PowerPoint presentation for a Literature Unit Study about the Holocaust and the novel Number the Stars.

1. Exploring the Historical Theme of theExploring the Historical Theme of the
Holocaust andHolocaust and Number the StarsNumber the Stars
Literature Unit Study
Botman, M. (2012). Holocaust Survivor. [Web Photo].
Retrieved May 6, 2013 from
michaelbotman.files.wordpress.com/2
012/11/907014-holocaust-survivor.jpg
Silvey, A. (2011). Number the Stars.
[Web Photo]. Retrieved
May 6, 2013 from
childrensbookalmanac.co
m/2011/07/number-the-
stars-2/

2. Unit RationaleUnit Rationale
The purpose of this unit is for students to
appreciate both history and literature.
Although Number the Stars is fiction, the
events in which take place are not.
Therefore this unit provides students
knowledgeable and significant information
relating to both the Holocaust and the
novel. Students will be able to grasp a
clearer understanding of the historical event
through literature.

3. Student Goals and ObjectivesStudent Goals and Objectives
 Goals
Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills to compare and contrast events/information of
different texts.
Students will use communication and cooperative skills effectively to participate in small group
and in-class discussions.
Students will demonstrate comprehension of the content/subject to be able to gather
information from various sources relating to the topic.
 Objectives
Given the appropriate notes relating to the events of the Holocaust, and an in-class discussion
on the story Number the Stars, students will form a detailed Venn Diagram comparing and
contrasting the life of Jews persecuted in Copenhagen versus those living in the United States.
Given the opportunity to work in small groups, the students will each discuss and develop 3
sentences describing their personal opinions of the main characters – Annemarie and Ellen
from the novel Number the Stars.
Given the opportuni ty to gather and collect research from online sources and use notes taken
from in-class/group discussions, the students will be able to organize and construct a
PowerPoint presentation with at least 5 slides depicting the theme of Number the Stars and
the Holocaust.
Presented with a random drawing, the students will perform a skit re-enacting a scene of their
choice from the chosen chapter of Number the Stars.

4. Student ResponsibilitiesStudent Responsibilities
Students will each be given a novel from
a class set. The novel will have a number
which will be their book.
Question packets will be given for the
chapters we cover each week.
Always have Writer’s Journal and
Reading binder with pens/pencils.

5. Weekly Schedule/AssignmentsWeekly Schedule/Assignments
 Week 1:
Discussion of the Holocaust
Introduce novel
Chapters 1-4/Question Packets/Discussion
Daily notes on chapters, important characters, and different events
Story Element Cards www.internet4classrooms.com/lang_mid.htm (I will print these
out and give them to students).
 Week 2:
Chapters 5-9/Question Packets/Discussion
Daily notes on chapters, important characters, and different events
Computer Lab: Research on Jews living in Copenhagen and the United States
Compare/Contrast Venn Diagram (Students will use the Google search engine to
research information about Jews living in Copenhagen and those living in the United States during
the years of the Holocaust).
 Week 3:
Chapters 10-13/Question Packets/Discussion
Daily notes on chapters, important characters, and different events
Group Activity – Developing personal opinions on main characters
Computer Lab: K-W-L Creator http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-
interactives/creator-30846.html (Once navigated to this webpage, students will click the “Get Started”
button. Then, they will type their name and “Reading” as the topic. Click “next” at the right-hand
bottom of the screen. They will then continue to fill in the information).
Story Cube: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/cube-
creator-30850.html (Once students are at this webpage, they will click the “Get Started” button.
Students will enter their name, and click on the box that says “Story Cube” to get started).

6. Weekly Schedule/AssignmentsWeekly Schedule/Assignments
continuedcontinued Week 4:
Chapter 14-Afterword/Question Packets/Discussion
Daily notes on chapters, important characters, and different events
Chapter drawing and skit performance
 Week 5:
Introduce Instructions for PowerPoint Presentation
Computer Lab: Holocaust Museum website – Observing police telegram, Red
Cross/Auschwitz prisoner lists and take notes www.ushmm.org/education/forstudents/ (Click on
“online activities” on the left-hand side of the screen. Read and look at the maps, telegram,
and both lists – Red Cross/Auschwitz)
Gathering/Organizing research and notes for PowerPoint
Writer’s Journal Entry – If you were a Jew at a concentration camp, how would you feel?
 *Students may begin the process of the PowerPoint if they have completed their
research and their notes are organized.
 Week 6:
Computer Lab all week: Holocaust Museum website – observing and researching
different themes of the Holocaust and take notes (choose one topic to read about under
1933-1939 or 1939-1945 category) www.ushmm.org/education/forstudents/
Begin PowerPoint Presentation
 *PowerPoint Presentations due Friday of this week.
 *To navigate to the websites, students will copy and paste the websites/links provided into
their browser.

7. MaterialsMaterials
Question packets for
chapters
Notebook Paper
Construction Paper
Art Supplies
Rulers
Pens/Pencils
Writer’s Journal
Reading Binder
Number of Stars
assigned book