8th+Grade+Reading-Collection+4-5



The Human Spirit

We will be focusing primarily on literature and film that is set during the Holocaust. This time period will be studied in Social Studies class as well. The unit will culminate with a project that includes a performance of the play, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, in which you will be given an opportunity to act, create set and costumes, and/or complete additional research on this time period. We will be using the film, “Life is Beautiful”, to build background knowledge on the Holocaust and analyze the literary element of theme. Essential Questions of This Unit What is theme? How is theme related to other story elements? What are some examples of universal themes that occur in literature? How does a story’s title, characters, scenes, and resolution help the reader determine the theme? Where can we find recurring themes in our lives? What strategies can readers use to state theme and summarize? What resources can help a reader understand the historical background of a play? What are the similarities and differences between texts that express a universal theme? What evidence exists in a text to support theme statements? How can we represent theme in a variety of ways? How is reading a play difference from other types of text? What are the elements of putting on a stage production? What is fallacious reasoning? How can a reader recognize it? What can a reader do to preview a story? Who is the narrator of the story? How do readers identify narrator? What is irony? How does a reader recognize irony? What are context clues? What connotations do certain words have? What is allusion? How do readers determine the most important ideas in a text? How do readers characterize?

Timeline: > || 1/24-1/28 || MAP testing, “The People Could Fly”, “Life Is Beautiful” || > || 1/31-2/4 || “Life is Beautiful” Theme Analysis Essay (LA), “Anne” play Act I || > || 2/7-2/11 || “Anne” play Act I, Act II || > || 2/14-2/18 (WWII in SS) || “The Diary of a Young Girl”, “A Tragedy Revealed” || > || 2/21-2/25 || “Camp Harmony”, “In Response” || > || 2/28-3/4 || Play || > || 3/7-3/11 || Play and artifacts || > || 3/14-3/17 (End of Q3) || Performance and museum ||
 * || 1/20-1/21 (Short week) || Pre-assessments, Holocaust K-W-L and BK video ||

 Resources Theme [|Analyzing Theme Questions]

Holocaust [|United States Holocaust Museum]

[|Overview of the Events of the Holocaust]

[|Virtual Tour of a Concentration Camp]

[|Holocaust Resources] Holocaust Education Resource Council Annual Art and Essay Contest "Why We Must Never Forget" Video (A very emotional visit to a concentration camp)

"Life Is Beautiful" [|"Life Is Beautiful" Topics] Be careful--this site calls the topics "themes", but for the purpose of our study, theme is given as a statement about life. The theme of the film can be analyzed by looking at the topics presented here. This is also a good summary of some of the key events in the plot.

[|"Life Is Beautiful" Plot Summary Video] This is a brief overview of key scenes of the film. Remember, "the big moments" can often help us determine what revelations about life exist in a story.

[|"Life Is Beautiful" Interpreter Scene Video] Viewing this key scene may give you an idea of one theme of this story. Think about Guido's motivation for telling Joshua his own version of what life at the concentration camp was like. Thinking about what this reveals about his character can also help you develop a theme.

Anne Frank Resources [|Anne Frank Museum]

[|Anne Frank's Secret Annex Online]

[|Online Textbook Resources]



[|Anne Frank Study Guide]


 * Anne Frank Tic Tac Toe Projects **

Anne Frank Play Project

Congratulations to the following students who will be actors in our play on March 18th:


 * Anne || Carolyn ||
 * Margot || Lagretta ||
 * Mr. Frank || Omar ||
 * Mrs. Frank || Brianna T ||
 * Peter || Eric ||
 * Mr. Van Daan || Tim ||
 * Mrs. Van Daan || Kurtisha ||
 * Mr. Dussel || Theo ||
 * Miep || Kaylah ||
 * Mr. Kraler || ElijahWon ||

All students will contribute to the play project in some way. Take a look at the descriptions here:

Set & Costumes:

Research Group #1:

Research Group #2:

__Research Group #2 Resources__ --Painters · Thomas Hart Benton · Felix Nussbaum · Josef Nassy · David Olère · Aldo Carpi · Fernnd Van Horen

--Movies Holocaust Movies

Research Group #3:

Holocaust Unit Digital Story

[[file:Creating Your Digital Story.pdf]]
Pictures for project are located on Kidshared! --Access through the following path: Kidshared-Belanger-Holocaust Unit-Pictures