7. what caused world war ii? what happened during the holocaust?
TRANSCRIPT
7
What caused World War II? What happened during the Holocaust?
World War II was caused by the growing tide of fascism in Europe and imperialism in Japan. The United States entered the war when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
Adolf Hitler and the Nazis sent six million European Jews to their deaths in organized killings known as the Holocaust. Families were separated and destroyed.
the story of Anne Frank and the children of La Hille are just two examples of the many stories that come from families.
Are you familiar with stories from your own families? The story could be from a war, an immigration experience, or an event unique to your family. You must interview a family member or friend about a story that has aff ected their lives. Develop a scrapbook page of the event using segments of the interview, photographs, and souvenirs.
You will have time in class to prepare interview questions. If you need help getting started, consider the following questions:
When did this event take place?
Where did it take place?
What makes this event signifi cant?
Was the individual involved in danger? If so, how did he or she escape?
Does this event continue to aff ect your family or friends? If so, how?
“The Butterfly”
For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.But I have found what I love
here.The dandelions call to meAnd the white chestnut branches in the court.
Only I never saw another butterfly.
That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.
The last, the very last,So richly, brightly, dazzlingly
yellow.Perhaps if the sun’s tears
would sing against a white stone....Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ’way up high.
It went away I’m sure because it wished
to kiss the world good-bye.
Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942Born in Prague on Jan. 7, 1921.
Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942. Died in Aushchwitz on Sept. 29, 1944
Questions to discuss:
1.Who do you think wrote this poem?
2.What experiences do you think generated this poem?
3.To what is the poem referring?
4.How does this poem make you feel?
About the Holocaust…
More than 12,000 children under the age of 15 passed through the Terezin Concentration Camp between the years 1942-1944. More than 90 percent perished during the Holocaust. In these poems and pictures drawn by the young inmates of Terezin, we see the daily misery of these uprooted children, as well as their courage and optimism, their hopes and fears.
The Butterfly ProjectAfter several silent readings, see if they can find any examples of hopes, dreams and/or fears in your child’s poem.
After you have read the poems and feel comfortable with it, discuss your poem with another classmate.
You should begin to feel comfortable with your poem and be able to relate to the author and the words the author wrote.
Prepare an oral interpretative reading of their poems.
Instructions:
Create a butterfly that is a representative of the author of your own poem. You should write the name of your child on the butterfly if the child’s name is available.
You should be prepared to discuss why you chose the enhancements of each of your own butterfl ies. It is important to be creative make whatever butterfly you feel comfortable making.
Then with string, hang your butterfly from the ceiling. (You may use a hole punch to make a place to attach the string to the butterfly.) Every butterfly (soul of the author of their poem) should be displayed.
By the end of the class period, you will have many bright and beautiful butterfl ies hanging from the ceiling, each representing a child of Theresienstadt.
