Week 1
Lesson 1
Introduction to Hitler and WWII
In our first class, we'll introduce ourselves, review the twelve-week topics, and cover a brief history of Hitler from 1933 to 1945, including the Nuremberg Laws, concentration camps, Nazi ideology, and the liberation of Jews. We'll also discuss student's final presentation, allowing students to apply their learning.

Homework: Read "Ruth and the Night of Broken Glass" by Emma Carlson Berne
 Week 2
Lesson 2
The Holocaust
In this week's class, we will delve deeper into the Holocaust and its history by discussing Emma Carlson Berne's book, "Ruth and the Night of Broken Glass." We will explore crucial topics such as the rise of antisemitism, the harrowing events of Kristallnacht (or the Night of Broken Glass), the living conditions of Ghettos for kids, and why Jews were sent to them. 

Homework: Read "A Bag of Marbles" by Joseph Joffo and the Holocaust worksheet
 Week 3
Lesson 3
A Bag Full of Marbles
Although Anne Frank's story is widely known, it's important to acknowledge that numerous other children also survived the Holocaust and have unique stories. In this class, we will delve into the accounts of several children who survived one of the darkest periods in history. We will also be discussing the book "A Bag of Marbles." 

Homework: Read "Lily Renée, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer" by Trina Robbins.
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Kindertransport
We'll discuss Lily Renée's story and the Kindertransport, exploring the efforts and reasons behind rescuing thousands of Jewish children. We'll also examine various methods used to help Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied countries.

Homework: Read "Once" by Morris Gleitzman
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Heroes
We'll discuss the book Once and Janusz Korczak. We'll also learn about heroes like Irena Sendler and Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus, who risked their lives to save children during the Holocaust.

Homework: Watch an animated video (which I will put in the classroom) and answer questions about the video. 
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Ukrainians
We'll discuss the 2.5 million young Ukrainians taken as Ostarbeiters to work in Germany, as well as the stories of Leon Leyson, Oskar Schindler, and other courageous young individuals.

Homework: Please read Lois Lowry's book, "Number the Stars," and complete the accompanying worksheet provided.
 Week 7
Lesson 7
What Happened In Denmark
In class, we'll discuss Lois Lowry's 'Number the Stars,' focusing on the heroic actions of the Danish people during the Nazi invasion and the book's symbolism. We'll also answer questions related to the text and connect it to our course material. We'll address the remaining questions and connect the book to our course material.

Homework: Watch an animated video (which I will put in the classroom) about a person and an artifact of theirs and answer questions about the video.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
The Young People's Rebellion
This week, we'll focus on young people who resisted the Nazis, including Knud Pedersen and The Churchill Club, the Swing Youth, the Edelweiss Pirates, and others.

Homework: Please read "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
 Week 9
Lesson 9
Helping Others
During this class, we will discuss several topics, including the Bielski partisans and their role in World War II, the Hitler Youth and their indoctrination tactics, and the Wave Project and its impact on social psychology.

Homework: Please read "They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei and “Tokyo Rose” by Andre R. Frattino
 Week 10
Lesson 10
Are They the Enemy?
In this class, we will delve into the graphic novel "They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei, exploring the experiences of Japanese-Americans during World War II, as well as the treatment of non-Japanese individuals in Japan, specifically Tokoyo Rose.
 
Homework: We will discuss the student's final project and determine how it is going.
 Week 11
Lesson 11
The Number is Not My Name
In this class, students will view the 18-minute documentary "The Number on Great-Grandpa's Arm,” followed by a discussion that draws connections to our prior weeks of learning. We will also meet some other young people who lived through this traumatic period.  

Homework: Finish your final project 
 Week 12
Lesson 12
Reflection
In our final class, students will present their final projects. If time allows, we'll watch "Kids Meet a Holocaust Survivor," followed by a reflective discussion on the course content, lessons learned, impactful moments, and ways to become more compassionate stewards. We'll emphasize the importance of continuing our journey of learning and growth.