Introduction
The novel we will be reading tells the story of a 15-year old Jewish boy, about your age, who experiences the horrors of the Holocaust. In order to better understand his story and life, it is important that you have historical knowledge about the Holocaust. Holocaust literature is heartbreaking, yet powerful. Those who suffered were people just like me and you. We must remember their names and stories.
Content: English Language Arts
Grade level: 9-10
Standards: MDCCR 9-10 Reading Informational Texts
Task
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Get into a group of 3
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Assign your roles:
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Researcher -- has control of the laptop/links/volume/webpages, also shares the final presentation
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Notetaker -- keeps the group on track with the provided notesheet, provides talking points for presentation
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Sympathizer -- reads the survivor's story outloud to small group, puts yourself in the survivor's shoes
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Researcher logs in to Google Classroom
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Follow the 3 steps found under "process"
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While working through the links, complete the guided note sheet
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Prepare a short (2 minutes) presentation to share with the class about your survivor
Process
Step #1 Introduction to the Holocaust -- use the link to complete step 1 questions of the note sheet
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/introduction-to-the-holocaust
Step #2 What is Antisemitism? -- use the link to find a definition and watch the 7 minute-video to complete step 2 questions of the note sheet. We must remember that this content can be difficult, and we should participate in the activity with respect and sensitivity.
https://www.ushmm.org/antisemitism/what-is-antisemitism/antisemitism-today
Step #3 Behind Every Name a Story -- use the link to browse survivors' stories. Select one, read it, and follow the step 3 directions of the note sheet
https://www.ushmm.org/remember/holocaust-reflections-testimonies/behind-every-name-a-story
Evaluation
Your group will be graded for accuracy on steps 1 and 2 of the guided note sheet. You will also be scored for your brief presentation of a survivor.
| Participation |
0 no effort |
1 minimal effort |
2 effort |
3 great effort |
| Mention of Holocaust facts |
0 no facts |
1 1 fact |
2 2 facts |
3 3 facts |
| Description of survivor's tone and purpose |
0 group didn't dig deep to identify author's tone/purpose |
1 group briefly mentions author's tone |
2 group mentions author's tone and purpose |
3 group goes into great detail of author's tone and purpose |
| Overview of survivor's life |
0 no mention of personal/family life |
1 mentions where they lived |
2 briefly mentions where they lived/family members |
3 describes in great detail personal and family information |
| Sympathetic/tolerance points |
0 group doesn't mention putting themselves in survivor's shoes |
1 group mentions hardships |
2 group describes hardships and puts themselves in survivor's shoes |
3 group describes hardships of survivor/family members, puts themselves in survivor's shoes, reads letter to survivor |
Conclusion
In conclusion, you and your group members should have a better understanding of the Holocaust -- who suffered, why they were suffering, how they coped, and how hope prevailed (or sometimes did not).
A powerful quote from Elie Wiesel, author of Night, is "Never shall I forget."
This quote, to me, shows that not only will those survivors never forget, but that we as readers should never forget either. We do not want history to repeat itself.
Use this knowledge and refer back to it as we read the novel and dig deeper into these hardships described.
Credits
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum