Irena's Jar of Secrets: A Narrative Nonfiction Lesson

I think it is important to teach kids about important people in the world, especially the unsung heroes.  For interactive read alouds, I prefer to choose picture books that have interesting stories and many times I choose a narrative nonfiction.  

I love the way a narrative nonfiction picture book unfolds with a beautifully written story and beautiful illustrations.  

This particular lesson was all about a true hero by the name of Irena Sendler. She saved about 2,500 children in the Warsaw ghetto during the Holocaust. 

Irena convinced parents to let her take their children to safety and smuggled these children out of the ghetto in burlap bags, suitcases, boxes, and other ways you just can't imagine.  

She gave each child a new identity and found homes for them with non-Jewish families, in convents, and in orphanages. 

Irena promised the parents of these children that she would keep track of their old and new identities by writing their names on pieces of paper and burying them in a jar under a friend's apple tree.  

She was eventually captured by the Gestapo and after months of interrogation and brutality, she remained silent and never told where she kept the hidden names.  

Miraculously, she escaped and went on to live her life, never telling anyone of her good deeds.  

Her story is remarkable, yet remained hidden for years.  

Many decades after the war ended, a group of college students from Kansas did a project for World History Day and discovered Irena's story.  

Her story is captivating. Irena was a true hero who showed bravery and risked her life to save so many.  

This read aloud fit perfectly with my historical fiction unit which focused on World War II and Holocaust related books.  

Here's how I implemented the lesson:

When students walk into my reading classroom, I have a Smartboard agenda waiting for them.  They know what we're doing for the day and what to bring to reader's workshop, plus I write any special instructions.  For this lesson, I wanted them to bring their Reading Notebook and sit by a "turn & talk" partner.  

After students were gathered on the carpet, I introduced the picture book, Irena's Jar of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan, and then discussed the narrative nonfiction anchor chart.  We had just learned about the biography genre, so we we talked about how narrative nonfiction is written to entertain readers and is written in a story-telling fashion.

During the read aloud, students sat hip to hip with their "turn & talk" partners. While reading the book, I stopped at various parts to ask questions.  I write the questions on sticky notes and put them in the book.  Students are given time to talk with a partner, then we share what ideas they talked about during a whole group share.

During this time, we had some interesting conversations.  Students made some text-to-text connections with some previous read alouds such as Star of Fear, Star of Hope, The Butterfly, Number the Stars, The Diary of Anne Frank to name a few.  We discussed how many people risked their lives to help Jews during this time and that people had to make very difficult decisions.  These turn and talk questions led to some grand conversations.

This last question tied into a previous lesson on character traits.  Students were able to tie in character trait words into their answers.

After reading the book and group discussion, students returned to their desks to watch two short videos about Irena Sendler on the Smartboard.

The first video briefly tells about Irena's life and details how the group of college kids from Kansas found out about Irena and brought attention to her heroic efforts.   This video is only about 4:16 minutes long.  It was posted by Winslow Colwell on YouTube. Here is the link to the video that I showed:

"Life in a Jar": The Irena Sendler Project

The second video was actually the trailer to the movie, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler".  It's only two minutes long, but all four of my reading classes were completely captivated with their eyes glued to the Smartboard.  I love showing short movie clips to my students.  It helps them get a visual representation of what we're learning.  Plus, the movie trailer ends with the most famous Irena Sendler quote, "You see a man drowning, you must try to save him even if you cannot swim."  

"The Courageous Heart of Irene Sendler" movie trailer
The movie trailer was posted on YouTube by Mark Vass.

After watching the videos, I put two reading response questions on the Smartboard and students wrote in the Reader's Notebook.  Students choose which questions they would like to respond to. 

Here are some examples of their reading responses. 

Thanks for taking time to read about a true hero- Irena Sendler.  
-Karen

Interactive Read Alouds Focusing on World War II and the Holocaust

I'm constantly looking for great books to use for interactive read alouds.  The books listed below are ones that I have found that tie into the historical fiction unit I have planned for my 5th grade students.  As a class, we are reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and I am using the text to relate to the teaching points for our reader's workshop lessons.  Our focus is on World War II and Holocaust and I have found quite a few related books.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Irena's Jar of Secrets by Marcia Vaughn and Irene Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto by Susan Goldman Rubins

This is the true story of a woman named Irene Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker, who helped save nearly 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto during the Nazi occupation in Poland during World War II.  These books can be used to illustrate narrative nonfiction and character traits. Both books detail Irena's heroic actions amidst dangerous circumstances.

