Night-Summer reading

Introduction


This webquest provides resources for students in the ninth grade to focus on the historical, political, and social aspects of the Holocaust in order to become better acquainted with the background for the scenario of human suffering and degradation portrayed in the novel Night by Elie Wiesel.

Activities

Step 1: Before reading Night:

Set up a two pocket folder to hold all your information. Write your name on the front of the folder and decorate as you wish. Next complete Activity 1 and Understanding, put all materials into your folder.

Step 2: During reading, complete the summary entry for each Chapter and complete Activities 2 and 3. Don't forget to write in your book. Put all materials into your folder.

Step 3: After reading - Complete Reflect. Put all materials into your folder.

Rubric - What your folder should contain and how you will be graded.

Students' focus will be on the following questions:

What was the "Final Solution" and how were its objectives carried out in places like Jewish ghettos and concentration camps like Auschwitz/Berkinau and Dachau?
How did Hitler use the political climate after World War I and his prejudice toward the Jews to implement his rise to power and his "final solution"?
What is the importance of survivor testimonials like Elie Wiesel's in Night in preventing future Holocausts?
How were the propaganda techniques of scapegoating and stereotyping used by the Third Reich to condone and even encourage behavior that most German citizens would have considered abhorrent?
Why has Wiesel devoted his life to keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive? In what ways has his life since been molded by the horrific events of the Holocaust?

Disclaimer: The links here have been scrutinized for their grade and age appropriateness; however, contents of links on the World Wide Web change continuously. It is advisable that teachers review all links before introducing CyberGuides to students.

Works Cited:

National Geographic.com. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/education/ideas912/912mental.html. Available 5/22/08. National Geographic Society, 2003.

Schools of California Online Resources for Educators (SCORE) Project. http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/night/nighttg.html. Available 5/22/08 San Diego County Office of Education, 1997

Rich, Tracey, Judaism 101:Life, Death and Mourning. Available 10/14/2003, http://www.jewfaz.org/death.htm (1995-2002).

Book List:

Deedy, Carmen., The Yellow Star, (2000) – The story of King Cristian of Denmark and the yellow star of David

Falcon, Ted. Judaism for Dummies, An easy reading book about Judaism and it traditions

Frank, Anne. The Diary of Anne Frank – A story written by a young girl in hiding during the Nazi occupation.

Robbins, Harold. A Stone for Danny Fisher – A story of a Jewish boy in New York who enters a world of crime. The title is about a custom of placing a stone on the grave of the deceased. The book was made into a movie with Elvis Presley called “King Creole.”

Uris, Leon Mila 18 (1961) – A story about the Jews in the Warsaw, Poland ghetto

Uris, Leon. Exodus, (1957) – A story about the struggle of the Jews who fled Europe and Russia after WWII to set up a homeland in Isreal.

Movies:

Exodus, Directed by Otto Preminger, Starring Paul Newman. The story of the Jewish struggle to make a homeland in Israel after the holocaust.

Stranger Among Us, Directed by Sidney Lunet, starring Melanie Griffin. The story of a NY police woman who goes undercover as a Hasidic Jew to solve a jewel robbery/murder in the Hasidic market. Many references to and about the Cabbala.

Shindler’s List, Directed by Steven Spielbert, starring Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. The story of an industrialist who kept the Jews of the town alive by employing them.

Yentle, starring Barbara Striesand. A girl dresses as a boy to study the Torah.

The Jazz Singer, Three versions, starring: Al Jolsen, Danny Thomas and Neil Diamond. A cantor’s son gives up his place as cantor to become a singer.