Planning Day
Planning for research and development is exciting as there isn’t one definite direction or question. We have a chance to explore and play with ideas as the children might do in order to plan something to inspire them and ignite their curiosity about the Birbal stories.
We were inspired by games, questions, music and a cheeky puppet.
Here are some thoughts and questions and an example of a game we played;
What kind of person is Birbal?
- Witty, fool, prankster, commedia, briar rabbit, merlin
- Sure of himsel
- Has confidence in his ability to change things for the good
- A father
Does Birbal ever get frustrated with the relationship between him and Akbar?
- He doesn’t have anything to lose
- Everyone listens to him
- Perhaps gets frustrated with the other courtiers
Why does Birbal stay with Akbar?
- In some ways he is in control;
- wit
- intelligence
- Akbar is illiterate so Birbal is needed
Is Akbar a good King?
- He seeks council
What does Birbal get out of it?
- Money
- Celebrity
- Power
- Control
WHAT WE KNOW
- Based on real characters
- Akbar:
- Mogal/Mughal King (a member of the Muslim dynasty that ruled until 1857)
- 14 years older than Birbal
- Illiterate
- Brotherly relationship with Birbal
- No one else would challenge the king except Birbal
Birbal:
- Hindu
- Wise? (or just listened to?)
- People go to him
- Celebrity/well known
- Prankster- helps people to see their error of their ways through humour
- Jealous courtiers
- Akbars favourite
- Had a son, daughter and wife
- From a poor background
