As a teacher, you are always on the lookout for innovative ways to engage and inspire your students. One way to achieve this is through the use of literature that not only entertains but also educates. This is where Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz comes in.
Projekt 1065 is a historical fiction novel written by Alan Gratz. The story is set in Nazi Germany during World War II and follows the life of Michael O’Shaunessey, a young Irish-German boy who becomes a member of the Hitler Youth. However, Michael’s true loyalty lies with the Allies, and he becomes a spy for the British.
Benefits of Using Projekt 1065 in Your Classroom
Is an Engaging and Interesting Novel: One of the primary benefits of using Projekt 1065 in the classroom is that it is an engaging and interesting read for students. The novel is set during World War II and follows the story of a young boy named Michael O’Shaunessey, who is a member of the Hitler Youth. The plot of the book is full of twists and turns, making it a captivating story for students to follow. As a result, teachers can use the book to promote independent reading, which has been shown to improve literacy and language skills.
Provides Historical Context: Projekt 1065 also provides a historical context for students to learn about World War II. By incorporating this novel into their lesson plans, teachers can help students understand the events leading up to and during the war. This can include exploring the political climate of the time, the rise of Nazi Germany, and the impact of the war on ordinary people. The book is well-researched and offers an accurate portrayal of the time period, making it a valuable resource for educators.
Promotes Critical Thinking: Another benefit of using Projekt 1065 in the classroom is that it promotes critical thinking skills. Throughout the book, Michael is forced to make difficult decisions and grapple with ethical dilemmas. This provides an opportunity for students to discuss and analyze the choices that Michael makes, encouraging them to think critically about their own values and beliefs. Teachers can use these discussions to facilitate meaningful conversations about morality and decision-making.
Provides Opportunities for Multidisciplinary Learning: Projekt 1065 also lends itself to multidisciplinary learning. The novel incorporates elements of history, science, technology, and ethics, providing opportunities for teachers to incorporate these subjects into their lesson plans. For example, teachers can use the book to teach about the role of technology in World War II, the scientific principles behind the inventions featured in the book, and the ethical considerations of war.
Encourage Personal Growth: Using Projekt 1065 in the classroom can promote personal growth for students. Michael’s character undergoes significant changes throughout the book, and students can learn from his experiences. The book explores themes of identity, loyalty, and courage, providing opportunities for students to reflect on their own values and beliefs. By encouraging students to think deeply about these themes, teachers can help promote personal growth and development.
Provides Relevant Lessons for Today: Projekt 1065 can help students understand and analyze current events. The novel highlights the dangers of propaganda, the importance of standing up for what is right, and the need to fight against injustice. These are all relevant lessons that can be applied to today’s world, making the book a valuable resource for teaching important life skills.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Projekt 1065
This book will capture the attention of even your most reluctant reader with the fast-paced, action-packed story. Students will get a glimpse into the brainwashing and fear-mongering tactics that the Nazis used to gain power and do it in such a way that will make it relatable to the middle-school mindset. It really makes kids think about the Holocaust and WWII in a way that makes them want to learn more. This novel study is great to use as a complement to a history unit on WWII and the Holocaust.
Projekt 1065 is a valuable resource for teachers looking to engage their students in meaningful learning experiences. By incorporating the novel into their lesson plans, teachers can promote independent reading, historical understanding, critical thinking, multidisciplinary learning, and personal growth. These benefits make Projekt 1065 an excellent choice for teachers looking to enhance their students’ education.
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Projekt 1065, which includes informational WebQuests to learn more about the Sturmabteilung (SA), the Gestapo, Kristallnacht, Operation Paperclip, and The Manhattan Project for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
Click here or the image below to join my Facebook group, Book Talk with The Teaching Bank!
*The Teaching Bank participates in the Amazon Associate Program and earns a fee from qualifying purchases made on the Amazon.com site.
If you are a child of the 1970s and ’80s like I am, then you grew up with the revered Little House books (and TV series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As times have progressed and changed we’ve looked back at these stories with a new perspective in regards to racial issues. In 2018, the American Library Association changed the name of their top award from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to the Children’s Literature Legacy Award in response to the change in perspective and inclusiveness in today’s society.
Many people believe that there is no place for the work of Laura Ingalls Wilder in our society. While many other people believe the whole thing is overblown and nothing is wrong with the books. I don’t really fall into either of the categories. I absolutely see the points being made that Wilder’s depictions of African Americans, and especially Native Americans, are derogatory through our 21st-century eyes. I feel though, that there is merit in her work and this topic gives a teacher a vital opportunity to use as a teachable moment. We can’t ignore history and pretend it never happened. We need to shed the light on the mistreatments and inaccuracies for what they are and learn from those mistakes so as not to repeat them.
