Incorporating powerful literature into the classroom is essential for fostering empathy, understanding, and critical thinking in students. One such novel is Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz. This is one of the most impactful Holocaust books I have read. This gripping story, based on the true experiences of Holocaust survivor Jack Gruener, a young Jewish boy from Poland, provides a poignant glimpse into one of history’s darkest periods.
Watch a video of Alan Gratz speaking with the real Jack (Yanek) Gruener HERE!
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Educators must foster empathy, promote global awareness, and instill a deep understanding of history, even the darkest parts so that we don’t repeat it! Alan Gratz meets these needs with Prisoner B-3087.
Benefits of Using Prisoner B-3087 in Your Classroom
Enhances Historical Understanding:Prisoner B-3087 immerses students in the harrowing experiences of a young boy enduring the Holocaust. By following Yanek’s journey through ten different concentration camps, students gain a deeper understanding of the historical events of World War II. This firsthand narrative helps humanize the statistics and facts often found in textbooks, making history more relatable and impactful.
Promotes Empathy and Compassion: Reading about Yanek’s struggles and perseverance fosters empathy and compassion in students. Understanding the hardships faced by individuals during the Holocaust encourages students to reflect on their own values and attitudes. This emotional connection to the characters and their experiences can lead to meaningful discussions about tolerance, diversity, and human rights.
Sparks Critical Thinking and Discussion:Prisoner B-3087 challenges students to think critically about moral and ethical dilemmas. By analyzing the characters’ decisions and the consequences of those actions, students develop their critical thinking and reasoning skills. Teachers can facilitate discussions and assignments that encourage students to explore complex questions, fostering a deeper intellectual engagement with the material.
Encourages Resilience and Perseverance: Yanek’s story is one of incredible resilience and perseverance. Despite unimaginable odds, he continues to fight for survival. This theme of resilience can inspire students to face their own challenges with determination and strength. Teachers can use Yanek’s journey as a starting point for discussions on overcoming adversity and the importance of hope and perseverance.
Integrates Multidisciplinary Learning: Prisoner B-3087 offers opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Teachers can integrate lessons from history, literature, and social studies, creating a comprehensive educational experience. Additionally, art and writing projects inspired by the novel can enhance students’ creative expression and understanding of the material.
Supports Standards: The novel aligns with several standards, making it a valuable addition to the curriculum. It supports standards in reading comprehension, critical analysis, and historical context. By incorporating Prisoner B-3087, teachers can ensure they are meeting educational benchmarks while providing an engaging and meaningful learning experience.
Incorporating Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz into the classroom offers numerous benefits. From enhancing historical understanding to promoting empathy and critical thinking, this novel provides a rich, multidimensional learning experience. By engaging with Yanek’s story, students can develop a deeper appreciation for history, compassion for others, and resilience in their own lives. Integrate Prisoner B-3087 into your curriculum to create a powerful and transformative educational experience for your students.
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Prisoner B-3087, 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. The novel study includes non-fiction reading passages covering:
”Life in Kraków, Poland 1939-1942”
”Life in the Plaszów Concentration Camp 1942-1943”
”Amon Goeth”
”The Wieliczka Salt Mine 1943-1944”
”Life in Trzebinia Concentration Camp 1944”
”Life in Birkenau Concentration Camp 1944-1945”
”Life in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp 1945”
”Death Marches of 1945”
”Life in Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp 1945”
”Life in Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp 1945”
”Life in Buchenwald Concentration Camp 1945”
”Life in Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp 1945”
”Death March from Gross-Rosen in 1945”
”Life in Dachau Concentration Camp 1945”
”Life in Post-war Munich, Germany 1945”
”The Orphaned Jewish Visa Program”
”Oskar Schindler Schindler’s List”
Try a free sample of the novel study for Prisoner B-3087
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!
Looking for a powerful middle school novel that builds empathy, encourages critical thinking, and connects literature to real-world history? Refugee by Alan Gratz is an excellent choice for grades 5-8.
This compelling historical fiction novel follows three young people from three different time periods and countries as they flee dangerous circumstances in search of safety. Through the stories of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud, students encounter themes of refugees, immigration, displacement, courage, resilience, family, freedom, and hope.
For teachers, Refugee offers far more than an engaging story. It provides countless opportunities for reading comprehension, character analysis, historical research, writing, discussion, geography, and perspective-taking.
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Why Teach Refugee by Alan Gratz?
One of the greatest strengths of Refugee is the way Alan Gratz helps young readers understand an enormous global issue through the experiences of individual children.
Rather than simply learning about refugees from a textbook or article, students follow Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud as they experience fear, uncertainty, loss, and hope firsthand.
That makes Refugee an especially effective empathy-building novel for middle school students.
1. Refugee Encourages Empathy and Perspective-Taking
The novel allows students to see the world from perspectives that may be very different from their own.
Josef is a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939. Isabel is a Cuban girl whose family attempts to escape Cuba in 1994. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy forced to flee his home during the Syrian Civil War in 2015.
Although their circumstances are different, the three stories share universal themes of family, fear, courage, survival, and the search for a safe place to call home.
As students read, they can consider questions such as:
How would you feel if you had to leave your home?
What would you be willing to risk to protect your family?
How does fear influence the characters’ decisions?
What does it mean to be brave?
How can our experiences influence the way we understand other people?
