The Harmonica

1. The Harmonica • Standard: 5-4.4 Explain the principal events that led to the United States’ involvement in WW II. • GHDI – Image • Nazi unit en route to Poland • Children's Diaries during the Holocaust • “To the Memory of My Parents”: Michael Kraus’ Diaries • The Harmonica by Tony Johnston tells of the story of a young boy who was captured by the Nazis in Poland. His story tells of his love of music and his never ending hope for freedom and the path of sadness and destruction the Nazi regime and subsequent capture placed in his life. • Published in 2008 by CharlesBridge Publishing Company.

2. The writing reads “For Aryans Only” Can you make a connection? Record your answer on the KWL chart.

3. Can you make another connection from something you have learned in Social Studies? Record your answers on the KWL chart.

4. Diary of Child in Concentration Camp • Write a journal entry pretending you are a child being held prisoner in the camps.

5. References • http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2090 • German History Documents: Comprehensive Collection of Original Documents. • http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/gallery/p026.htm • Florida Center for Instructional Technology • http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007952 • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum