Prior to Reading the Book, Do the Following Pre-Reading Activities

Pre-Reading

Prior to reading the book, do the following pre-reading activities:

• Predict what the book may be about based on the title and the cover artwork.

• What do you think the title means?

• Scan the Table of Contents; from the nine chapter titles, predict the author’s overall experience in a brief story map.

• What do you know about World War II? Construct a K-W-L chart and jot down information in the first two columns based on what you already Know and What you’d like to learn.

• Working in groups of 2 or 3, use the following resources from the Internet to find some information about World War II. Have your topic approved by your teacher. Find between 3 and 5 fascinating facts in your topic and predict how that information would impact a young Jewish family living in Germany in 1933. Be prepared to discuss what you have learned with the class.

http://motlc.learningcenter.wiesenthal.org

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en

Your topic choices will be one from the following chart:

Places/People/Organization/General Topics

*The Jews

*The Nazis

*Antisemitism & the Final Solution

*Resistance & Rescue

*The World Response

*Righteous Among the Nations

*After the War

Read Chapter 1 "Four Perfect Pebbles"

• Use the following Internet site to get some background information on Bergen-Belsen.

*Please be forewarned that one of the sections, "Camp History", contains some very disturbing, graphic photographs which you may wish to avoid. The other sections have some excellent information and will give you an eye-opening journey into the lives of the people who lived there.*

http://scrapbookpages.com/BergenBelsen/index.html

• Reflect on the horrors of Bergen-Belsen in a one to two page journal entry.

• Make a Venn diagram in which you compare and contrast your morning routine to that of Marion and her fellow prisoners of the concentration camp, Bergen-Belsen.

• What is the significance of the four perfect pebbles? What did they symbolize to Marion? What symbolic item do you have that can compare to her pebbles? Explain.

Read Chapter 2 “A Small Town in Germany”

• Use the following Internet site to view a map of Germany and the surrounding countries around the time of World War II. http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Germany.html (click on this link, then on "map of Germany" to open up a great map for your use)

Find the Weser River in NW Germany, and the cities of Hanover and Bremen. The “small town” of Hoya, where Marion lived for her first 4 years, was located between those two cities on the Weser River. Draw a small replica of the map in your journal, highlighting these points on your map.

• While living in this small town, Marion’s family witnessed their world crumbling all around them. What were some of the devastating events that occurred during this time? Why did they endure the hardships for so long? Do you think they were wise to wait? What would you have done in this precarious situation? Write your reflections in a one to two page journal entry.

Read Chapter 3 “Get Dressed and Come With Us”

• The dangerous situation in Germany continued to escalate; the Jewish people were being discriminated against more and more. List between 3 and 5 things that were mentioned in this chapter that showed how serious the situation was.

• What happened on the infamous night of November 9 – 10, 1938, that caused this date to be remembered forever? What happened on this same night to Marion’s family personally?

• Use the following internet site to get some background information on “Kristallnacht”.http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/timeline/Kmap.htm

Sketch your interpretation of what that night must have looked like.

Study the 17 photographs that are included on pages 37 – 44. Select 3 (5) of them to describe and on which to write your personal reflection/commentary.

Read Chapter 4 “Escape to Holland”

• One might say that the Blumenthal’s escape to Holland was a bittersweet event. Explain why. What were some of the things that made it bitter? What was sweet?

• What key historical events did Hitler accomplish?

• The Blumenthal family was one of the first families to go live in Westerbork, a permanent refugee camp set up in Holland. Use the following internet site to get more background information on Westerbork and write a paragraph or two (or draw a sketch) about what you learn. http://www.jewishgen.org/Forgottencamps/Camps/WestEng.html

• In February, 1944, the Blumenthals departed Westerbork to be transported to Celle, Germany, where they would wait their turn to be allowed to board a ship that would take them to Palestine as “Exchange Jews”. What were “Exchange Jews”? Journal a page or two about this desperate move – traveling back to Germany, during the height of World War II, to await their turn for a better life in Palestine.

Read Chapter 5 “The Greatest Disappointment”

* Bergen-Belsen was the next destination for the Blumenthal family. This was supposed to be a short stop, before their exchange to Palestine would be accepted. But as the chapter heading suggests, that never came true. List some (3 - 5) of the horrific things about Bergen-Belsen. What was the cause of their “greatest disappointment”?

* One of their biggest fears was that, even though Bergen-Belsen was not supposed to have gas chambers, every time Marion took a shower, she panicked, not knowing if water or killing fumes would come out of the nozzles. Use the following internet site to learn more about Zyklon B; write a paragraph or two about this chemical. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Zyklon.html

* Early in April of 1945, when Marion was only 10 years old, she experienced a very painful accident. Pretend to be Marion, or her mother (or brother, Albert) and write a diary entry of a page or two about the accident. Be sure to write with feeling.

Read Chapter 6 “On the Death Train”

* In late April of 1945,three groups were evacuated from Bergen-Belsen, all eventually to be liberated when the war was over. The Blumenthals, unfortunately, were in the last of the three; the one that suffered the longest. Why was their train coined the “Death Train”? Research typhus, pleurisy, tuberculosis, and lice; give a brief summary of each. What do you think was the biggest threat at this stage of the war? Explain your answer in one to two paragraphs.

