Four Perfect Pebbles - Chapter 3 & 4

Just by reading the title of chapter 3, "Get Dressed and Come With Us," it is immediately apparent what is going to happen. However, when I first started reading I thought that the whole family was going to get taken away. I was very shocked that only Walter was taken at first, and I was even more shocked when he arrived back home some time later. Truly I did not think this would happen. I love how the authors explained in great detail exactly what was happening; how the family was preparing to leave because they knew their time was coming. I was surprised when they got their papers to go to America. Marion's family had waited so long, this was a great relief to them, because this meant that they would be safe in the Americas. In chapter 4 when they were not able to board the ship it was very disappointing for the family but also the reader.Ruth tried her very best to keep everything normal for the children. When they were aloud to live together again as a family this brought me joy, even though the circumstances were not favorable.

Some teaching aspects that could go along with these to chapters, would be to continue following on a map were the family was going. Of course there are always vocabulary words, such as latrine, mainstay, transit, and Kristallnacht. I think I would also have my students do a little research on the camps, such as Westerbork. I know the author explains in great details her families experiences, but I would like my students to try and find other families experiences in these camps and try to find connections. Possibly the students would even be able to find some stories of what it was like to ride in the cattle cars, since at this point Marion's family did not have to so this. I would be a great opportunity for the children to find out what it was like.