Dachau Concentration Camp

Hey teaching friends, have you read Prisoner B-3087 or Night or Number the Stars or The Diary of Anne Frank?  You probably have a good idea of what these books have in common, besides being powerful teaching tools- but why am I writing about them?  Good question.

Right now the holocaust is of special interest to me because my husband and I recently traveled to Munich, Germany.  While we were there we visited Dachau Concentration Camp.  Holy cow.  What an experience.  Was this my first choice in places to visit?  No.  "What about a beer tour?" I tried to convince myself.  But as the days ticked by, I realized I couldn't be here and not go.  A place with so much history and so much to learn should be visited.  Should be shared.  And so here it is. 

Before traveling to Germany, I finished reading the book Prisoner B-3087.  This book has an amazingly powerful message and is a great read aloud for the classroom or for book clubs.  Reading the book and then traveling to some of the places mentioned really brought the main

character, Yanek's, story to life.  Dachau (pronounced Da-how) is the final concentration camp that Yanek is sent to, before being freed by US soldiers.  When you walk in, you're "welcomed" with a sign over the gate that states, "Arbeith macht frei" (work makes you free).  Yanek talks about seeing this sign as he enters a concentration camp.

During World War II, there were as many as 2,000 prisoners in one of the 30 barracks at Dachau.  You can see just one the barracks in the picture below. Prisoners would share the bunks with so many people that they had to lay bunched together on their sides. 

The "roll call" field in front of the barracks.

Bunks in the barracks.

Seeing the places that you've read about really brings it all to life.  

And wow is it scary.  

 

This is a shower room that was also used as a gas chamber.  The room I was standing in was the undressing room where prisoners would have to undress, not knowing if they were walking into a shower room or a gas chamber.  "Brausebad" above the door means "shower room" but the Nazis were known for playing tricks on their prisoners. 

 

From the shower room, you walk into another room, the crematorium.

I have learned so much this year- but I think that traveling here really showed me how important it is to see history.  I knew a lot about the holocaust, had read a lot, and had heard many stories- but being at Dachau enabled me to understand so much more.  It made me think about history as a teacher.  How important field trips are, how much learning can be done outside of books, lessons, and worksheets.  I loved this quote I found towards the end of our time at Dachau.

Each of us today is shaping the background history of tomorrow.

History is powerful and I can already think of so many things I want to share with my little learners.  So many lessons and messages.  How are you shaping the history of tomorrow? 

Munich, Germany

Just a few pictures from my trip to Germany!  Details about our visit to Dachau Concentration Camp coming soon.

 

Bringing History to Life {Reading Prisoner B-3087}

Hey y'all!  My husband and I traveled to Munich, Germany this weekend to meet up with my brother who has a few weeks in between college semesters.  Today we plan to visit Dachau Memorial, the first concentration camp built during Hitler's reign.  I am very excited and very nervous at the same time.  This place holds so much history and so much sadness.  How can one be prepared to experience this?  To learn a little more about this era, I read the popular book, Prisoner B-3078.  There are really no words to describe a book like this.  It is such a great book that is packed full of history, truth, and realism.  While it's a tough read, it is also one I can imagine students really getting into.  And bonus, it allows for so many conversations and teaching points.  {I even saw Catherine over at The Brown Bag Teacher read this book with her kiddos!}  I can only imagine the kind of conversations this book sparks. 

I compiled a bunch of questions while I read the book and took note of them so when I'm back in a classroom with book clubs, I can reread the book and use the questions as conversation starters, journal prompts, quizzes, or anything in between. It's a no frills, basic product but the questions make students think about the book on multiple levels and there's enough questions covering each chapter to allow teachers to pick and choose what they want to discuss.  You can check out this super basic teacher time-saver at my TpT store {for just $1.00!!} here.

Off we go on a new adventure- I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Baking with Fractions

Bitterly sweet, my time is wrapping up here in Spain.  My job is coming to an end.  Only ELEVEN more days of work for this girl.  And since I'm a "pull out" ESL teacher, my schedule is getting thinned due to end-of-the year events in the classroom- meaning I'm wrapping up lessons and assessments now.  This means not much interesting "teachery" stuff is happening in my life, so I thought this would be a perfect chance to share a few lessons and activities from last year {teaching 5th grade in Colorado} that I never got around to sharing because my life was packed with work, planning a wedding, and moving across the country... you know, no biggie.  

If you don't know, I looped up with my 4th graders to 5th grade last year.  Oh how I loved my class and how I adore looping.  You know how amazing this time of the year is with students?  Well imagine that x2, because that's what looping does with your community.  So this time last year was so much fun.  And we were blessed {BLESSED, I tell ya} to have Mrs. Cahill in there co-teaching.  Oh so blessed.