Study the 19 photographs that are included on pages 85 - 92. Select 3 (5) of them to describe and on which to write your personal reflection/commentary.

Read Chapter 7 “Freedom and Sorrow”

* Just as the title suggests, this chapter is filled with “good news/bad news”, (contrasting) situations. Make a chart on which you compare and contrast some of these poignant events.

Read Chapter 8 “Holland Again”

* Six-and-one-half years passed between the times when Marion and her family lived in Holland. They returned as very changed people. What physical, emotional, and familydifferences had occurred in those six-and-one-half years? Life seemed to be coming together for Marion, her brother, and her mother; yet they decided to change plans once again and head for America. What caused that change? Journal a page or two on your thoughts.

Read Chapter 9 “America At Last”

* What was significant about the date (4/23/48) when the Blumenthals landed in Hoboken, New Jersey? Imagine being aboard the Veendam, seeing the Statue of Liberty for the very first time. Journal a page or two about your reaction.

* Marion is quoted as saying that she was in a state of bewilderment and awe from the moment she left the ship. What was New York City like in 1948? Research the time period, highlighting one of the following aspects of the American culture of that time. Prepare a brief presentation based on your findings. Have your method of presentation approved by your teacher.

1. movies

2. music

3. books

4. cost of living

5. automobiles and other inventions

6. sports

7. famous people

8. politics/government

9. population

10. food

11. art

12. New York City

Conclusion

The Blumenthal’s hard working ethic paid off; after many years of hardship and heartache beyond belief, they found happiness and peace. After reading this poignant autobiography, what questions might you have for Mrs. Marion Blumenthal Lazan should you meet her? Write 3 (5) questions in your journal. What do you think her reply would be?

Four Perfect Pebbles, by Marion Blumenthal Lazan and Lila Perl

·  Introduction

·  Task

·  Process

·  Evaluation

·  Conclusion

·  Credits

·  Teacher Page

Evaluation

RubiStar / Rubric Made Using:
RubiStar ( http://rubistar.4teachers.org )

Research Report : Four Perfect Pebbles Journal

Teacher Name: Mrs. Brennan
Student Name: ______
CATEGORY / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Organization / The entire journal is very organized with well-written entries. / The journal is organized with well-written entries. / The journal is organized, but the entires are not well-written. / The journal appears to be disorganized.
Amount of Information / All entries are included and all questions are answered with the specified amount given (for example, one or two journal pages; 3 or 5 photographs). / All entries are included and most questions are answered with specified amount given. / One or two entries are missing, but most questions are answered according to the specifics assigned. / More than two entries are missing.
Quality of Information / Information clearly relates to the main topic and is written with depth and insight. / Information clearly relates to the main topic and is written with some depth and insight. / Information clearly relates to the main topic but lacks depth. / Information has little to do with the main topic and lacks depth or insight.
Diagrams & Illustrations / Diagrams and illustrations are neat, accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic. / Diagrams and illustrations are accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic. / Diagrams and illustrations are neat and accurate and sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic. / Diagrams and illustrations are not accurate OR do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
Creativity / The journal is highly creative with unique features that enhance the overall product. / The journal is creative and includes some unique features that enhance the overall product. / The journal has one or two special creative touches that enhance the overall product. / There are no special creative touches.
Mechanics / No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. / Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors / A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors. / Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.
Presentation / The NYC presentation was presented in a clear and confident manner, kept within the time limits, included excellent information, and was an enjoyable addition to our study. / The NYC presentation adhered to three of the four requirements. / The NYC presentation adhered to two of the four requirements. / The NYC presentation adhered to only one of the four requirements.

Date Created: Feb 12, 2006 01:21 pm (CST)

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Conclusion

World War II and the effects it had on the people of the world is a subject that has literally filled hundreds of volumes of books. This webQuest is meant solely to pique your interest, to open your eyes, to whet your appetite. If you are so inclined to hunger for more, there are many more resources from which to nibble. Check your local library, book store, and the countless websites as a start.

Four Perfect Pebbles, by Marion Blumenthal Lazan and Lila Perl

·  Introduction

·  Task

·  Process

·  Evaluation

·  Conclusion

·  Credits

·  Teacher Page

Credits

A special thanks for Marion Blumenthal Lazan for sharing her inspirational story with us. Courageous people like her, who are willing to share their histories and beliefs,breathe hope into our world.

Thank you to the following organizations for the use of their links referred to in this WebQuest:

* The Museum of Toleranceand their Multimedia Learning Center website;

http://motlc.learningcenter.wiesenthal.org

* Scrapbookpages.com

http://scrapbookpages.com/BergenBelsen/ConcentrationCamp.html

* World Statesmen.org

http://worldstatesmen.org/Germany.html

* A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust

http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/timeline/Kmap.htm

* The Jewishgeneration.org

http://Jewishgen.org/forgottencamps/Camps/WestEng.html

* The Jewish Virtual Library

http://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Zyklon.html

Permissions
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