Always remember me: How one family survived World War II by Marisabina Russo. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005.

ISBN: 978-0-68986-920-4

Annotation: The story of Russo's mother, aunts, and grandmother, all of them Jewish women who survived World War II in Nazi Germany.

Age range: 5-6 grades

Media used by illustrator: color gouache, scrapbook style

Personal Rating: 5Q/4P

Curricular connections: suitable for fifth and six grades, in a class focusing on 20th century history, WWII, or Holocaust studies.

 

Lesson Plan Title: The Family Narrative: How the Past Shapes the Present

Concept / Topic To Teach: how family histories impact familial relationships years later, particularly when it comes to traumatic events.

Writing Standards Addressed (from http://www.k12.wa.us/curriculuminstruct/):

1. The student understands and uses a writing process.                                                                       

1.1. Prewrites to generate ideas and plan writing.                                                                                  

1.2. Produces draft(s).                                                                                                                      

1.3. Revises to improve text.                                                                                                            

1.4. Edits text.                                                                                                                                  

1.5. Publishes text to share with audience.                                                                                               

1.6. Adjusts writing process as necessary.       

2. The student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes.                                   

2.1. Adapts writing for a variety of audiences.                                                                                   

2.2. Writes for different purposes.                                                                                                           

2.3. Writes in a variety of forms/genres.                                                                                                

2.4. Writes for career applications.       

3. The student writes clearly and effectively.                                                                                  

3.1. Develops ideas and organizes writing.                                                                                               

3.2. Uses appropriate style.                                                                                                                      

3.3. Knows and applies writing conventions appropriate for the grade level.       

4. The student analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of written work.                                               

4.1. Analyzes and evaluates others' and own writing.                                                                       

4.2. Sets goals for improvement.

History Standards Addressed (from http://www.k12.wa.us/curriculuminstruct/):

4. The student understands and applies knowledge of historical thinking, chronology, eras, turning points, major ideas, individuals, and themes in local, Washington State, tribal, United States, and world history in order to evaluate how history shapes the present and future.                                  4.1 Understands historical chronology.                                                                                               

4.2 Understands and analyzes causal factors that have shaped major events in history.                        

4.3 Understands that there are multiple perspectives and interpretations of historical events.                                                                                       4.4 Uses history to understand the present and plan for the future.

General Goal(s): to begin to discussing the basics of the Holocaust (the treatment of Jews in early Nazi Germany), dovetailing these details with the concept of unfairness based on religion, race, sex, etc.

Specific Objectives: to explore how Russo's familial relationships in the book are affected by the backdrop of the Holocaust, to help students to understand their own family histories, and to hone their writing skills.

Required Materials: Copies of the book Always Remember Me, basic writing supplies.

Anticipatory Set (Lead-In): Lesson plan takes place over about . On the weekend preceding the first lesson, students are assigned to read the book and to write a short summary of it for that Monday's class session.

Step-By-Step Procedures:                                                                                                                          

1. Students read the book and have a short summary prepared for Monday.                                           

2. Teacher presents discussion questions for that day, and students discuss them.                                    

- How does Russo's family history impact her relationships with her mother, aunts, and grandmother?                                                                                                                        

- What good does it do her grandmother to keep telling these sad stories?                                                

- The Nazis were cruel to the Jews in many ways before the Holocaust began. Is it possible to predict an event such as the Holocaust?                                                                                                                

3. Starting that Monday night, students begin interviewing their relatives for their own family stories. Minimum of two relatives of their choosing. Students can collect all kinds of family stories (funny, sad, etc.), and are encouraged to learn at least four substantial stories about their own families. Students should take notes.                                                                                                                                       

4. Beginning Tuesday, the students have five days (through the following Tuesday's class session) to write down their own family's stories (days 1-2), edit the stories (days 2-3), and bind them into a small book (days 4-5). Students will be encouraged to decorate their books.                                                                                                                                  

5. On Wednesday and Thursday of the following week, each student will give a small presentation about his/her own family stories to the class. No student will have to share stories that he/she deems too personal.                                                                                                                                                    

6. On Friday of the second week, students will participate in a follow-up discussion about the book and how it relates to their own family stories. They will be encouraged to discuss what they learned about their own families through this exercise.

Plan For Independent Practice: Students will be presented with an opportunity to learn their own family stories.

Closure (Reflect Anticipatory Set): Students will participate in a follow-up discussion on the last day of class.

Assessment Based On Objectives: Students will be given at minimum two days to edit their stories, which should help improve their spelling, punctuation, etc. Teacher will supervise these efforts to make sure they're fruitful.

Adaptations (For Students With Learning Disabilities): These students will be allowed to write shorter, less complex stories.

Extensions (For Gifted Students): These students will be encouraged to write longer, more complicated stories, and to collect more of them.

Possible Connections To Other Subjects: Covers subject matter in both history and writing classes.

 

ateater/06-20-2009

 

 

Russo, M. (2005). Always remember me : how one family survived World War II. New York:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

ISBN-13: 978-0-689-86920-4

 

Presented in scrapbook style with photos and mementoes, author Russo chronicles her family’s post-WW I history, recounting how her grandmother, mother, and two aunts survived the persecution of Jews in Germany before resettling in the United States.  A gentle afterword explaining the Holocaust makes this a fine introduction to the topic. 

 

 

Curricular connection:  WWII/Holocaust/Grade 10/ CA HSS 10.8

Artwork: Gouache illustrations and collage

 

Subjects: Family history; Holocaust

 

Theme: Sharing a family’s history brings the family closer together.

 

Categories: Non-fiction; 940.53

 

Age Level Recommendation: Upper Elementary (and up)

 

Rating:  5Q/4P

 

AAS 5-3-08

 

Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived World War II

by Marisabina Russo. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005. ISBN-10: 0689869207

 

A touching story told from the perspective of a grandmother to a granddaughter about a family reunited after enduring the Holocaust.

 

    - Media: Color Gouache, Scrapbook Style, Pen and Ink Illustrations

 

    - Rating: 5Q/4P

 

    - Curricular Connections: Grades 5-9, Social Studies, History

 

CHA 7/31/09