Always Remember Me:  How One Family Survived World War II and I Will Come Back For You:  A Family in Hiding During World War II by Marisbina Russo

In this story, Always Remember Me:  How One Family Survived World War II, Rachel's Oma has two photo albums. One album holds pictures of happy times and this is the one that Rachel always gets to look at.  One album holds memories of sadder times when the Nazis were in power in Germany.  Oma never shares the second album with her granddaughter Rachel, until one special day when she feels Rachel is old enough to hear her family's story.. Oma tells Rachel about the perils her family endured during the war and how their love for one another helped them to survive.  The book is based on the author's own family history and includes some real photographs.  Another story by the same author and one that is based on her family's experiences during World War II is I Will Come Back for You:  A Family In Hiding During World War II.  The story tells of what it was like to grow up Jewish in Italy during the war. It is about a grandmother who shares a story with her granddaughter and details how she was separated from her father and had to hide from the Nazis in the mountains.  Both stories are a great way to encourage students to ask their parents and grandparents about family history.  Story telling is an excellent way to learn about history.  

The Yellow Star:  The Legend of King  Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy

This legend illustrates how Denmark's King Christian X bravely stood up for the Danish citizens when Nazi's occupied Denmark.  This is a story of bravery, heroism, and shows a country that came together to stand up to injustice.  It's a wonderful way to introduce legends to students and help students compare and contrast historical facts to legends. In the author's note, the true facts that relate to the story are detailed. Regardless of whether the story is true, or not, it is a beautifully illustrated and touching book.

Willy and Max:  A Holocaust Story by Amy Littlesugar

In the story, Max and Willy meet and become fast friends when Max's father buys a beautiful painting from the antique shop that Willy's father owns. The boys discover they have many things in common.  The only difference is one is Jewish and the other is not.  The boys are inseparable until war breaks out and the Nazis invade.  The Nazis take everything from Max's family, including the precious painting.  The boys promise to be friends forever, but are eventually separated by the circumstances of war.  The story spans many generations and Willy and Max's friendship endures because of the painting that began their friendship many years ago. A truly touching story about friendship and the effects of the Holocaust.

Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

This is a story based on the author's mother's childhood,  The story is about a young girl from America named Rosie who made a difference in the lives of people in the Dutch town of Olst in Holland during  post World War II.  Katje, a girl from Holland, receives special packages from Rosie in America.  The packages are part of Rosie's goodwill effort to help the Dutch people who are trying to rebuild their lives after the war. Katje shares the contents of the boxes with the people of her Dutch town and sends letters of thanks to Rosie and her friends and family in Indiana.  These kind exchanges brought two communities together in friendship even though there were thousands of miles apart.  A wonderful story of how one person can make a huge difference.

Rose Blanche by Christophe Gallaz

During wartime Germany, a young, compassionate girl named Rose witnesses a young boy being taken by Nazi soldiers.  She secretly follows the truck to the concentration camp and sees many starving children.  She begins to sneak food from home to bring to the boy and the other hungry children at the concentration camp.  The story illustrates the perspective of war from a child's point of view.  Rose, an innocent child, just wanted to help the other children. Take time to linger on the moving illustrations.  I often pause on the pictures and have my student make predictions.

Benno and the Night of the Broken Glass by Meg Wiviott

A story about Kistallnacht, the beginning of the Holocaust, written from the perspective of  Benno the cat.  Benno lives in an apartment building with both Jewish and non Jewish families.  They all love Benno and he loved all of his neighbors.  Benno travels from apartment to apartment for scraps of food and special attention from the occupants.  One day Benno wonders why everyone looks so sad.  And why there are men in in brown shirts strutting about?  Most importantly, he wonders what happened to the Adler family and Professor Goldfarb in his apartment building.  This book is a great introduction to the Holocaust.

