Number the Stars

 Daily Instructional Lesson Plan

Grade: 7th grade Lesson: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Date: Teacher: Ashley Laake Materials: Number the Stars book, computer, projector

Lesson Objective: To analyze the themes of bravery, sacrifice, and empathy in Number the Stars and Elie Wiesel's experience and to apply these themes to our own lives and the lives of others. AASL Standard Framework for Learners III A 2 Developing new understandings through engagement in a learning group.

Activity: Hook: Imagine waking up one day to find that your country has been taken over by a foreign power. Your friends and neighbors are disappearing, and you fear that you might be next. Your family decides that the only way to stay safe is to leave everything behind and start a dangerous journey to a new country. This is the situation that the characters in Number the Stars find themselves in. Students will watch Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Elie Weisel. https://youtu.be/Igjj870VMts Ask students to turn and talk about what they learned from the interview and how they think it connects to the themes in "Number the Stars."  Class discussion: Lead a class discussion about the interview and the themes it touches on. Ask questions such as: What did you learn from the interview? How does Elie Wiesel's story relate to the characters in "Number the Stars"? Why is it important to hear from survivors of historical events like the Holocaust? Personal connections: Ask students to think about a time in their own lives when they had to show courage or resilience in the face of a difficult situation. Have them write a short paragraph or share their story with a partner or the class. Encourage them to think about the importance of supporting each other during tough times. Tell students next time they visit the library, they will do a short research project: Assign students to research a topic related to the Holocaust, such as a specific concentration camp, a key figure from the time period, or the role of propaganda in the Nazi regime. Have them share their findings with the class.

Closing: Students can check out books for the remainder of the time.