BACKGROUND: (go directly
to resources)
Before taking
on specific roles, the
class will read a short play
entitled, “Abe’s
Shoes” by Mona Koppelman in
order to reacquaint our
mind sets to that era.
Try your best to read with
intonation and feeling,
keeping in mind that your
goal is to develop and
eventually "become" the
assigned character; to
think, feel, & act
as if you are that little
girl or that handicapped
boy...
Printable version of Abe's
Shoes 
THE EXPERTS:
You
are the experts.: At
this point, the class should
be divided into small groups;
three students in a group,
each group having three "Experts"
HISTORIAN – This job
requires the individual to
gather information regarding
the time period
ENVIORNMENTALIST – This
job requires the individual
to gather information regarding
the physical conditions of
the time period
EMOTIONAL SPECIALIST – This
job requires the individual
to gather information regarding
the character’s thoughts
and feelings.
THE TIME PERIODS:
PRE OCCUPATION - Before
the Germans Invaded
OCCUPATION - When the Germans
Invaded
POST OCCUPATION - After
the Germans left
For example:
What was life like for a
little girl in each one of
the time periods above?
THE CHARACTERS:
| Approximate
Age |
Males |
Females |
7 |
young boy |
young girl |
15 |
adolescent boy |
adolescent girl |
25 |
young man |
young woman |
45 |
middle aged man |
middle aged woman |
65 |
elderly man |
elderly woman |
one handicapped
person, can be any age
- any gender |
YOUR ACTIVITIES:
STEP
ONE:
Print
out the Character
Motivation Brainstorming
Worksheet and
use the answers you came
up with to start developing
a character.
STEP
TWO:
Extend that
character further by
visiting the sites listed
on the Resources section
of this page and completing
the graphic
organizer with the
information
you find at these sites.
Return to your group and
share findings.
STEP
THREE: (AS A GROUP:)
Use your notes
from the Character
Motivation Brainstorming
Worksheet, Graphic
Organizer,
The
Play, and The
Character Sketch Handout to
develop your character, the
setting your character lives
in, and a
monologue for your character.
Since all members of the
group will share the same
character, you should combine
your work as a team so that
the Historical, Emotional,
and Environmental aspects
of that character are accurately
developed.
Complete the
final draft of your written
monologue.
Compliment
this monologue by expressing
the character's thoughts
and emotions through art.
Feel free to express your
feelings directly or though
your character. Artistic
contributions should include
poetry, art work and perhaps
even song.
Create a poster/collage of
the various ideas that represent
the time period
Finally: develop
a Power Point presentation
summarizing the groups ideas.
Proofread,
Edit and Revise your work.
RESOURCES:
Art
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/resource/gallery/gallery.htm
Ghettos
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/timeline/ghettos.htm
Pre-Occupation
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/timeline/nazifica.htm
Vocabulary
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/resource/glossary.htm
http://teacher.scholastic.com/frank/gloss.htm
People
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/people/people.htm
Timeline
http://www.mtsu.edu/~baustin/holokron.html
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/timeline.html
Character Study
http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/phistories/
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