The Holocaust Revisited A WebQuest inspired by Jane Yolen’s novel, The Devil’s Arithmetic

Introduction Home Upon completion of Jane Yolen’s novel, The Devil’s Arithmetic, we will be further investigating the Holocaust. You and your teammates will take on the role of a television news team, reporting on the horrors of the Holocaust. You will use the Internet to compile a news story, which you will present to the class.

Home The Task Introduction Your team’s job is to investigate the Holocaust, and report your findings to the community (the rest of the class). Each group member will have a specific role. The areas of focus will include: a) the concentration camps b) historical events of this time c) treatment of prisoners d) Holocaust survivor stories

Each member will be assigned a particular role on the news team Home Home Introduction Introduction Task Task Each member will be assigned a particular role on the news team The Journalist will investigate the camp members, and learn their stories. The Historian will collect historical facts on the Holocaust The Photographer will find photographs to accompany the news story.

Home Introduction Task Roles The Task (continued) Each member will be responsible for their own work and for cooperating with their team. To ensure everyone’s involvement, each member will be required to keep a journal, documenting the information they discover. Each member’s journal must include at least a page of information. I can’t imagine how awful it would be to live in a concentration camp. There are some camps that are still standing. Maybe I can visit one day.

The Process Each student will be assigned to a three-person team Home Introduction Task Task Roles The Process Each student will be assigned to a three-person team Each group member must take on the role of journalist, historian, or photographer The news team must present a seven to ten-minute “news report” to the rest of the class Every member must keep track of their research and information in their class journal

The Process (Role Assignments) Home Introduction Task Roles The Process (Role Assignments) The journalist must: compile a list of three prisoner stories create a list of five interview questions they will “ask” them create a personal report with reflections on the survivors’ stories present the report (with the team) to the class in a seven to ten-minute presentation

The Process (Role Assignments) Home Introduction Task Roles The Process (Role Assignments) Journalist The historian must: compile a list of three main events of WWII and how it affected the Holocaust write a short report (one page) in your journal, summarizing the events you chose present the report (with your team) to the class in a seven to ten-minute presentation

The Process (Role Assignments) Home Introduction Task Roles The Process (Role Assignments) Journalist Historian The photographer must: compile a page of pictures with sections on the camps, camp members, and survivors write a caption for each picture write a one-page reflection about the pictures collected present the report (with your team) to the class in a seven to ten-minute presentation

The Process (continued) Home Introduction Task Roles Journalist Historian Photographer The Process (continued) Once you have completed your investigation, work together with your group to create a seven to ten-minute news presentation to give to the rest of the class. Every team member must speak during the presentation Each team member is responsible for gathering and presenting his or her own information

The Process (continued) Home Introduction Task Roles Journalist Photographer The Process (continued) You may only use the websites provided in the WebQuest You must do your own work Each member must turn in their individual assignments and journals at the end of the project

Home Introduction Task Roles Journalist Historian Photographer Resources Journalists can retrieve information at the following Journalist sites. Historians can find information at the Historian sites. Photographers can find pictures at the following Photographer sites.

Home Introduction Task Roles Journalist Historian Photographer Evaluation Once you have completed your investigation, each team member must turn in a one-page reflection on their group activity. How did your team work together? Was everyone responsible for their own part of the presentation? Would you do anything differently for the next group activity?

Evaluation (continued) Home Introduction Task Roles Journalist Historian Photographer Evaluation (continued) The entire presentation/group activity will be worth 100 points 50 points will be given for the individual assignments (including group reflection) 20 points will be given for the news report 10 points will be given for proper group cooperation and collaboration

Home Introduction Task Roles Journalist Historian Photographer Conclusion Good job! Your news presentation and investigation will help spread knowledge about the Holocaust to your community! Continue on your quest to end discrimination and prejudice, and like Hannah, NEVER FORGET!

Teacher Page This WebQuest is designed to accompany Jane Yolen’s young adult novel, The Devil’s Arithmetic. It will be used in my classroom as part of a unit on discrimination and prejudice. The novel is an account of the Holocaust through the eyes of a child. It can be utilized in a classroom to teach: - independent reading - literacy skills - group cooperation / collaboration - presentation / oral communication skills