Go, Annie, Go! Level 21-22

Go, Annie, Go! tells the moving story of Annie, a student who has long been teased by her classmates for being different. When Annie surprises everyone by entering the 1500-metre race, initial ridicule quickly turns to admiration as she bravely competes. Told through a first-person narrative, this emotionally powerful tale explores themes of acceptance, perseverance, and the importance of standing up for others. The familiar school setting and authentic dialogue, including colloquial expressions like œway to go and œGo, Annie, Go!, allow readers to connect with the characters and reflect on real-life situations. This text encourages critical thinking through its exploration of difference and inclusion, while direct speech and hyphenated terms such as œafter-school and œone-mile offer valuable opportunities for language analysis. The narrator's change of heart highlights empathy and the impact of small actions, making it an ideal tool for developing social-emotional learning in the classroom.

Educational Benefits:

• Develops inference skills and explores cause and effect.
• Encourages empathy and discussion of inclusion and diversity.
• Strengthens understanding of narrator versus author.
• Promotes analysis of colloquial and hyphenated language.

Classroom Ideas:

• Hold a class discussion on fairness and empathy in sports.
• Write a journal entry from Annie's perspective after the race.
• Compare with real-world stories of perseverance and overcoming obstacles.
• Role-play scenes to explore different points of view.

Safety & Information:

• Suitable for ages: 7-9
• Size: 150mm x 210mm
• Safety: Contains no small parts; printed with non-toxic ink; suitable for school and home environments.