SO we were wrapping up a unit on multiplying and dividing by fractions.  And I desperately wanted to throw in a fun assessment since we were post-state testing and our brains were FRIED.  {Seriously, though} And that's where baking with fractions came in! 

I gathered together some simple recipes and their ingredients. We had a gluten free student so I made sure she had something too. 

I whipped up this sheet, which you can download from dropbox here!  Just fill in the recipe in the box on the left and write in the baking directions. 

Students worked to figure out their halved recipes.  Some used manipulatives and others talked it out.  While they worked, I walked around and took anecdotals, assessing their work.  It was fine for me that they worked together since I could still assess their understanding and see their work. 

Once they had a recipe and it was approved by me or Mrs. Cahill, our kiddos got to work.  {We just looked to make sure they had done the work, but we didn't tell them if it was correct or not}.  I borrowed measuring cups, spoons, and bowls from my house and fellow teaching friends.  Students still had to share materials a bit but not too much. 

And in the oven they went!

While their recipes were baking, they worked on the reflection questions {included in the Baking with Fractions Worksheet}.

When they came out of the oven, it was easy to see whose recipes were precise and who needed some extra practice or missed a step :)  Regardless, all treats were eaten and we reviewed their work and steps.  This also led to a mini lesson on chemistry- "So if you didn't add enough flour, what happened to your recipe?"

Luckily, my students were responsible for dishes and took care of the cleaning!  That's the type of baking I could really get into!

Interested in other ways to assess your student's knowledge of fractions?  Check out my Fraction Art activity!

Sale Time!

Eeeeeeeeeee!!!  Like we need a reminder, BUT- don't forget to stock up on all the necessities today and tomorrow!!  Just use the code TPTXO.  Everything in my store will be 28% off!!  Click here or the image below.  Happy shopping, friends!

Informative Writing in the 5th Grade Classroom

Y'all- my 5th Writing Unit is up and on sale!  As of yesterday.  It is the most extensive product I have created yet and I'm so excited for it.  It took me over three months to develop and I am just happy it is all ready for 5th grade teachers to enjoy :)

 

If you're curious about what's included- don't you worry.  It has EVERYTHING you could possibly need to teach Informative Writing.

Lessons? Check!

Interactive notebook pages?  Check!

"How-To" PowerPoints that compliment the lessons?  Check!

Multiple examples of Informative Writing?  Check! 

Pages to track student data?  Check!

AND SO.MUCH.MORE!

I hope you're intrigued :)  Hop on over to my lil old store and check it out! 

MAY CURRENTLY {TpT Sale, Notepads, and Spring!!}

Well, it's May!  Only a month and a half left in Spain and we're trying to soak up every minute of... every minute I have with students, every minute traveling, every minute spent at European cafes, and every minute at the beach... Before we know it, June will be here and the school year will come to an end!  I hope you're savoring every minute of this new month!  I'm linking up with Farley for May's Currently!  Hop on over to see what other fun bloggers have joined :)

 Listening... to Ingrid Michaelson's new album.  In love.  Mine and my hubby's first dance was to her song, You & I.  Mmmm happy memories :) {And in love with this adorable video}


Loving... my new Notepads!  I haven't had time to share about this yet, but something new has joined my TpT Store!!  I now have Teacher Notepads available for purchase!!   They were designed by me, printed and bound by my dad, and the photos were taken by my grandfather {since I'm still living in Spain and the notepads are in Cincinnati, Ohio!}.  So they're truly a family product and only $10 +shipping!  Check them out here or here!  Notepads will ship in 5 business days from Cincinnati and will be on your doorstep in no time!  Come on, I know you want to check them out!! {One even features Farley's favorite quote!!}

Thinking... about what I plan to stock my shopping cart with for the coming TpT SALE!!  I love when TpT has a sale and I just have to stock up on clip art and fun fonts!!  What will you load your shopping cart with? 

Pick this guy up for FREE in my TpT store!

Wanting... SO MUCH!  What items are in your shopping cart?  I'm hoping to pick up these guys during the sale...

Mrs. Cahill's Class

These Beautiful Backgrounds

And this landforms clip art by Ashley Hughes!

Needing... to go read my daily devotion.  I've been reading Jesus' Calling and have really loved every minute of it.  Each day's reading is short with a beautiful message.  I know this will be a book I read year after year- not just this one year.  When I read I try to journal my thoughts and feelings and prayers {time allowing}.  I greatly look forward to this quiet time {or not so quiet time} and it's about time!  Off I go to heat up to water for a cup of tea :)

And SURPRISE... I really love Teacher Julia's sweet blog and think you should totes stop by and check her out!

Happy FRIDAY!!