These discussions can help students develop empathy while also strengthening their ability to analyze character motivations and perspectives.
2. Refugee Connects ELA and Social Studies
One of the biggest advantages of using Refugee as a classroom novel is its cross-curricular potential.
Each of the three storylines gives students an opportunity to explore a different historical and geographical setting.
Josef – Nazi Germany
Josef’s story introduces students to the persecution of Jewish people during Nazi Germany and provides opportunities to explore topics such as Hitler Youth, the Sturmabteilung (SA), Kristallnacht, and the MS St. Louis.
Isabel – Cuba
Isabel’s story takes place during the Cuban refugee crisis and allows students to learn more about Fidel Castro, Cuba, and the political and economic circumstances that led families to leave the country.
Mahmoud – Syria
Mahmoud’s story introduces students to the Syrian Civil War and the refugee crisis of the 21st century.
These historical connections make Refugee an excellent choice for an ELA and social studies cross-curricular unit.
Students aren’t simply reading a story—they’re examining the historical circumstances that shaped the characters’ lives.
3. Refugee Provides Excellent Reading Comprehension Practice
Because the novel switches between three protagonists and three different time periods, students must pay close attention to the details.
A Refugee novel study can help students practice:
Reading comprehension
Making inferences
Identifying themes
Analyzing character development
Comparing and contrasting characters
Determining cause and effect
Summarizing
Analyzing setting
Examining conflict
Supporting ideas with text evidence
Making connections between historical events and literature
The structure of the novel also gives teachers an opportunity to have students compare the experiences of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud and identify the similarities and differences among their journeys.
Few topics generate more thoughtful discussion than questions about what people are willing to do to protect themselves and their families.
As students read Refugee, they can discuss topics such as:
What does it mean to be a refugee?
Why do people leave their homes?
What makes someone courageous?
How do governments and historical events affect individuals?
What responsibilities do countries have toward refugees?
How does perspective affect the way we understand an event?
What similarities exist between the three protagonists?
How does the author use three different stories to communicate a larger message?
These conversations provide natural opportunities for speaking and listening practice, argumentative writing, evidence-based responses, and critical thinking.
5. Refugee Makes History Personal
History can sometimes feel distant to students.
Reading dates, names, and events in a textbook is one thing. Experiencing those events through the eyes of a young person is something entirely different.
Refugee brings history to life by allowing students to experience major historical events through the perspectives of children and families.
Students can connect literature with historical research as they learn about:
Nazi Germany
Kristallnacht
Hitler Youth
The MS St. Louis
Cuba under Fidel Castro
The Cuban refugee experience
The Syrian Civil War
The modern refugee crisis
This makes Refugee an excellent historical fiction novel for middle school ELA and social studies instruction.
6. The Novel Encourages Strong Writing
Refugee also provides numerous opportunities for meaningful writing assignments.
Students can write about:
Character development
Theme
Conflict
Historical context
Personal reactions
Perspective
Courage and resilience
Similarities and differences among the protagonists
The choices characters make throughout the novel
The novel’s complex themes make it particularly useful for moving students beyond simple recall questions and toward text-based analysis and deeper written responses.
Looking for Refugee Novel Study Activities and Lesson Plans?
While Refugee is an incredibly powerful novel, creating an entire unit from scratch can take hours.
That’s why I created a complete Refugee Novel Study for grades 5-8.
This ready-to-use resource provides the materials you need to teach the novel while incorporating reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, character analysis, writing, historical research, and assessment.
What’s Included in the Refugee Novel Study?
The complete unit includes:
Detailed lesson plans
Pacing and standards guide
Chapter-by-chapter comprehension questions
Vocabulary and grammar activities
65 vocabulary words
Character analysis activities
Mapping activities for all three stories
Writing activities
End-of-book activities
Story elements activities
Three-part assessments
Answer keys
Common Core alignment for grades 5-8
Historical nonfiction research WebQuests
Printable student materials
Google Drive digital materials
The included WebQuests allow students to dig deeper into the historical background of the novel, including the Sturmabteilung (SA), Kristallnacht, Hitler Youth, the MS St. Louis, Fidel Castro and Cuba, and the Syrian Civil War.
The resource is available in both printable and digital Google Drive formats, making it flexible for traditional classrooms, paperless classrooms, Google Classroom, small groups, or homeschool instruction.
Help Students Read Refugee With Greater Understanding
Refugee by Alan Gratz is more than a compelling middle school novel. It is an opportunity to help students explore history, empathy, resilience, perspective, courage, and the experiences of people forced to leave their homes.
By combining the novel with thoughtful discussion, historical research, reading comprehension activities, and writing assignments, teachers can create a meaningful learning experience that extends far beyond the pages of the book.
If you’re planning a Refugee novel unit for grades 5-8, having your lesson plans, activities, comprehension questions, vocabulary work, assessments, and historical research activities ready to go can save you hours of preparation.
Try a Free Sample
Want to see what’s included before you buy? Download the free sample of the Refugee novel study and take a look at the activities, lesson materials, and student resources.
Are you teaching Refugee this school year? How do you celebrate kindness in your classroom?
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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, 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.
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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, 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 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.
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.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Projekt 1065
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.
I’m Shelley from The Teaching Bank. I have taught 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades.
My goal is to provide lessons and units for K-12 that are practical and ready to teach with minimal prep needed.