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco

The story is about a young girl named Monique who lives in a small French village.  Monique's village is occupied by Nazi soldiers.  Monique thinks she keeps seeing a "ghost", but it is really a young girl named Sevrine, who is hiding from the Nazi soldiers.  Monique discovers that her mother has been hiding Sevrine's family in their basement.  The two girls become friends and play together at night, without anyone knowing. Then one day, the girls are discovered and Sevrine's family must flee.   A great book to understand the war, friendship, and symbolism- ask students what the butterfly symbolizes in the story.

Star of Fear. Star of Hope by Jo Hoestlandt

In this story, an elderly French woman recalls the events of her childhood when the Nazis invaded France.  The story centers around her confusion about the war and when her best friend had to wear a yellow star. Her friend mysteriously disappears and she constantly hopes they will be reunited again.  It is another heart-breaking account of what many friends of Jews endured during the Holocaust. Many times they would wake up and their Jewish friends would have vanished, or they would see them get arrested.  

Erika's Story by Ruth Vander Zee

During the midst of World War II in Nazi occupied Europe, a couple make a heart wrenching decision to save their infant daughter from a the fate that most Jews suffered at this time- death in concentration camps.   A beautifully illustrated true story of a Holocaust survivor.  Take time to notice the illustrations with students and see how they reflect the mood of the story.







There are quite a few beautifully written and illustrated picture books about the Holocaust, but these are some of my favorites to share with students. Once students learn a little about this part of history, they are intrigued to learn more and will usually seek out books in the library related to this topic.  

Do you have any picture books that relate to historical fiction?  Please share the titles in the comments section.  We'd love to hear your ideas!
-Karen

Brain Break: Three Ball Toss

Here's a fun brain break for students.  Three Ball Toss is great to do at the beginning of the year to learn student's names, or as a quick brain break. This brain break promotes listening skills, team work, and eye-hand coordination.  

Three Ball Toss

1.  Instruct students to stand in a circle.

2.  Tell them that you are going to toss a ball to someone in the circle.  I like to use squishy balls for student safety.  Tell them that they will need to remember who they toss it to.  This is important for later.  Before tossing the ball, say the person's name, make eye contact with the person, then toss the ball underhanded to them. 

3.  The student who the leader tosses the ball to will repeat the steps in #2. Remind them to say the person's name, make eye contact, and toss the ball underhanded.  Eye contact is important because you want to be sure the person is ready to catch the ball.  After they have tossed the ball, they will put their hands behind their back to indicate that they have had a turn.

4.  Continue having students toss the ball until every student has had a turn.

5.  The last person will then toss the ball back to the leader of the game (usually the teacher).

6.  Here's the fun part.  Now you will repeat the entire process.  The first person will toss the ball to the same person they tossed to before and each person thereafter will toss the ball to the same person they tossed it to. Once the game gets going, add in another ball.  Wait a few more minutes and add in another ball.  It gets exciting.  Balls will be flying everywhere!  Just remind students they are tossing it to the same person they tossed it to in the first round.

After students are able to do this brain break successfully, you can challenge them to complete it in total silence.  It's hard to do, but if they do accomplish it, you will hear cheers from your students.

If you do this as a way to get to know student names, have all of your students say the person's name after the person tosses the ball to them.

Here's my collection of toss around balls.  I usually pick them up at discount stores.  I use them for all sorts of brain breaks, or for a morning meeting pass around. 

Here are some links to some other brain breaks that my students love:

Snowball Fight!

What is it?

Hello!

You can find more great energizers in Jeanne Gibbs book called TRIBES:  A New Way of Learning and Being Together.

Do you have a favorite brain break?  Please share in the comment section.

-Karen

Brain Break: Snowball Fight!

Who's up for a snowball fight in October?  This is a quick and fun brain break that will get your students up and moving for a few minutes.

Snowball Fight
1.  Pass out one sheet of notebook paper to each student.

2.  Instruct them to write down an action on their paper.  Remind them that the action should be school appropriate and something that students will be able to do.  Depending on your group of students, you may have to be very specific on this.  Some examples could include:  shake hands with five people, do 10 jumping jacks, say hello to five people in a foreign language, quack like a duck, sing a song, dance like a ballerina, etc...

