The Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education
Sixth Annual Holocaust Writing and Art Contest
To Change Our World: Legacy of Liberation
 Download Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan Ideas
Literature Connection: All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein
A classic tale of Holocaust literature, Gerda Weissmann Klien’s celebrated memoir tells the moving story of a young woman’s three frightful years as a slave laborer of the Nazis and her miraculous liberation.
http://www.kleinfoundation.org/
Lesson Outcomes
Students will
• Read All But my Life, the account of a Holocaust witness
• Keep a Dialectical Journal as you read the book (see attached format)
• Read “What You Can Do: Taking Action to End Hunger” on the Klein Foundation website http://www.kleinfoundation.org/htdocs/PDFfilez/inTIMEstudent.pdf
• Analyze how Ms. Klein’s experience lead to her activism today
• Create a graphic organizer highlighting specific experiences Gerda Weissmann had during the Holocaust and how they are connected to Ms. Klein’s service today
• Review the prompt for the Sixth Annual Holocaust Writing and Art Contest
• Determine what issue you would like to address; Review your pre-writing
• Write to the prompt, using the story of Gerda Weissmann Klein as the individual who provides witness to the Holocaust. Students could write an essay, a poem or create a work of art in response to the prompt.
• Share work with teacher, peer, and/or parent
• Revise and Edit the work (if it is poetry or prose)
• Submit work to contest
All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein Dialectical Journal
Directions: As you read All But My Life, keep a record of those passages which impact you. Write the key words and images in the left-hand column (be sure to note the page numbers in your record). In the right-hand column, record your feelings about those words, those images. These words may be useful to you when you write your essay or poem or begin your art project.
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Words from the book |
Your words in reaction to the book |
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Graphic Organizer
Directions: Read “What You Can Do: Taking Action to End Hunger” on the Klein Foundation website http://www.kleinfoundation.org/htdocs/PDFfilez/inTIMEstudent.pdf. Respond to the following questions:
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What might hunger look like in your state or community?
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What percentage of American households are dealing with hunger?
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What are some things you might do to take action against hunger?
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Directions: In “The Activist’s Planner,” you can find some other resources for activism against hunger. Check out these sites.
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List one of the websites you explored and share the ideas for activism.
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List another one of the websites you explored and share their ideas for activism.
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Directions: Think about how Ms. Klein’s life experiences have shaped her desire to work against hunger.
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Explain the connection between Ms. Klein’s activism and her experiences in the Holocaust.
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