This document provides an overview of a webquest activity for students to learn about the novel Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. The webquest guides students through various sections to learn about key vocabulary, locations in the book, the Holocaust and World War II context, and related topics. Students are instructed to take notes in a Number the Stars notebook as they complete each section of the webquest.

1. Number the Stars By Lois Lowry WebQuest by Sunny Thornton Click to Enter

2. Overview Congratulations! You have been selected as a very smart sixth grader to work on a mission so important that when you complete it, you will be an EXPERT on Lois Lowry’s novel, Number the Stars. In this mission, you will be asked to follow a series of web links and complete a series of projects. You are going to explore vocabulary used in the novel, the various places in Europe where the book takes place, information on the Holocaust and World War II, and even the Star of David and what it means to Judaism. Are you prepared to begin? Yes! Sign me up! No, thanks.

5. You thought you would be funny, didn’t you? I’m ready and excited!!

6. Information Page In your NTS Notebook, make your first page an information page that includes the following information about Number the Stars : Title: Author: Publisher: Published Date: Number of Pages: Number of Chapters: Awards:

7. Key Vocabulary -Click on each link to view the vocabulary from each chapter group. Chapters 1-4 Chapters 5-8 Chapters 9-12 Chapters 13-16

8. Chapters 1-4 Vocabulary Nazi – Member of the German Party Kroner – Money used in Denmark and Sweden Halte – Stop Occupation – Taking control of an area Rabbi – Jewish religious leader Rationed – Controlled amount one can use To Key Vocabulary Write these vocabulary words and definitions in your NTS Notebook.

9. Chapters 5-8 Vocabulary Star of David – Symbol of Judaism Exasperation – Frustrated annoyance Specter – A haunting or disturbing image; a phantom Tentatively – Not for certain or permanent To Key Vocabulary Write these vocabulary words and definitions in your NTS Notebook.

10. Chapters 9-12 Vocabulary Mourning – A feeling of grief or sadness Typhus – A severe infectious disease Surge – Flood or spill over Staccato – Hesitating To Key Vocabulary Write these vocabulary words and definitions in your NTS Notebook.

11. Chapters 13-16 Vocabulary Stricken – Troubled with sorrow Donned – To dress oneself Contempt – The state of despising Tantalize – To tease or torment by keeping out of reach To Key Vocabulary Write these vocabulary words and definitions in your NTS Notebook.

12. Map Skills It is important to know where Number the Stars takes place so that when you read you will have some background knowledge on the setting of the story. Explore the map and search for the following: the Baltic Sea, Belgium, Copenhagen, Denmark, France, Holland, the North Sea, Norway, and Sweden. Click to view the map. Once you have finished exploring the map, continue on to the next page.

13. Country Exploration Click on each link to learn about the countries in which Number the Stars took place: Denmark Sweden Germany In your NTS Notebook, make a page for each country and include: -Name of country -Picture of the flag -Type of government -Languages spoken -At least two things you found interesting

14. The Holocaust and WWII Click on the link below to learn more about the Holocaust and why Ellen had to pretend to be Annemarie’s sister. The Holocaust, Hitler, and World War II In your NTS Notebook, write the questions and answers to the following questions: 1. In what year did Adolf Hitler’s ride to power begin? 2. In what year did Hitler gain complete control of Germany under the Nazi Party? 3. What were Jews ordered to wear? 4. Where were Jews forced to live? 5. How many Jews were killed by the end of the war?

15. The Star of David The Star of David had to be worn by all Jews. Find out what it means and more about it by clicking here: Click on the star In your NTS Notebook, draw a picture of the Star of David and write about it. What is it? Why were the Jews forced to wear it?

16. Compare the Rosens to the Johansens Rosens Johansens Copy this Venn Diagram into your NTS Notebook and complete it.

17. Freedom Click on the books below to explore the definition of freedom: 1. Freedom 2. Freedom In your NTS Notebook: -Write your own definition of freedom. What does it mean to you? -Write down 5 freedoms that you now enjoy. -Write a paragraph about how you would feel if those freedoms were suddenly taken away from you.

18. Number the Stars Notebook -In your notebook, you will be asked to record various information from the WebQuest and from class discussions. -At the end of your WebQuest, you will turn in your notebook to be graded. CATEGORY Unsatisfactory 1 Satisfactory 2 Excellent 3 Information Page 0-4 filled out correctly in notebook 5-6 filled out coreectly in notebook 7 filled out correctly in notebook Chapters 1-4 Vocabulary No vocabulary written Some vocabulary written All vocabulary written Chapters 5-8 Vocabulary No vocabulary written Some vocabulary written All vocabulary written Chapters 9-12 Vocabulary No vocabulary written Some vocabulary written All vocabulary written Chapters 13-16 Vocabulary No vocabulary written Some vocabulary written All vocabulary written Denmark Not all of the information requested is provided Some information requested is provided or all information requested is required with mistakes All information requested is provided with no mistakes Sweden Not all of the information requested is provided Some information requested is provided or all information requested is required with mistakes All information requested is provided with no mistakes Germany Not all of the information requested is provided Some information requested is provided or all information requested is required with mistakes All information requested is provided with no mistakes Holocaust and WWII Questions 0-2 questions answered correctly 3-4 questions answered correctly 5 questions answered correctly Star of David No picture or little to no paragraph A picture is provided along with a 2-3 sentence paragraph of correct information A picture is provided along with a 5 or more sentence solid paragraph of correct information Venn Diagram Not filled out/ not filled out correclty Few statements compared and contrasted Well organized and well thought out statements compared and contrasted Freedom Little to no self-made definition of freedom, 1-2 freedoms enjoyed, little to no paragraph about freedoms being taken away A self-made definition of freedom, 3-5 freedoms enjoyed, a 2-3 sentence pararaph about freedoms being taken away A correct, self-made definition of freedom, 5 freedoms enjoyed, a solid 4-5 or more sentence paragraph about freedoms being taken away

19. References Craney (2007). Mr. Craney’s Home Page. Retrieved October 1, 2007. Web site: http://teachers.plainfield.k12.in.us/jcraney/default.htm Cornish, J.(2003). Elementary Themes. Retrieved October 2, 2007. Web site: http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/number_the_stars.htm Pearson Education (2007). Fact Monster. Retrieved October 1, 2007. Web site: http://www.factmonster.com/ United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved October 3, 2007. Web site: http://www.ushmm.org/ Yellow Badge. Retrieved October 2, 2007. Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_badge Additional Children’s Books about the Holocaust

20. Additional Resources for Teachers - Number the Stars Lesson Plans - Teaching Guide to the Holocaust - Teaching About the Holocaust