If the Holocaust was Reported On Line

If the Holocaust was Reported On - Line

A Differentiated Cross Curricular Lesson Plan for grades 7-9
I have used this unit before, but we used to actually type, print, cut up and paste a newspaper! A digital flip newspaper is now the name of the game and the students become invested very quickly in the project.
Students will read literature, fiction and non- fiction books, about the Holocaust in conjunction with the study of World War II. Students will be placed in groups (Newspaper staffs) according to reading level and everyone on the staff will be given the same book. There are many levels of difficulty when it comes to reading about the Holocaust ranging from Number the Stars and the Boy in the Striped Pajamas to Night. Students may download these to ipads or digital readers and will read together as a group, discussing plot, textual evidence supporting historical detail, and character relationships. As questions arise, students will be able to research immediately on an ipad for clarification.
Each group will prepare a newspaper using a web based digital publishing program. A flip style digital newspaper will be published by each group using the characters and events form the assigned book for news articles, features, editorials and advertisements. Each paper will be named (i.e. The Terrible Times) and have deadline for the staff for publication. Clip Art and downloaded pictures and graphics will be used.
The digital papers will be available for other classes to view and Letters to the Editor may follow. The Common Core Standards for Literature and the Writing Standards for Literacy in Social Studies will be addressed.
As a final assessment the teacher will “interview” characters from each book. The students who present as character will be chosen and coached by the group.

Length of Unit – 4 to 6 weeks
Materials needed – ipads or laptops, web based digital publishing program, leveled Holocaust novels or non-fiction
Common Core Standards – Reading: Key Ideas and Detail, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Social Studies: Writing Standards for Literacy in SS
Submitted by: Mrs. Patricia Donahue
Resurrection Catholic School, Jacksonville Fl

June 18, 2012