Week of September 4

This week we will cover one of my favorite topics and start one of my other favorites. (Who am I kidding? It's ALL my favorite topics...) I am excited to talk about Judaism with you (and to see you do the dance) and I think propaganda is a key to the entire Holocaust study.

Monday, 9/3
OFF!!!!!!!

Tuesday, 9/4
Guest speaker, Doug Murray (Professor at Lee University) about the history of the Jews

Wednesday, 9/5
Judaism- discussion, activity

Thursday, 9/6
Propaganda activity

Friday, 9/7
Propaganda

Living On

I thought instead of going one person at a time in the computer lab, it would be easier to link the Living On website and instructions from here. In addition, you might want to browse it more at a later date.

Living On is a website that contains information from a project the Tennessee Holocaust Commission did to preserve the memory of survivors and liberators who are now Tennesseans. It is a wonderful program, complete with a gallery of large black and white photos and excerpts from the interviews. I also have the video documentary that was produced, which we might have time to watch one day.

Your job is to find someone that you would like to "follow" through the semester. You will just create a timeline of his or her life in order to be aware, as we talk about the chronology of the Holocaust, where he or she would have been at any given time. On the Living On website, you can search either Survivors, Hidden Children, or Refugees. I can direct you to some very interesting ones and I can also tell you which of these survivors I have heard speak.

Once you have found one, check with me to make sure another classmate has not selected that person. After I approve it, you can create your timeline and familiarize yourself with the story of your survivor.

"Fiddler" and Traditions

What specific aspects of the movie do you think best illustrated the familial relationships and traditions that are so important in Jewish culture? Do you think those two elements benefitted the Jews during the Holocaust or did they benefit their destroyers? In other words, would close family ties and a strong sense of tradition have helped the Jews survive the Holocaust or would they have instead served to make them more vulnerable?

Week of August 27

Seriously, is August almost past? This semester is going to fly by, I can tell already. Enjoyed Unit 1 a lot with you all... Would love to see some comments on the reflection blog post, if you have a little time. I think you are just going to get more and more into everything as we learn more about the Holocaust.  This week will include some great research on Jewish life pre-WWII.

Monday, 8/27
Finish "Fiddler", group discussion/activity

Tuesday, 8/28
Research photos

Wednesday, 8/29
Research town, etc

Thursday, 8/30
Share and discuss

Friday, 8/31
"Image before my Eyes"

Reflections on Unit 1

What thoughts do you have after our initial unit, which is a foundation for the class? We have discussed prejudice, discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism, genocide... Were there things you wanted to say in class, but didn't? What are your feelings on having watched "GATTACA"? Can you see the dangers of an "equal" society?

Week of August 20

I appreciate your participation thus far in discussion! You guys are doing a good job.  This week we will finish Unit 1 and move on with Unit 2. We are getting closer to the specifics of the Holocaust!

Monday, 8/20
Racism

Tuesday, 8/21
Holocaust/Shoah, anti-Semitism, Genocide

Wednesday, 8/22
Test

Thursday, 8/23
Elements of drama
"Fiddler on the Roof"

Friday, 8/24
"Fiddler on the Roof"

Week of August 13

I am so excited about all of the writers and readers and history buffs in this class! This week we are beginning to lay the foundation for the events of the Holocaust, and to do that, we need to take a hard look at prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, racism, anti-Semitism, and genocide. We will do those things and more this week and next! Monday, 8/13 Word Origins game Tuesday, 8/14 Prejudice/Discrimination Gave out copies of The Book Thief-- due 9/28 Wednesday, 8/15 Stereotyping Homework: bring in fact/opinion examples BE SURE TO RETURN PARENT FILM PERMISSION FORM!

Thursday, 8/16 GATTACA Friday, 8/17 GATTACA finished and discussion

Welcome to Holocaust Literature!

I know we've only been together 125 minutes. However, I can tell you that I have a really great feeling about this class based on that 125 minutes. I know this semester will fly by and we will be looking back on today thinking that it seems like yesterday. I am really excited to dig into everything starting on Monday! Stay with me!