By Lois Lowry
Page Created By: Allison WHite NUMBER THE STARS
Part I: Written Response
Purpose Statement:
Imagine that you are Ellen. Write a first-person (I) letter to your parents after they left you to stay with Annemarie’s family. Try and imagine how you would feel, what your thoughts and fears would be, and what you think will happen to you and your family.
Imagine that you are Ellen. Write a first-person (I) letter to your parents after they left you to stay with Annemarie’s family. Try and imagine how you would feel, what your thoughts and fears would be, and what you think will happen to you and your family.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I am so scared! I know that you left me with the Johansen’s so that I would be safe, but what about you? Mr. and Mrs. Johansen told me not to worry, that Peter would make sure to protect you, but I still can’t help but be afraid for you. I am hoping and praying that you are safe…wherever you are!
Tonight, at the Johansen’s, dinner was tense. Everyone, except little Kirsti, of course, could tell that something wasn’t right. Even Annemarie knew something was wrong and her parents haven’t even told her what’s going on yet. She still thought that I was here just to sleepover for a few nights. Soon enough though, Mrs. Johansen took Kirsti out of the room and Mr. Johansen explained to Annemarie that I am here for a very special reason. He told her just what you told me, that the Nazis are beginning to round up all of the Jewish people in Copenhagen and take them somewhere. Of course, Annemarie asked where they were being taken, just like I asked you when you told me. Mr. Johansen said that they don’t know exactly where, but they do know that it isn’t someplace good, so they must protect their Jewish friends, like me.
Just talking about all of this made me so terrified. I started to get uneasy and Mr. Johansen tried to calm me down by saying that they would pretend that I was their other daughter to hide me. At first, I didn’t understand what “other daughter” he meant. The Johansen’s only have two daughters, Annemarie and Kirsti. Then I remembered about Lise. It had been a few years since Lise had passed away and no one really talked about it, but I suddenly realized that the Johansen’s were going to pretend that I was Lise. We both had the same color hair as kids, but Lise was much older than me. I don’t know how this is going to work, but I sure hope it does!
Later that night, Annemarie and I were getting ready for bed when I started to get worried again. Annemarie calmed me down by saying that if the Nazis do come that I’ll get to practice my acting skills by pretending to be Lise. Annemarie knows I want to be an actress someday, so this made me feel much better. She’s such a good friend!!!
In the middle of the night, Annemarie shook me awake telling me that the Nazis were at the door of their house. I started to tremble with fear and I couldn’t think. Luckily, Annemarie noticed that I was still wearing my Star of David necklace and ripped it from my neck to hide it in her hand. Then, in search of our (The Rosen’s) family, the Nazis made us come into the living room and say our names. I told them my name was Lise, but they didn’t believe me because both Annemarie and Kirsti have blonde hair and mine is brown. Thank goodness Mr. Johansen is so smart, because he quickly went and ripped out some baby pictures from a photo album that showed Lise with brown hair as a baby. The mean Nazi soldier was so mad that he took the photo and tore it into pieces and left. I couldn’t believe that it had worked!
After they left, I told Mr. and Mrs. Johansen that I was sorry for not having blonde hair, but they reminded me of Lise who also had my same hair color as a baby. It was so weird and sad to hear them talk about Lise…they usually never do. Then, knowing we were no longer safe here, we began to think of a plan. I think tomorrow, instead of going to school, Mrs. Johansen is taking Annemarie, Kirsti, and I to stay with Uncle Henrik by the sea. I hope that we are safer there than we are here! I am so scared, Mom and Dad, and that makes me feel so selfish because I’m in a pretty safe place and you’re probably not. Wherever you are, I hope Peter is taking good care of you! (It feels weird that if I really were Lise, that Peter would be my fiancé. I bet he misses her so much!)
Anyways, I miss you so much and I can’t wait until we can be together again…someday soon, I hope! Please write to me as soon as you can! I just want to know that you are safe! I love you so much!!!
Your daughter,
Ellen
I am so scared! I know that you left me with the Johansen’s so that I would be safe, but what about you? Mr. and Mrs. Johansen told me not to worry, that Peter would make sure to protect you, but I still can’t help but be afraid for you. I am hoping and praying that you are safe…wherever you are!
