大象传媒

Notes and follow-up activities for each episode (3.5MB pdf)

Teachers' Notes for War Horse

Episode 1: A separation. audio

The year is 1912 and a gangly colt is sold to a Devon farmer. The colt is led back to the farm where he makes friends with the farmer鈥檚 son, 13-year-old Albert Narracott.

Episode 1: A separation

Episode 2: A cavalry horse. audio

The farm is in financial difficulty but the outbreak of war gives Mr Narracott the chance to make some money by selling Joey.

Episode 2: A cavalry horse

Episode 3: The Western Front. audio

Joey trains as a cavalry mount and makes friends with Topthorn, a black stallion. Then the two horses find themselves on a troop ship, bound for the battlefields of France.

Episode 3: The Western Front

Episode 4: Prisoners of war. audio

Joey has a new rider, the kind-hearted but heavy-handed, Trooper Warren. Joey and Topthorn ride into battle a second time and are stranded behind enemy lines with their riders.

Episode 4: Prisoners of war

Episode 5: A brief respite. audio

Joey and Topthorn are in the hands of the German army and put to work hauling an ambulance cart between the front line and a field hospital. Their one consolation is that they are stabled at a local farm and cared for by Emilie - a frail, young French girl - and her elderly grandfather.

Episode 5: A brief respite

Episode 6: Working for the Germans. audio

Joey and Topthorn endure a tough life hauling a gun carriage around the Front. The conditions take their toll on Topthorn, but he is cared for by an old soldier called Friedrich.

Episode 6: Working for the Germans

Episode 7: The loss of a friend. audio

The German camp is attacked by the British and a terrified Joey bolts away from the gunfire. Later he finds himself alone in no-man's-land, his leg injured.

Episode 7: The loss of a friend

Episode 8: The toss of a coin. audio

Soldiers from both sides wish to keep Joey. They settle his ownership with the toss of a coin in the middle of no-man's-land...and so Joey returns to the British side.

Episode 8: The toss of a coin

Episode 9: Illness and recovery. audio

Joey is reunited with Albert... but almost immediately he is struck down by a potentially fatal illness. Albert and the other soldiers will have to provide round-the-clock care.

Episode 9: Illness and recovery

Episode 10: Happily ever after. audio

The War finally comes to an end but the army decides the horses, including Joey, will be sold at auction in France. What can Albert and the other soldiers do to save him?

Episode 10: Happily ever after