Secret Annex

Today the 7th grade Honors class performed an experiment to see what it would be like to live like Anne Frank for one class period. After moving the desks and chairs to one side we sat with the lights off for 55 minutes. The students were briefed to behave just as they would in the annex. That meant avoiding the windows to the outside and the hall, and avoiding making ANY noise that could possibly be detected on the other side of the wall or beneath us. In our silent assignment we were only able to communicate by writing notes to each other. Just as Anne passed the time by reflecting in Kitty, our students documented their experiences in their journals. Two students collaborated on the following poem (photo attached):

Seems like all they had is over now.

She's forced to rest without a sound.

Death moves quickly now, dying fear in every sound.

Whisper with me a lullaby. All I hear is 'good-bye'.

Every water I drink, only of blood shed do I think. ~ Draven Newman and Ty Berlin

Anne Frank Week 3

Friday Goal: page 89

Inquiry Question: Although it's the first holiday celebrated in the annex all the members get gifts. Describe a gift you ever received that was precious to you. What was it? Describe the situation.

Wednesday Paragraph: Is Anne a coward? Have you ever felt afraid or like a coward? When was it? Describe the circumstance.

Objectives/Themes: 1) Family dynamics/relationships 2) The dangers of Hate

Students explored and reflected on this quote:
"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away at its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Anne Frank Week 2

This week's assignments are as follows:

Friday Goal: Page 63

Inquiry Questions: Put yourself in Anne's shoes. What would you miss most while in hiding? (1 page)

Wednesday Paragraph: Describe a stressful experience in your life. Describe in detail how you behaved and how those around you reacted.


Weekly Objectives/Themes: 1) Understanding universal adolescence 2) Virtue vs. Immorality

*The quiz on Friday will be on pages 32-63 as well as section 2 vocab.

Jump into January

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful break. We have kicked off our second semester with the touching story of Anne Frank. After a brief overview of WWII and the Holocaust, students were anxious to get reading. Anne's story raises many questions and thoughts about life, family, politics and the quest for identity. For this reason, each student has received a journal of their own in which they will reflect on their reading, as well as themselves.
There will be a quiz Friday on all material leading up to page 32. The quiz will include short answer, book reference, high-level thinking, perspective, and vocabulary. We also have two journal entries due.
Mid-week paragraph entry: Anne immediately feels different feelings for the members on the annex. Explain a time when you had an immediate connection with someone or a time when the connection took awhile. How did you feel?
Inquiry question- 1 page: How are you like Anne?

Honors Wednesday journal entry : Study your 'Forget-Me-Not' card. Intuit feelings and experiences based on what you see in the picture.

We are off to a fabulous start and I look forward to all that is ahead! More to come.....