One of the best blog posts I have read on this subject is by Laura McLemore in her post found here. It puts into historical perspective the times that Wilder was living in during the story and keeping in mind these books were authored in the 1930s written through the eyes of an impressionable child who didn’t really have all the knowledge to address the fears she had. A very different time for our country and culture. We know many of the views and actions perpetrated during this time were outright wrong and based on false knowledge. If you look through Wilder’s eyes with these points in mind you can gain a perspective of WHY she may have written and believed the things she did without having to agree with it. You can identify the wrong points in her writing and actions and use the hurtful content to help students understand why this is wrong and how these beliefs continued to hurt as time passed. Kids need to learn these things and they need to know why it was wrong in order for the future to be a better place.
Because of these beliefs that the Laura Ingalls Wilder books can be used as a tool for greater understanding, a teachable moment, I still feel they have a valuable place in the classroom. Her descriptions of pioneer living are invaluable for children to gain an insight into what it was like living during the late 1800s and what hardships the pioneers faced as they moved west. However, if you do choose to use these books I really do feel strongly that it is imperative that you give kids the proper historical perspectives and facts. Help them understand the true, and sometimes very awful, part of the history of the western expansion of the United States.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder series begins with Little House in the Big Woods. It is the story of a young Laura and her family living in Wisconsin before heading farther West into the prairies of the Midwest.
From the Book Jacket:
Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods is the first book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams.
Little House in the Big Woods takes place in 1871 and introduces us to four-year-old Laura, who lives in a log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. She shares the cabin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their lovable dog, Jack.
Pioneer life isn’t easy for the Ingalls family since they must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But they make the best of every tough situation. They celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do their spring planting, bring in the harvest in the fall, and make their first trip into town. And every night, safe and warm in their little house, the sound of Pa’s fiddle lulls Laura and her sisters into sleep.
The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Little House in the Big Woods
Your students can continue on with Wilder’s Little House series that goes through her life from Wisconsin to the prairies of the Midwest to growing up and marrying. They really do give students an insight into what life during the Homestead times was like. Just make sure you do the work of giving your students all the facts and information so that they can view this series in the proper perspective with the proper knowledge of our inclusive times.
I offer a complete novel study to accompany book 1 in the series, Little House in the Big Woods, for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
In our busy classrooms, we often find that social studies gets pushed to the side to make room for things that take priority for testing and data collection. It’s not that we don’t want to teach social studies, it’s just sometimes hard to find the time. One great way to incorporate social studies is to use a historical fiction novel study in reading. You get all the work on the high priority reading skills and hit the social studies curriculum at the same time. This method can be very engaging for students and they end up with a deeper impact when history comes to life for them in the story. One great book to use while teaching about the early colonization of America is Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone.
Blood on the River was first published in 2006. It tells the real-life story of Samuel Collier who voyages to the New World along with Captain John Smith to colonize Jamestown in 1607.
Summary of Blood on the River:
*From the book jacket
Twelve-year-old Samuel Collier is a lowly commoner on the streets of London. So when he becomes the page of Captain John Smith and boards the Susan Constant, bound for the New World, he can’t believe his good fortune. He’s heard that gold washes ashore with every tide. But beginning with the stormy journey and his first contact with the native people, he realizes that the New World is nothing like he imagined. The lush Virginia shore where they establish the colony of James Town is both beautiful and forbidding, and it’s hard to know who’s a friend or foe. As he learns the language of the Powhatan Indians and observes Captain Smith’s wise diplomacy, Samuel begins to see that he can be whomever he wants to be in this new land.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Blood on the River
Elisa Carbone takes some creative license with the story of Samuel Collier, but the story is rooted in fact and is deeply researched. It gives students a thorough idea of what it must have been like to come to the New World at this time in history. It also chronicles the relationship, both positive and negative, of the colonists with the Powhatan tribe living in the Virginia area. Students learn the real-life story of Pocahontas and how she worked with Captain John Smith toward peace and cooperation with the colonists.
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Blood on the River for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
You can also use this novel study alongside my social studies units for Eastern Woodlands Region US History Unit to learn about the Powhatan Empire and learn about the colonization of the Virginia Colonies, including Jamestown.
I think you will find that using historical fiction to integrate your social studies and ELA curriculum will broaden your students’ learning to make it more lasting and meaningful.
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
