Number the Stars

A WebQuest for the 6th Grade 

Designed by

Jonathan Short
jonshort4@msn.com

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

During WWII, Central Europe was the center of much turmoil.  Every day people lived with horrible injustices, fear and inhumane treatment.  People were faced everyday with difficult living conditions and tough choices.

In the story, Annemarie, her friends and family, and everyone else in Copenhagen faced these conditions, and the decisions of how to live everyday in the shadow of the Nazi soldiers.  Imagine that you are living in Copenhagen and you are faced with the decision of being a bystander or a rescuer.  

Like characters from the story, you are concerned with keeping your loved ones safe and informed about what's going on, and what events to expect.  If you decide to be a bystander, how will you maintain your standard of living and well being?  If you are a rescuer, where will you try to send Jewish refugees who are hiding from the Nazi's?  To what countries would these people be safe to travel?  What are the merits and hardships of each stance? 

The Task

Your task is to create a publication recording your experiences of, reasons and conditions of your stance.  

	If you choose to be a bystander, compose a journal in which you make one or two entries a year between 1939 and 1945.  Describe the conditions of living in Copenhagen and at least one other city, state or country.  Are all of your friends and family safe?  How has this effected your daily life?
	If you choose to be a rescuer, compose either one detailed copy of "Die Frie Dansk", describing events and information; or write a column in a yearly edition, describing the events and current state of living.
	To help you make this decision, you will need to know the layout of Denmark and its geographic and political location.

The Process

1. First, go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/guts/timeline/timeline.html.  Read this timeline of WWII, and note important events.  You will use this resource when you create your publication.

2. Then go to http://www.graceproducts.com/frank/harsh.html.  Read this list and reflect on what it would be like to live under these rules.  Write and submit a two paragraph response about how these rules would effect your life today.  Use this information in creating your publication.

3. Next, view the maps at http://www.maps.com/explore/atlas/political/europe.html  & http://media.maps.com/magellan/Images/DENMAR-W1.gif.  Draw a picture of Denmark and choose three "neutral" or "safe" countries (Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland).  Draw pictures of those countries, and in the key, list the bodies of water or geographic locations that would need to be crossed to get there safely.  

4. Read about the victims of the Holocaust at: http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/victims.htm.  Read the introduction and choose three groups of people who were persecuted during WWII.  At the bottom of the page, take the quiz and record your results in your journal.

5. Read about the rescuers at: http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/rescuer.htm.  Read the introduction, Profile of a Rescuer, and choose three web links to read about first-hand accounts of people who risked their lives to help those who were persecuted.  Either scroll down on the page, or click on this link http://remember.org/witness/wit.res.ellen.html to read about Ellen Nielsen, who lived in Copenhagen and helped Jewish refugees to Sweden.  At the bottom of the page, take the quiz on rescuers and record your results in your journal.  Use this information to help you write your publication of "Die Frie Dansk".                                          OR....

6. Read about bystanders at: http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/bystand.htm.  Read the whole page and click on both web links to read about the Struma, and hear the Gerda Blachmann Wilchfort interview.  At the bottom of the page, take the quiz on bystanders and record your results in your journal.  Use this information to create your journal.

Evaluation

Conclusion

Congratulations!

You have just finished the Webquest for Lois Lowry's Number the Stars.  You have worked on map skills, studied some history and viewed first hand accounts of real life experiences.  More importantly, you have tackled some very mature subject matter, and wrestled with tough decisions.  The decisions that you make, make you who you are.  Listen to your conscience, and be true to your self.

Credits & References

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/guts/timeline/timeline.html

http://www.graceproducts.com/frank/harsh.html

http://www.maps.com/explore/atlas/political/europe.html

http://media.maps.com/magellan/Images/DENMAR-W1.gif

http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/victims.htm

http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/rescuer.htm

http://remember.org/witness/wit.res.ellen.html

http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/people/bystand.htm 

 http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/numberthestars.html 

Lowry, Lois Number the Stars, Houghton & Mifflin, 1989

Special thanks to Don Langenhorst and Rich McGrath for their help in this publication.

Last updated on April 29, 2002. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page