1. Aim: Why do people act as bystanders?
Do Now: What would you do if Nazis came for your neighbors?
Link to Film: survivor-remembers

2. At your tables, discuss:
What was most compelling about Gerda’s story?
Was it the way she told it? The people? Her survival?
What moment stuck with you the most?

3. At your tables, come up with definitions
victim
oppressor
Who in One Survivor Remembers was a victim? An oppressor?

4. Bystander
A person who is present at an event without participating in the central actions of the event. Bystanders sometimes actively or passively condone or condemn the central actions by their words or actions or, alternately, by their silence or inaction.

5. Khan Academy: Bystander Effect

6. On Loose-Leaf WITHOUT Your Name
PUT YOUR RESPONSES ON THE BLUE LID WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED
Respond to the following:
Think about your experiences in this school, moments when you’ve witnessed people being unkind and rude, even downright mean. This is anonymous, so be as honest as possible. For example, a student at another school wrote, “A buddy of mine greets me every time by saying, ‘What’s up fag?’ One of my friends is gay and I think it’s a totally stupid way to say hello to someone, but I never tell him to stop it.” Write from your own bystander position detailing three scenes you watched and did nothing to stop. Don’t use other people’s names, but be as detailed as possible.

7. Book Club Groups
In your book clubs, discuss the following question as it pertains to your book:
What role does denial play when people act as bystanders or go along with horrendous crimes?

8. Wrap Up! How can we be so sure we won’t act as bystanders?
How can we teach others to step up and act when witness to bigotry, hate, bullying, etc.?