Introduction
Our class is reading the book, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. The story takes place in 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, a ten year old and her family learn to be brave and courageous when help shelter a Jewish family from the Nazis. Although, this narrative work is fiction, it is still realistic, and historical. Much like the heroine of the story, there are other characters who also show courageousness and fortitude throughout the text. When you read the book, I want you to think of the characters, that you believe have similar character traits in common with you. Also, start to make inferences about what you think will happen next.
Task
Our class will be making seven groups will four members each. You groups will be in charge of:
1. Look at the map of Europe distributed to you and find Denmark. Then color it red.
2. Discuss with your groups how close Sweden is to Denmark.
3. Now go online and look up all of the countries that were taken over by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s, and color them red.
4. Reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.
5. As you read, begin completing the novel study to accompany each chapter.
Process
Now pick one of these choices to work on.
1. Now, each member will choose one of the main characters from the story: Mama, Annemarie, Ellen, Peter, and Uncle Henrik.
Choose a section of the story and write it from that character's point of view.
2. Think about bravery and what it means to you.
Write a short story about a character who acts bravely in a difficult situation.
Evaluation
|
4-Organization fully sustained, clear in focus |
3-Organization adequately sustained, focus generally maintained | 2-Organization somewhat sustained, may have uneven focus | 1-Organization may be maintained but have little or no focus |
| 4-Effective elaboration using details, dialogue, and description | 3- Adequate elaboration using details, dialogue, and description | 2-Unenven elaboration using partial details, dialogue, and description | 1-Minimal elaboration using few or no details, dialogue, and/or description |
| N/A |
2-adequate use of correct punctuation, capitalization, usage, grammar, and spelling |
1-limited use of correct punctuation, capitalization, usage, grammar, and spelling |
0-infrequent use of correct punctuation, capitalization, usage, grammar, and spelling |
Conclusion
I hope that through imagination and discussion, you and your group have learned how to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and ask yourself, "What would I have done if put in this position?"
The Jewish Holocaust was full of horrible events, that we should never forget. Today the book Number the Stars teaches us about friendship, courage, and tolerance.
These are all character traits that we as human beings have. I share these lessons with you and hope that you tell others about the Jewish Holocaust so that it may never happen again.