3.  After students write their action on their notebook paper, they will wad it up into a "snowball".  

4.  Instruct students to stand by their desk, or in a designated spot.

5.  On the count of three, yell "snowball fight!" and instruct students to toss their "snowball" at another student.  

6.  Each student will pick up a "snowball" and do whatever action is on the notebook paper.  

7.  Wait a few minutes and instruct students to wad up their "snowball" again and repeat steps 5 and 6.  

I usually only do the activity two or three times.  It is long enough to give students a quick break and get up and about for a few minutes.  After the brain break, have them deposit their "snowballs" into the waste basket or recycle bin.  

Another option is to write your own actions and wad up the papers ahead of time.  You could also bag up the "snowballs" and save them for another brain break.  

Have fun with your snowball fight!

-Karen

Books Dealing with Big Issues- Bullying & Gossip

Bullies and gossipers.  Oh boy, I just have one word- "Ugh".  Unfortunately, you will probably encounter them at some point in life.  So, I have a few books to help you facilitate some meaningful class discussions on these two topics.  

Bully by Patricia Polacco
Well, I happen to love ALL things Patricia Polacco, but this book really is wonderful for opening up discussions about bullying, and especially cyber bullying.  The story centers around Lyla who is the new girl in town.  She immediately forms a friendship with another new kid named Jaime.  Lyla joins the cheerleading squad and is befriended by a group of popular girls who make fun of other students on Facebook, including Lyla's friend Jaime.  Lyla recognizes bully behaviors when she sees them.  I won't give the rest away, so you'll have to read the rest yourself.  It's a great story about a girl who is brave enough to stand up for her friend.   

One by Kathryn Otoshi
Such a clever book that uses colors and numbers to teach an important life lesson.  In the story, Blue is the quiet one.  Red is the hot headed bully who likes to pick on Blue.  The other colors- yellow, orange, green, and purple don't like it when Blue is picked on by Red, but they aren't sure what to do or what to say.  So, they do nothing.  That is until One comes along and shows them how to stand together and make their voice count.  By using colors and numbers in such a simple way, Kathryn Otoshi, teaches readers about acceptance and how it takes just ONE person to make a difference.  

Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna
Yes, that's right.  Madonna.  You heard me right.  THE Material Girl.  In case you didn't already know, Madonna, along with writing a billion hit songs, also writes children's books.  And, good ones at that.  This particular one is fantastic for teaching about gossip and spreading rumors and how they can cause harm to others reputations.  The story is about Mr. Peabody, a teacher and coach, from a small town that gets ostracized when rumors are spread about him.  Mr. Peabody takes matters into his own hands, squashes the rumors, and teaches the boy who spread the gossip a valuable life lesson.

All three of these books are great for interactive read alouds.  They are memorable books that teach valuable life lessons to students.  

-Karen

"We The Kids"- Creating Class Constitutions

The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to create a class constitution.  Students need to know the expectations and procedures for your class.  You can call this document a class contract, a constitution, or class expectations.  It doesn't really matter, but expectations need to be discussed and clear to students.  It helps if they are a part of this process because if they are included in writing the expectations, they are more likely to follow them. Get them involved!

Before writing the class constitution, I read the book We The Kids by David Catrow.  We discuss the benefits and importance of the United States Constitution.  This book discussion leads to the discussion of creating rules and guidelines for our own classroom.

After reading We The Kids, I ask students to think about their "ideal" classroom and get a picture in their mind.  I ask students to brainstorm and come up with ideas for this question:  "What does an ideal classroom look like, sound like, and feel like?"

Using chart paper, I create an anchor chart with the title, "What does an ideal classroom..." Then I add three columns for the following categories:  looks like, sounds like, and feels like (see photo below). Students brainstorm and offer ideas for each category while I jot them down.

After reviewing their ideas as a class, students help create the wording for the class constitution.  I have included some examples of the documents that my students have created in the past several years.  Remember, these are student-created!  Students can come up with some GREAT ideas!

After you write your class constitution, you can have each student sign a copy. I have taken the signed copy to a copy center and had it enlarged to poster size, so I can display it in the classroom.  You can also make copies for each student to keep in their school binder.  It is nice to have copies on hand, or on display, so you can refer to it when needed.  

Getting kids involved in writing their own classroom constitutions helps to empower them, build ownership, and create accountability. If you have a great idea for class constitutions, please share in the comment section.  Thank you!

- Karen

Going Once. Going Twice. SOLD!

