Lesson plans

Week 16
Day One: Monday/Tuesday
1. Bell ringer (5 minutes) How would you explain the word evil? Give me
an example of something evil.
2. Share out
3. Transition: Today we are going to begin preparing for our new book , Night. This book is a memoir
which means - it is the story a person wrote about their own real life experiences. This person is
writing about living through an event that many people would consider truly evil, the holocaust.
The holocaust happened during WWII. During the holocaust 18 million people were murdered by
the Nazis. Of those 18 million 6 million were Jews. Our objective is to learn about the holocaust,
why it happened and how. Please keep in mind, it is important to learn about history and stories so
that we can learn from our mistakes and improve the future. To get started we need to learn how
WWII got started.
4. Students are to take notes: Write four terms on the board : Hitler, Jews, Concentration camps,
Nazis. Ask students to tell you what they know about these. Help students along and write main
points under each.
5. Ask students to write down three questions they would ask to a Nazi, Hitler, or a jewish person.
6. Write the best of these questions on the board.
7. Explain to students that you will now address some of these questions and they need to continue to
take notes.
8. Write WWI and WWII on the board.
9. WWII officially began with the invasion of Poland in 1939. However, the story goes back to WWI.
WWI was fought between many nations the Austro-Hungarian empire Germany and the US, italy,
and Britain. After the war the biggest loser turned out to be Germany. They ended up surrendering
in the end. Guess who fought in this war as a commander? Hitler. Hitler sacrificed so much and
fought in the war and he was angry Germany surrendered. He blamed lots of people for the
surrender but most of all the jewish people. Now, were they to blame. No! but he was a bit crazy
and he really stuck with that idea.
10.Hitler rose in power and eventually ruled the country. He then began to systematically exterminate
jews, gypsies, ethnically different people and anyone else who opposed him. He also started taking
over other countries around him and this made the rest of the world very unhappy so they waged
war against Hitler. Etc etc etc
11.Students are to then watch three 5 minute videos as sent out.

12.They then write a summary of WWII and why it happened.

13.Transition into Homonyms lesson. Mini-lesson on common homonyms 5 minutes

14.Students are to write a paragraph using the words there, their, and they’re. Next challenge a students
to write a single sentence using the words There, their, and They’re.
15.Have a few write on board.
16.Give students Homonyms sentence sheets. Students write sentences using different homonyms.
Encourage them to collaborate but urge them to be hasty.
17.Sentences are shared. Misconceptions debunked.
18.Next, students are to complete an exit ticket before they leave. What, Why, and How did you learn
about homonyms.

Wednesday:
1. BR: a. Draw an image or write a description to explain the holocaust and WWII b. write a
couple sentences using three homonyms correctly.
2. Mini-lesson – revisit commonly misused words and give examples.
 3. Funny homonyms worksheet activity. To be done with a partner. These can be fun,
challenging, difficult, and require talking out.
4. Go over worksheet. Debunk misconceptions.

Thursday
1. BR: Do you think every person that was in the Nazi army agreed with Hitler? Why do some
people end up doing things they know are wrong and don’t even want to do? Do you know of
people like this?
2. Share out
3. Form 5 groups: Each group gets an index card on which it either says
Concentration camp, Jews, Hitler, Start of WWII, Nazis
4. Each group provides three things
a. A visual representation of their topic a drawing or diagram explaining
their topic
b. A one paragraph explanation agreed upon by the group and written by
each person.
c. A presentation in front of the class.
5. Students present out and teacher clarifies
6. Students write exit ticket.

Friday
1. BR
2. Read http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?
ModuleId=10005143
3. Students are to write four questions they can pose to the
class for answers?
4. extra credit can be given to students who can answer
5. Why learn about this?
6. Genocide means?
7. Where is this happening still and how?
8. read - http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/
9. Show students this previous website and play some of the peoples
accounts of the genocide.
10. Exit ticket
11. Wrap up