Anchor Text and Audience:
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, tells the story of two friends growing up in Nazi occupied Denmark, during World War II. Annemarie and her friend Ellen are afraid of the Germans. Ellen and her family are Jewish, and in danger. Annemarie's family eventually helps them to safety. During this time Nazi soldiers search for Ellen and her family several times. Annemarie even puts herself directly in danger to help her friends flee. This text shows the courage than even a ten-year-old is able to show.
This text, and the accompanying text set, is intended to be used to teach a unit about courage in hard times to sixth graders. While sixth graders are older than the girls in Number the Stars, they will be better prepared to understand the context of the story.
Purpose:
As the sixth graders read this text, the will begin to answer the essential question "How can we show courage in times of hardship and danger?"
Lowry, L. (2011). Number the stars. Boston: HMH Books for Young Readers.
Note: The original text was published in 1989.
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, tells the story of two friends growing up in Nazi occupied Denmark, during World War II. Annemarie and her friend Ellen are afraid of the Germans. Ellen and her family are Jewish, and in danger. Annemarie's family eventually helps them to safety. During this time Nazi soldiers search for Ellen and her family several times. Annemarie even puts herself directly in danger to help her friends flee. This text shows the courage than even a ten-year-old is able to show.
This text, and the accompanying text set, is intended to be used to teach a unit about courage in hard times to sixth graders. While sixth graders are older than the girls in Number the Stars, they will be better prepared to understand the context of the story.
Purpose:
As the sixth graders read this text, the will begin to answer the essential question "How can we show courage in times of hardship and danger?"
Lowry, L. (2011). Number the stars. Boston: HMH Books for Young Readers.
Note: The original text was published in 1989.
Text Set:
The Diary of Anne Frank - Play/Readers Theater
Anne Frank kept a diary while she and her family were hiding from the Nazis in Poland during WWII. This text will show how teenagers, close to the age of the 6th graders, had to be brave when their lives were in danger.
Goodrich, F. & Hachett, A. (1995). The play the diary of Anne Frank. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Heinemann.
Anne Frank kept a diary while she and her family were hiding from the Nazis in Poland during WWII. This text will show how teenagers, close to the age of the 6th graders, had to be brave when their lives were in danger.
Goodrich, F. & Hachett, A. (1995). The play the diary of Anne Frank. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Heinemann.
“Strength and Courage” - Poem
This text describes different things that require strength and courage. The text is intended to broaden student thinking about the essential question.
Kelly, S. “Strength and Courage.” Retrieved from https://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/12470.html
“Strength and Courage” - Poem
This text describes different things that require strength and courage. The text is intended to broaden student thinking about the essential question.
Kelly, S. “Strength and Courage.” Retrieved from https://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/12470.html
Oskar Schindler - Informational Article
During the Holocaust, Oskar Schindler risked his life to help people escape from the concentration camp he was in charge of. This text will demonstrate how a man showed courage, by saving the lives of others, even though it endangered his own life.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Oskar Schindler.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005787
Clip from Freedom Writers with Miep Gies, the lady who hid Anne Frank
The movie Freedom Writers, is based on a true story. A group of students learn to have courage in a town their their different races are separated by harsh gang wars. After they learn to set aside their differences, they invite Miep Gies to come speak to them. This clip, with some background information, is meant to inspire the students. They can have courage and be heroes in any situation.
DeVito, D. (Producer), Schambert, M. (Producer), Sher, S. (Producer), & LaGravenese, R. (Director). (2007). Freedom writers [Motion Picture]. United States: Paramount. Retrieved from http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/freedom-writers/you-are-heroes
The movie Freedom Writers, is based on a true story. A group of students learn to have courage in a town their their different races are separated by harsh gang wars. After they learn to set aside their differences, they invite Miep Gies to come speak to them. This clip, with some background information, is meant to inspire the students. They can have courage and be heroes in any situation.
DeVito, D. (Producer), Schambert, M. (Producer), Sher, S. (Producer), & LaGravenese, R. (Director). (2007). Freedom writers [Motion Picture]. United States: Paramount. Retrieved from http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/freedom-writers/you-are-heroes
The Importance of Courage - Informational Article
This article explains why it is important to have courage, and how courage is different for every individual. The intention is for students to realize that they can have courage even if they feel like other people show more courage.
Keating, K. (2014, November 7). The importance of courage. Tuffpost. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-keating/the-importance-of-courage_b_6121254.html
What Does Everyday Courage Look Like? - TED Radio Hour
Margaret Heffernan explains what it looks like when ordinary people show courage. This radio clip is meant to help the students understand what courage looks like.
Raz, G. & Heffernan, M. What does everyday courage look like? [Audio file]. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=368759610
Margaret Heffernan explains what it looks like when ordinary people show courage. This radio clip is meant to help the students understand what courage looks like.
Raz, G. & Heffernan, M. What does everyday courage look like? [Audio file]. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=368759610