Classroom auctions are a great way to increase positive behaviors in students. In my classroom, students earn tickets for positive behaviors.  You can give tickets for just about anything- following school rules, helping another student, using kind words, turning in homework on time, reading extra minutes at home, or bringing back a paper with a parent signature.  Really, any time you see a student doing a great job, or going above and beyond, they can be rewarded with a ticket.

You can purchase a roll of tickets at an office supply store or a party supply store.  I've also seen them at a few discount stores.

When the mood strikes me, I will hold an auction in my classroom.  I never let my students know when, so it is completely unexpected.  I love the element of surprise!  Usually, I will choose a day when the entire class has shown great behavior, or worked extremely hard on a project. Once I announce that there will be an auction, excitement erupts in the classroom and students immediately start pulling out their tickets and counting them.  It's always a ticket counting frenzy!

Classroom auctions teach students how to be responsible and keep track of their tickets.  I always tell them that tickets are like money and if you lose it, it can't be replaced.  They really do learn the value of a ticket.

Here's how to prepare:  
1.  Start giving out tickets to students with the behavior criteria that you set.  Make sure you give students something to keep their tickets in such as an envelope or baggie. I use small coin envelopes that I found at Staples Office Supply. They are the perfect size for tickets.

2.  Gather small items from The Dollar Store or other discount stores.  You'll need items such as school supplies, novelty items, puzzles, art supplies, small stuffed animals, candy, small games, trinkets, and whatever else you can find that is cheap and that kids would like.  One time I sent my husband with $20 to the Dollar Tree to pick up auction items for me.  He came back with things I wouldn't even think of like whoopie cushions, magic tricks, and gag gifts.  The kids went crazy for this stuff.  If I get something free and I think my students would like it, I throw it in the auction box.  Trust me, they will bid on ANYTHING.  You can also ask parents for small items for your auction box. 

3.  Make gift certificates or coupons with things you'd like to auction.  I use these quite a bit because most of them don't cost me anything.  Here are some ideas for gift certificates:

• sit in teacher's chair for a day
• extra computer time
• extra recess
• board game time with a friend
• chew bubble gum for the day
• no shoes day
• sit by a friend for a day
• lunch with the teacher
• picnic with a friend and the teacher
• email or send a video message to your parent 
• bring a stuffed animal for the day
• bring a favorite drink to school
• line cut for a day
• change classroom jobs for the week
• bring a pillow to school
• wear slippers for the day
• be the next auctioneer

Here's how it works: 
1.  Decide on your student helpers for the auction.  I choose one student to be my "assistant".  This student pulls items out of the auction box.  I choose two students to be the "accountants".  They are responsible for counting the tickets after an item is purchased.  I choose two students to be "runners". They write down the amount the item is sold for on a sticky note and take the item to the "accountants".  I am usually the "auctioneer", but sometimes I will auction off a coupon for "guest auctioneer".  Students love this!

2.  Go over the rules for the auction.  Here are the rules that I use.  Students must remain in their seats.  Only one person can bid at a time.  You can only bid the number of tickets you actually have.  This is important because sometimes students forget to count their tickets ahead of time and bid over the amount of tickets they actually have.  So, make sure they count their tickets in advance. If you bid on an item, you have to bid over the amount the person before you bid.  Once the auctioneer says "sold" there is no more bidding on that item.  If a student doesn't follow the rules, then they forfeit their right to participate in the rest of the auction for that day.

3.  Once students understand the rules,  choose an item to auction.  Describe the item, ask for an opening bid, and then letting the auction fun begin!  Hold up the item and make a BIG deal about it.  I try my best to do an "auctioneer voice" and my students just giggle.  When the bids for an item have slowed down, don't forget to yell, "Going once, twice, SOLD". Sometimes, I add funny things like, "SOLD to the little lady in the polka dot shirt."  Again, my students just giggle.  I usually only auction 5-10 items at a time.  I try to keep the auction at about 15 minutes or less.   

There are different things you can do with auctions to add a bit of variety. You can wrap items and display them for students to see at the beginning of the day.  They can't touch the items.  Just look.  Then, they bid blindly on the items.  It's a fun twist.

After your first auction, your students will be clamoring for more.  It's a great way to encourage positive behavior in students.  Have fun and let the bidding begin!