When We Were Alone: questions to ask and activities to try
A girl asks her grandmother why she wears bright colours and long braids, and hears how she held on to them at residential school. A gentle, award-winning book about identity and resilience.
What age is When We Were Alone for?
When We Were Alone is best for ages 5–8.
When We Were Alone (David A. Robertson and Julie Flett)
- Age
- 5-8
- Best for
- Family history, identity, and quiet strength
Only 50pWhen We Were Alone activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Read it slowly and let your child lead with questions. Talk about the grandmother’s quiet strength and why the things she loves matter so much to her.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 5–8 (Year 1 to Year 3)
- What they'll enjoy
- A girl asks her grandmother why she wears bright colours and long braids, and hears how she held on to them at residential school. A gentle, award-winning book about identity and resilience.
- Helps with
- Family history, identity, and quiet strength
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Family history
- Identity and culture
- Quiet strength
- Talking about hard history gently
Comprehension and discussion questions for When We Were Alone
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did the girl notice about her grandmother?”
- “Why couldn’t the children wear bright colours at school?”
- “What did they do when they were alone?”
- “How do you think the grandmother feels now?”
- “What makes you feel like you?”
- “What would you like to ask a grandparent about their childhood?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for When We Were Alone
All 6 questions for When We Were Alone on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Things that make me, me
Draw yourself surrounded by the colours, foods and words that make you feel like you.
Grandparent questions
Write three questions to ask a grandparent or older relative about when they were young.
When We Were Alone activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to When We Were Alone, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about family history.
A 20-minute session for ages 5–8 (Year 1 to Year 3), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Read it slowly and let your child lead with questions. Talk about the grandmother’s quiet strength and why the things she loves matter so much to her.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What did the girl notice about her grandmother?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Things that make me, me. Draw yourself surrounded by the colours, foods and words that make you feel like you. Children who finish early can try Grandparent questions.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The When We Were Alone activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
More illustrated by Julie Flett: My Heart Fills with Happiness.
If your child liked this, try
The Glass Heart (Sally Gardner)
- Best for
- An enchanting fairy tale about fragile hearts
- Age
- 5-8
The Huge Bag of Worries (Virginia Ironside)
- Best for
- Talking about worries
- Age
- 5-8
Smile Out Loud (Joseph Coelho and Daniel Gray-Barnett)
- Best for
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- Age
- 5-8
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.