Salt to the Sea- Ruta Sepetys Historical Fiction Teens
This 2-week Humanities book study leads readers to learn of the greatest marine disaster through the travels of four fictional people. Through these characters, we learn about WWII refugees fleeing from the Soviet Army.
Kim Guthriegabs M. Ed
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(423)
Star Educator
Popular
What's included
8 live meetings
7 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Weekly discussion guides provided by the teacher. Writing prompts for additional work outside of the classroom. Map the setting of the story. Create a timeline of WWII in Europe.Assessment
Kahoot! review quizClass Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
This 2-week book Humanities class leads students to discuss the story of 4 people. The people are fictional, but the World War II events are true.
Students will analyze the characters, the text, and the overall story.
I teach using visual slides, guided notes, and class discussions to analyze the writing and story. This book leads to organic discussions of what is right and what is wrong. Do the situation and setting determine what is right and wrong?
I encourage readers to make personal and global connections to the story.
Learners will be provided with:
**discussion pages to dive deeper into the writing and vocabulary used by the
author.
**discussion of the use of the author's use of imagery, figurative language,
foreshadowing
**short videos about the history of the story
1. The first lesson provides a history lesson to help students better understand the background and setting of the story. We will discuss the Nazi government ideology, Hitler's Final Solution, and Operation Hannibal. In addition, we will review vocabulary for the weekly reading.
2. In the second lesson we will create character profiles for each of the four main characters.
Lessons:
1. Introduction and background information about the setting-vocabulary review. Read pages 1-8.
2. pages 8-52
3. pages 53-100
4. pages 101-188
5.pages 189-240
6. pages 241-291
7. pages 292-345
8. pages 346-378
This class is a great segue to learn more about the US Army's Monument Men and the loss of art during World War II.
Awards for "Salt to the Sea":
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the Carnegie Medal
A New York Times Notable Book
Winner of the Indies Choice Award 2017
Winner of the Golden Kite Award for Fiction 2016
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Winner of the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016
Finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award 2017
Notable Books for a Global Society 2017
Winner of the Crystal Kite Award for Fiction 2017
Publishers Weekly Best Young Adult Books of 2016
School Library Journal Best Books of 2016
Booklist Top Ten Books for Youth 2016
ALA Notable Books for Children Nominee 2016
YALSA Top Ten Teen Books of 2017
Shelf Awareness Best Teen Novels of 2016
Winner of the Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction 2016
Los Angeles Public Library Best Teen Books of 2016
Capitol Choices List 2017
ILA Young Adult Reading List 2017Learning Goals
: Express your opinion about the issue you want to focus on for your study and infer what the author’s opinion is about this same issue.
2. Describe a character in-depth and explain how various aspects of the character relate to other literary elements of the novel. (E.g: how does character relate to setting or theme?)
3. Describe how a character’s personality, attitudes, conflict and relationships change and explain why these changes are important to the novel
4. Infer the author’s purpose for writing this novel.
5. Explain how the author develops the theme in the novel.
6. Make connections between the novel and any or all of the following: your personal world, aspects of human nature, society and the wider world, history..
7. Create a list of quotes that describe character, conflicts, and theme.
Map the setting of the story.
Create a timeline of the setting.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This story is set in Europe during WWII. The story is based on a real event where thousands of people died during the sinking of a ship in the Baltic Sea. We will discuss the Nazi government, ideology, laws, Final Solution, and Operation Hannibal. It is obvious that we will discuss the death and destruction that war causes and how people react. This study is not taking sides against or for anyone's past government system, but we will talk about moral rights and what is universally accepted as wrong. It is by openly talking about the past, that we can plan for a better future. I expect students to be kind to each other's views during our discussions.
I will not go into details about the specific details of the horrors of WWII. I will answer questions and direct students to resources to answer more specific questions as necessary.
Supply List
The YA novel, "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys. Published by Penguin House books. teacher provided handouts
Language of Instruction
English
Joined April, 2020
4.9
423reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
South Carolina Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from Southern Wesleyan
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Limestone University
I am both state-licensed and certified as highly qualified to teach middle school history and reading. I have taught in a public school classroom for over 15 years. I was the lead history teacher for my school as well as a district reading teacher of the year. Personally, I have spent much of my free time researching and traveling to historical landmarks in the United States and Europe. I believe that in every story there are three stories: Each side's point of view and the facts. Reviews
Live Group Class
$50
weekly or $100 for 8 classes4x per week, 2 weeks
55 min
Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-6 learners per class
