approaching him with a lamp. She comes to the side of his bed and tells him that he鈥檒l get better soon. In the morning he wonders if it was a dream, but the soldier next to him says Florence Nightingale really did visit him and that if she said he was going to get better then that is what will happen.
After the story:
- How do you think Private Browning felt when he was sent out to war?
- Talk about the emotions of the other characters within the story at different points - eg Florence Nightingale, her nurses, the other soldiers, etc.
- How did Florence make a difference to the hospital where she worked and the people who came into it?
- How do you think Private Browning felt when he saw that Florence was ill?
Follow-up activities:
Visit the Florence Nightingale Museum website. You can find images of the medicine chest that Florence took with her to the Crimea as well as many other artefacts from her life and times. Ask children to describe how things have changed from Florence Nightingale鈥檚 time. You could make 鈥楾hen and Now鈥 charts or posters using the images you find in the museum, or other things connected with the story - eg hospitals then and now.
Find out more about the different occupations of people who look after us - eg dentists, opticians, chiropodists, etc. If you have any parents connected with one of these jobs, invite them in to answer questions about their job. Children could prepare questions to ask them.
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KS2. The Great Fire of London. audio
Change can be good - hear how the Great Fire of London lead to a change for the better.
KS2. Thomas Barnardo. audio
Gemma hears about Thomas Barnardo, the founder of children's charity Barnardo's.
KS2. Sukkot. audio
Gemma hears about the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
