Look at the things given below and sort them into 'needs' and 'wants'. Which of these are necessary? Which of these are nice to have but not essential?

Write True or False against each statement based on your reading of the story.

1. The children's father is at the war.
2. The children did not receive any Christmas presents.
3. The family had milk and bread for breakfast on Christmas day.
4. The children were surprised by what Mr Laurence did.

"I know they will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you, will do their duty faithfully, that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women."

1. Who says these lines?
2. What could be the 'duties' that the children are supposed to be doing?
3. Who is being referred to as 'little women'? What does the last line tell us about the speaker?

"There is nothing to eat; and the oldest boy came to tell me they were suffering hunger and cold. My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?"

1. Who says these lines? What does it tell us about them?
2. What is the girls' answer to this question?

The girls agree to give their Christmas breakfast to the Hummels, even though they were sighing about being poor earlier in the story.. Can you see them making this decision? Write about it.