A powerful and sensitive lesson that helps students understand Shmuel’s life through the personal stories he shares with Bruno. Learners identify how the text presents dehumanisation, analyse the figurative language used to describe the camp, and compare the starkly different daily lives of Bruno and Shmuel. Short, structured tasks and guided discussion support students in exploring these themes with empathy and analytical depth.

Learning Objectives

• Understand Shmuel’s life through his personal stories and experiences
• Identify dehumanisation as shown in the text
• Analyse figurative language used to describe the camp
• Compare daily lives of Bruno and Shmuel

What’s Included

• Opportunities for peer talk to support sensitive, collaborative discussion
• Worksheet included for structured analysis and comparison
• Chance for discussion to explore themes with care and depth
• Short in‑lesson tasks to maintain pace and scaffold understanding

Why Teachers Love It
This lesson supports students in navigating challenging themes with clarity and compassion. It blends close textual analysis with emotional literacy, helping learners understand the human impact behind the narrative while providing accessible scaffolding for all abilities.

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.