All But My Life ~ Gerda Weissmann Klein

As part of a World War II/Holocaust unit involving the reading of All But My Life, Lakeview HS students in the World at War class will post to this Weblog. The Big Ideas and Essential Questions addressed by the unit are listed below: 

Big Ideas – A big idea is a “conceptual anchor or key organizing principle” (a main underlying idea or an idea that serves as a central focus). Big ideas are meant to initiate inquiry, dialogue, and debate and are difficult to define. 

• Governments can do great harm and great good. 
• Individuals can do great harm and great good. 

Essential Questions – An Essential question is a question that engages and potentially motivates students. 

• How did governments act to protect and/or violate basic human rights during the WWII era? 
• What were the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and indifference as well as courage, valor, and faith within the context of the Holocaust? 

Write your feelings about or reactions to the following individuals who appear in All But My Life.  Please respond at anytime during your reading, especially after an especially important event in the memoir:

1. Arthur
2. Abek     
3. Gerda’s mother
4. Gerda’s father
5. Frau Kügler
6. Gerda’s friend Ilse
7. Gerda’s friend Suse
8. Gerda herself

On Thursday, October 26, 2006, during the annual Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) 33 Conference, a session was offered in support of Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein’s presentation in Battle Creek in spring 2007. United States Holocaust Museum Teacher Fellows Darryle Clott and Margaret Lincoln shared strategies and resources for integrating Klein’s memoir All but My Life into the curriculum and for involving Michigan students in this unforgettable author visit.

Sign up informtation for bringing student groups to hear Gerda Weissmann Klein’s April 16, 2007 address and for participating in the All But My Life blog is now available.