Historical context: The Book thief
The Book Thief is a story that takes place in Nazi Germany. Many of us already know about the Holocaust - the discrimination and extermination of 6,000,000 Jews during Adolf Hitler's reign. But, do we know about other important events in Germany during this time period?
As we begin our reading of The Book Thief, it will help us to be familiar with more historical context of its setting.
As we begin our reading of The Book Thief, it will help us to be familiar with more historical context of its setting.
What's a webquest?
A WebQuest is a guided form of research. Here, you will be guided through some information about:
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Yes, the Googling has been done for you: on your behalf, I have gathered some valuable information on these subjects!
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Complete the assignment sheet below & gain the necessary historical context for the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
INSTRUCTIONS
Click on the file below, and make a "copy" of the Google Doc titled "Your Name, Webquest," and "share" your doc with me.
There are 10 sections with only 1-5 questions to complete for each. Scroll down for links to the information needed to complete the questions. For each section, click the link under the section title, then answer the corresponding questions on the worksheet.
There are 10 sections with only 1-5 questions to complete for each. Scroll down for links to the information needed to complete the questions. For each section, click the link under the section title, then answer the corresponding questions on the worksheet.
ENJOY YOUR RESEARCH!
BEGIN YOUR WEBQUEST HERE...
section 1: the term "holocaust"
Click Here: define "holocaust"
Then, answer the 2 corresponding questions to Section 1 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 2 corresponding questions to Section 1 on the assignment sheet:
- What does the term "holocaust" mean?
- With this in mind, why do you think the systematic slaughter of the Jews is called the Holocaust?
section 2: adolf hitler
Click Here: about Adolf Hitler
Then, answer the 6 corresponding questions to Section 2 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 6 corresponding questions to Section 2 on the assignment sheet:
- What did Hitler want to be at age 16?
- Who was the anti-semitic (against Jews) influence on his life?
- What happened to Hitler after the Beer Hall Putsch?
- What’s the name of his book? What does it mean?
- Why do you think the Germans believed Hitler was a good leader?
- What started World War II in Europe?
section 3: nuremberg race laws
Click Here: about the Nuremberg Race Laws
Then, answer the 1 corresponding question to Section 3 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 1 corresponding question to Section 3 on the assignment sheet:
- What was the purpose of the Nuremburg Race Laws?
SECTION 4: kristallnacht
Click Here: about Kristallnacht
Then, answer the 3 corresponding questions to Section 4 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 3 corresponding questions to Section 4 on the assignment sheet:
- What does “kristallnacht” mean?
- When did it happen?
- What was it?
section 5: ghettos
Click Here: about Ghettos
Then, answer the 4 corresponding questions to Section 5 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 4 corresponding questions to Section 5 on the assignment sheet:
- What did the term "ghetto" mean for Jews during WWII?
- How many types of ghettos were there?
- Where was the largest ghetto?
- Where was the biggest revolt against the ghettos?
section 6: nazi camps
Click Here: about Nazi Camps
Then, answer the 5 corresponding questions to Section 6 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 5 corresponding questions to Section 6 on the assignment sheet:
- How many camps were there?
- Who were the prisoners in these camps?
- What were concentration camps?
- What were extermination camps?
section 7: living as a youth in nazi germany
Click Here: about Living as a Youth in Nazi Germany
(click the above link, then click the arrows in the bottom left corner on the website to peruse several pages of information)
Then, answer the 3 corresponding questions to Section 7 on the assignment sheet:
(click the above link, then click the arrows in the bottom left corner on the website to peruse several pages of information)
Then, answer the 3 corresponding questions to Section 7 on the assignment sheet:
- What profession joined the Nazi party in the greatest numbers?
- What was the purpose of Hitler Youth?
- What were some typical activities for the League of German Girls?
section 8: book burning
Click Here: about a Book Burning event on May 10, 1933
Then, answer the 3 corresponding questions to Section 8 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 3 corresponding questions to Section 8 on the assignment sheet:
- Why were the books burned?
- Name two authors who were targets of the book burning.
- The website notes that one hundred years earlier the German poet, Heinrich Heine, had said, “Where books are burned, human beings are destined to be burned too.” Why is that significant?
section 9: jesse owens & the 1936 Olympics
Click Here: about Jesse Owens & the 1936 Olympics
Then, answer the 2 corresponding questions to Section 9 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the 2 corresponding questions to Section 9 on the assignment sheet:
- List 3 important facts about Jesse Owens.
- How did Jesse Owens prove Hitler wrong at the 1936 Olympics?
section 10: communism
Click Here: about Communism AND Click Here: about The Reichstag Fire
Then, answer the corresponding 4 questions to Section 10 on the assignment sheet:
Then, answer the corresponding 4 questions to Section 10 on the assignment sheet:
- In your own words, what is communism?
- Why would Hitler be opposed to it?
- What was The Reichstag Fire?
- Based on this information, why did Hitler hate the Communists?
you're done!
Once you have completed the corresponding questions for all 10 sections on the worksheet, you have completed the WebQuest. Please "share" with me your completed Google doc, or hand in your hard copy if you chose to complete it hand-written.