7

What caused World War II? What happened during the Holocaust?

“The Butterfly” For seven weeks I’ve lived in here, Penned up inside this ghetto. But I have found what I love here. The dandelions call to me And the white chestnut branches in the court. Only I never saw another butterfly. That butterfly was the last one. Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto. The last, the very last, So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow. Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing against a white stone.... Such, such a yellow Is carried lightly ’way up high. It went away I’m sure because it wished to kiss the world good-bye Such, such a yellow Is carried lightly ’way up high. It went away I’m sure because it wished to kiss the world good-bye. Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942 Born in Prague on Jan. 7, Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, Died in Aushchwitz on Sept. 29, 1944

Questions to discuss: 1.Who do you think wrote this poem? 2.What experiences do you think generated this poem? 3.To what is the poem referring? 4.How does this poem make you feel?

About the Holocaust…

The Butterfly Project After several silent readings, see if they can find any examples of hopes, dreams and/or fears in your child’s poem. After you have read the poems and feel comfortable with it, discuss your poem with another classmate. You should begin to feel comfortable with your poem and be able to relate to the author and the words the author wrote. Prepare an oral interpretative reading of their poems.

Instructions:  Create a butterfly that is a representative of the author of your own poem. You should write the name of your child on the butterfly if the child’s name is available.  You should be prepared to discuss why you chose the enhancements of each of your own butterflies. It is important to be creative make whatever butterfly you feel comfortable making.  Then with string, hang your butterfly from the ceiling. (You may use a hole punch to make a place to attach the string to the butterfly.) Every butterfly (soul of the author of their poem) should be displayed.  By the end of the class period, you will have many bright and beautiful butterflies hanging from the ceiling, each representing a child of Theresienstadt.

Examples: