https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm CLASSIC NOVEL: NUMBER THE STARS en-us 2020-11-23 21:46:55 UTC 2025-11-25 21:15:19 UTC hello@padlet.com ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954147518 Middle/Intermediate Grades (4-8) 
This is a classic novel not only because of the year it was published (1989), but also because it won a Newbery Medal in 1990 and the National Jewish Book Award in 1990 as well. It is special to me personally, because I remember my 4th grade teacher reading it to our class. It is memorable and engaging and has great value for a middle school classroom.

Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

]]> 2020-11-23 21:49:20 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954147518 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954149099 -Author's Purpose/Craft/POV
-Using historical background knowledge (The Holocaust/World War II/etc.)
-Inferring the main idea and theme
-Evaluating character traits using text evidence 
-Drawing conclusions and making predictions


]]> 2020-11-23 21:50:08 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954149099 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954157790 -the challenges of growing up (coming of age)
-friendship & belonging
-the loss of innocence 
-learning to be brave in the face of danger]]> 2020-11-23 21:54:46 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954157790 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954195387 This is a historical fiction picture book published in 2000. This picture book mirrors the themes relating to bravery and friendship that can be found in Number the Stars the other texts.

Polacco, P. (2000). The Butterfly. New York : Philomel Books]]> 2020-11-23 22:14:47 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954195387 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954211239 This historical fiction picture book published in 1995 (and illustrated in 1996) employs the skills of point of view, and using historical background knowledge to understand when the Nazis invaded France from the point of view of a young girl (similar to the POV of Number the Stars). I actually remember reading this book in elementary school myself.

Hoestlandt, J. (1995). Star of Fear, Star of Hope. Bloomsbury USA Childrens.]]> 2020-11-23 22:23:43 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954211239 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954237951 This is a powerful historical fiction book (and it's a New York Times Bestseller for 2017). My 6th graders were hooked on this book last year! This book tackles children who are refugees at three different times in history (Germany in the 1930s, Cuba in 1994, and Syria in 2015). One of my students last year said that she got in trouble for staying up too late to read this book, and that it moved her to tears. Some overlapping themes between this novel and the classic are...the loss of innocence & learning to be brave in the face of danger. 

Gratz, A., & OverDrive Inc. (2017). Refugee (First edition.). New York: Scholastic Press.]]> 2020-11-23 22:39:01 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954237951 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954274076 This historical fiction book told in verse relates to the classic novel because of the similarities between the conflict in the main characters. In this novel, the main character, Ha, must find the bravery to flee her home in Saigon during the Vietnam War. This is similar to the experience of Annemarie and Ellen in Number the Stars. This book also similar to Refugee.

Lai, T., & Shappell, R. (2011). Inside out & back again. New York: Harper.]]> 2020-11-23 22:58:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954274076 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954284022 This book was published very recently (2019) and can connect to all of the books included on this Padlet. This novel directly relates to Refugee by Alan Gratz because the main character is a 9-year-old Syrian refugee who starts school in London. Readers can find parallels between Ahmet and Mahmoud (Refugee), as well as Annemarie (Number the Stars) through using the skill of historical background knowledge and inferring.

Raúf, O. Q., & Curnick, P. (2019). The boy at the back of the class. New York : Delacorte Press.]]> 2020-11-23 23:05:02 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954284022 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954305903 This beautiful novel is a NYT Bestseller told from the point of view of a neighborhood tree. This novel incorporates themes of friendship & belonging, and literacy skills of point of view. Because of these reasons, Wishtree connects well to the other literature included here.

Applegate, K., & Santoso, C. (2017). Wishtree. New York, NY : Feiwel and Friends.]]> 2020-11-23 23:19:58 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954305903 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954331882 This book is a part of the nonfiction series "What Was?" which presents historical events for middle grade students on a range of topics. This specific edition would help students better understand the historical details leading up to the Holocaust. 

Herman, G. (2018) What Was the Holocaust? United Kingdom: Penguin Workshop.]]> 2020-11-23 23:37:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954331882 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954430082 1. How would you describe the character's traits in this story?
2. What is the central theme of this story?
3. How does the historical context of the story effect the plot (and or theme)?]]> 2020-11-24 00:37:00 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954430082 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954513314 I have used this video this year, and in years past to support students in understanding point of view. A free trial membership is needed to show the full video to the students. ]]> 2020-11-24 01:16:57 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954513314 ok626 https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954533611 This anchor chart is directly from the curriculum that my district uses, The Units of Study for teaching reading. This anchor chart is specifically for the historical fiction unit, which would help support students while they are interacting with one of the texts. ]]> 2020-11-24 01:27:23 UTC https://padlet.com/ok626/p87yu3z0jeapfzlm/wish/954533611