The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Book Club-Characters, Themes, Symbols, Vocab
In this 5-week course, we will read aloud together The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, and discuss characters, themes, symbolism, and learn new vocabulary.
Kathy Pudil
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(40)
What's included
10 live meetings
8 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. We will read the text together aloud in class. If a student chooses to read ahead, that is fine. I only ask that they not give away any details to other learners. We will have weekly vocabulary enrichment activities to promote authentic use of new words. These will be completed in class as much as possible. An end-of book project can be completed as a response to the story.Assessment
Informal assessment in class of engagement, understanding, and learning will assist in determining how in depth our discussions may develop, or how much review we need before continuing to the next piece of the text. Comprehension questions are for showing understanding and connection to the literature. For the end-of-book project, a 4-point evaluation will be provided: 4-excellent understanding shown in work & details , 3-good understanding shown in work & details, 2-adequate understanding shown, although some ideas may be overlooked, 1-improvement needed to show full understanding of text and themes.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is a story set in WWII about a fictional friendship between a boy who is the son of a Nazi officer, and a boy who is in a concentration camp. Although by the author's own admission, this is not an accurate portrayal of historical events, as a novel, it explores themes of friendship, innocence, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, courage, humanity, and obedience versus conformity. We will study relevant vocabulary and discuss characters' choices in reflection of what we learn about the different themes the story brings to light. We will use games, puzzles, and definitions to learn the vocabulary. Each week we will read together 25-30 pages, usually around 2-4 chapters, and we will discuss the story, the characters, and what we can learn from them. Here is a weekly schedule (please realize that the dates may be flexible, if you need a different day/time for the class schedule, I will accommodate as best I can):
Week 1: January 3rd Chapters 1-3 vocabulary: muster, chaos, dismissive, presume, desolate, foreseeable, content, exasperation, indicate
January 5th Chapters 4-6 vocabulary: plaque, conviction, countered, discard, deliberate, despite, peckish, obliged, incredulous
Week 2: January 10th Chapters 7-8 vocabulary: prospect, escapade, diversion, dominate, coincide, summon
January 12th Chapters 9-10 vocabulary: despair, forlorn, resolution
Week 3: January 17th Chapters 11-12 vocabulary: enunciate, disdain, snippets, contradict
January 19th Chapters 13-14 vocabulary: catastrophe, torrent, incumbent, dilemma, crucial, existence, sophistication
Week 4: January 24th Chapters 15-16 vocabulary: grimace, departure, inconsolable, consult, misshapen, dwindle
January 26th Chapters 17-18 vocabulary: senile, explicit, reluctant
Week 5: January 31st Chapters 19-20 vocabulary: implanted, unaccustomed
February 2nd vocabulary review, evaluation, and closure of story; next book study?Learning Goals
Students will learn about the themes of friendship, innocence, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, courage, humanity, and obedience versus conformity. We will study relevant vocabulary and discuss characters' choices in reflection of what we learn about the different themes the story brings to light. Symbolism of the swastika and Jewish Star of David will also be discussed.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Sensitive subjects include discrimination, prejudice, violence, events of the holocaust. These will be approached in class with compassion, and empathy, aiming to understand why the characters behave the way they do.
We will emphasize that The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a FICTIONAL story, and contains many inconsistencies to what true historical events were like. Please be clear that we are NOT examining this novel as a historical study, or in order to understand historical events. Rather it is a study of humans, how they interact, and how we can make choices that promote positive interactions among one another, regardless of our differences.
Supply List
A copy of book: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne A pencil or pen and paper to record thoughts, reflections, and vocabulary words & meanings
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined October, 2021
5.0
40reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Missouri Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree in Education from University of Missouri-Columbia
I have used this book multiple times as a read aloud in a middle school classroom setting. It generates meaningful discussion of the themes represented in the novel. Maturity of the student(s) will be considered to determine how in depth the controversial subjects like discrimination, bullying, prejudice, and violence will be discussed. Although as a middle school social studies and language arts teacher, I used this book as a great interdisciplinary tool alongside a historical study of the holocaust, it is not, in itself, an accurate representation of historical events.Reviews
Live Group Class
$36
weekly or $180 for 10 classes2x per week, 5 weeks
50 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
1-4 learners per class
