Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Number the Stars: Chapters 5 and 6

Did You Know?
Many of the world’s religions share beliefs about the importance of treating other people well.
One of these shared beliefs is the golden rule. In the collection of Jewish teaching called the
Talmud, this rule is stated as “The things you hate should not be done to others.” Christianity’s
Book of Luke in the New Testament states, “Do to others what you would wish them to do to
you.” Islam teaches, “You are not a real Muslim until you want for other people what you want
for yourself.” The Hindu Mahabharata states, “Do nothing to others that would cause you pain if
they did it to you.”

Why do you think that the soldiers were against the Jews and others while the Johansen's were working to protect them?

Monday, February 6, 2012

Number the Stars: Chapters 3 and 4

In Chapter 3 page 25 Annemarie says "Now I think that all of Denmark must be the bodyguard for the Jews, as well".  On page 26 the narrator tells us that Annemarie is glad she is an "ordinary person who will never be called upon for courage". 

Compare and contrast these statements. Is Annemarie courageous or timid?

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Number the Stars: Chapters 1and 2


Welcome to the first edition of our Number the Stars blog.  Students have read Chapters 1-3 (as of today) and are working on learning how to discuss books in "Book Clubs" at school.  Please join us in our online discussion through your personal response to the text or an encouraging comment to others posts.

Chapter 1/2
What does Mrs. Rosen mean when she tells the girls, "It is important to be one of the crowd, always?"  How do you think Annemarie will react to Mrs. Rosen's direction?  How will Ellen react?

When answering this question think about how Annemarie and Ellen's lives have changed over the past three years (look in Chapter 2).