Number the Stars Final Project

Name: Due Date:

You can work individually, with a partner or in a small group of three. No group can have more than three students working together. You will have three class sessions (One hour each) where you will be given time to work on this project. Come prepared with the materials and information to use the time productively. Your explanations can be a typed or written, PowerPoint/Prezi, video or other multimedia presentation. Some of these lend themselves better to working in a small group. Choose your groups wisely; make sure you work well together, and that your schedules match up in case you need to meet outside of the school day. You can work together on a shared document in Google Drive.

Graphic Novel - Draw a picture for each of the 17 chapters in Number the Stars. In

each panel, show what you consider to be the main event in that chapter. Write a brief caption for each panel that summarizes the action in your picture. Put each panel on a separate page, and then bind the pages into a book. (Summarization, Main idea & Supporting details)

A Study in Courage - Heroism displays itself in different ways. Think of five characters from Number the Stars who behave heroically. Create a presentation that explains what each character does that is heroic. To go above and beyond, complete additional research on the heroes of World War 2. Include those individuals in your presentation; be sure to give a brief summary about each person you include. (Story Structure: Characterization, Research)

Developing a Secret Code - In wartime, secrecy and code language are vital when

conveying important information. Discuss how the Danes conveyed information to each other in Number the Stars. Then investigate the code that Navajo soldiers used to outwit the Japanese during WWII. Why was this code so successful? Create a presentation to inform your classmates about the Navajo Code Talkers. (Main idea & details, Research, Making connections across text)

Living with the Enemy - Imagine that your own town has been overtaken by a force called the Zinates. The Zinates’ goal is to eliminate all people who have blond or brown hair and blue or green eyes. (You choose) With your group, plan a rescue operation you might perform to save the targeted victims from annihilation. Create a presentation that explains your plan to the class. Then discuss how this exercise helped you to understand the real-life stresses the Danes were facing in WWII. (Applying what was learned in a new way, making connections across text)

Country Report –Must be completed independently! Pick a country that was involved with World War ll. Draw a large outline of your country on a 81/2 x 11 piece of paper. Draw and color your county’s flag using crayon or colored pencils. No markers! Include the following information; name of your country, the capital, the size in square miles of kilometers, your country’s part in WWll (all may not apply to you) Allied, Axel, Neutral, Occupied, not involved, the country’s leader during WWll, population, resistance movement, fate of Jews. Make sure you map is correct, colored, neat and make sure to include your name. (Research, Summarizing, Understanding Non-Fiction)

Dear Diary - Think of one scene from the story and write or type 2 diary entries from 2 different characters’ points of view in that same scene. They must both be at least one page. Be sure to choose an important event so that it is clear what you are writing about from the story. For example, pretend you were Ellen when the soldiers came into the Johansen’s apartment to search and write from her point of view, then pretend to were one of the other characters like the soldier and write one from his point of view. Write about what happened and how you felt at the time. Use descriptive language! Help your reader feel like they are in the moment. (Summarizing, Making inferences)

The aftermath- When you finished reading Number the Stars, did you have some questions that were left unanswered? Well, here’s your chance to make-up an answer for them! You will continue the story by adding whatever you wish to it. Note: This is NOT an alternate ending; you are simply adding to the existing ending. Write or type a two page paper that continues the story. (No larger than size 14, double spaced) For example, you may write a scene that flashes forward in time to show if Annemarie and Ellen ever see one another again, a scene where Ellen reunites with her parents and they settle in Sweden or move somewhere else, a scene that shows what Denmark is like after the war for the Johansens, a scene in which Uncle Henrik is caught by the soldiers who discover what he is doing, a scene where Annemarie must go back to school without Ellen and face questions about the situation from her classmates...the list goes on and on! Be creative but be sure it is believable. (Synthesis information, Research)

Build it- Create a diorama displaying a scene from the story. Be creative! For example, you may use a shoebox for the base and glue figurines in it. (You could make the scene when Annemarie is running to the boat to give the package to Uncle Henrik.) You must use a note card to describe exactly what the scene is and why it is important in the story in at least one paragraph (about 5-10 sentences) and attach it to your diorama. (Synthesis information, Summarize)

Scoring Rubric

4: Work shows signs of working through the writing process. It has been edited for spelling and other grammatical errors. Information included is accurate based on the novel, or based on the time period. It is clear time and effort went into this project. It was turned in on time. The final copy was neat and organized. The student went above and beyond the requirements of the assignment.

3: Work shows signs of working through the writing process. It has been edited for spelling and other grammatical errors. Information included is mostly accurate based on the novel, or based on the time period. It is clear time and effort went into this project. It was turned in on time. The final copy was neat and organized.

2: Has one or two of the following errors

· Parts of the writing process might have been overlooked.

· Spelling and grammatical errors take away from the final project.

· Information included isn’t entirely accurate based on the novel, details between the novel and the movie were confused, or historically there isn’t enough information to make it seem believable.

· The final copy had difficulty with neatness and organization.

· Effort does not meet 5th grade expectations

· It was turned in late.

1: Has more than two of the following errors

· Parts of the writing process might have been overlooked.

· Spelling and grammatical errors take away from the final project.

· The final copy had difficulty with neatness and organization.

· Effort does not meet 5th grade expectations

· It was turned in late.

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