Tonight, at the Johansen’s, dinner was tense. Everyone, except little Kirsti, of course, could tell that something wasn’t right. Even Annemarie knew something was wrong and her parents haven’t even told her what’s going on yet. She still thought that I was here just to sleepover for a few nights. Soon enough though, Mrs. Johansen took Kirsti out of the room and Mr. Johansen explained to Annemarie that I am here for a very special reason. He told her just what you told me, that the Nazis are beginning to round up all of the Jewish people in Copenhagen and take them somewhere. Of course, Annemarie asked where they were being taken, just like I asked you when you told me. Mr. Johansen said that they don’t know exactly where, but they do know that it isn’t someplace good, so they must protect their Jewish friends, like me.
Just talking about all of this made me so terrified. I started to get uneasy and Mr. Johansen tried to calm me down by saying that they would pretend that I was their other daughter to hide me. At first, I didn’t understand what “other daughter” he meant. The Johansen’s only have two daughters, Annemarie and Kirsti. Then I remembered about Lise. It had been a few years since Lise had passed away and no one really talked about it, but I suddenly realized that the Johansen’s were going to pretend that I was Lise. We both had the same color hair as kids, but Lise was much older than me. I don’t know how this is going to work, but I sure hope it does!
Later that night, Annemarie and I were getting ready for bed when I started to get worried again. Annemarie calmed me down by saying that if the Nazis do come that I’ll get to practice my acting skills by pretending to be Lise. Annemarie knows I want to be an actress someday, so this made me feel much better. She’s such a good friend!!!
In the middle of the night, Annemarie shook me awake telling me that the Nazis were at the door of their house. I started to tremble with fear and I couldn’t think. Luckily, Annemarie noticed that I was still wearing my Star of David necklace and ripped it from my neck to hide it in her hand. Then, in search of our (The Rosen’s) family, the Nazis made us come into the living room and say our names. I told them my name was Lise, but they didn’t believe me because both Annemarie and Kirsti have blonde hair and mine is brown. Thank goodness Mr. Johansen is so smart, because he quickly went and ripped out some baby pictures from a photo album that showed Lise with brown hair as a baby. The mean Nazi soldier was so mad that he took the photo and tore it into pieces and left. I couldn’t believe that it had worked!
After they left, I told Mr. and Mrs. Johansen that I was sorry for not having blonde hair, but they reminded me of Lise who also had my same hair color as a baby. It was so weird and sad to hear them talk about Lise…they usually never do. Then, knowing we were no longer safe here, we began to think of a plan. I think tomorrow, instead of going to school, Mrs. Johansen is taking Annemarie, Kirsti, and I to stay with Uncle Henrik by the sea. I hope that we are safer there than we are here! I am so scared, Mom and Dad, and that makes me feel so selfish because I’m in a pretty safe place and you’re probably not. Wherever you are, I hope Peter is taking good care of you! (It feels weird that if I really were Lise, that Peter would be my fiancé. I bet he misses her so much!)
Anyways, I miss you so much and I can’t wait until we can be together again…someday soon, I hope! Please write to me as soon as you can! I just want to know that you are safe! I love you so much!!!
Your daughter,
Ellen
Part II: Podcasting
Purpose Statement:
Many people believe that lying is never acceptable. Thinking about the different situations that occur in Number The Stars, in the form of a news interview argue whether or not you think that lying is acceptable all the time, in certain situations, or never.
Many people believe that lying is never acceptable. Thinking about the different situations that occur in Number The Stars, in the form of a news interview argue whether or not you think that lying is acceptable all the time, in certain situations, or never.
Part III: Digital Storytelling
Purpose Statement:
Create a digital story that researches and explores what would have happened to Ellen and her family if they would have been caught by the Gestapo and sent to a concentration camp. In other words, what would it be like to be a prisoner in a concentration camp.
Create a digital story that researches and explores what would have happened to Ellen and her family if they would have been caught by the Gestapo and sent to a concentration camp. In other words, what would it be like to be a prisoner in a concentration camp.
Life Inside from Allison White on Vimeo.
Part IV: Infographic
Purpose Statement:
Create an infographic that uses research to enhance understanding of an important issue raised in the book.
Create an infographic that uses research to enhance understanding of an important issue raised in the book.