ELA 4-5 Number the Stars

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts: K-12 Close Reading Task

Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions: 
  • Text-Dependent Questions:
  • What reasons are given by the author to help determine why Annemarie and Kirsti have different mannerisms around the German soldiers?
  • From your reading, what is significant about the soldiers’ visit to the Johansen’s apartment?
  • Identify and assess the reasoning behind Henrik’s lie to Annemarie in Chapter 9.
  • What does the word “brusque” mean as used in the chapter? What do you see as the author’s main goal of using specifically this word?
  • Identify the central idea in Chapter 13 and the order in which the events unfold.
  • What methods does the author use to help build and support the idea of Annemarie becoming viewed as an equal?

Activity/Task Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Differentiation suggestions: 

Scaffolding and support for special education students, English language learners, and struggling readers:

  • There will be some issues with vocabulary (words in German).
  • You may have to scaffold by giving some information about WWII and the Nazi Party.