We are currently reading The Diary of Anne Frank . One item we were initially confused about was the fact that our reading series had placed this selection in the unit entitled “Survival.” We knew that Anne and her mother and sister had all perished in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany, so why place the portion of her diary in the “Survival” Unit? After much discussion we came to the conclusion that Anne had indeed survived, maybe not Anne herself, but her story. Her diary has been translated into something like thirty two different languages….her story is told across numerous countries and in many languages and it stands as a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and the resiliency of the human spirit.
Our discussion so far has blossomed into many different areas. We created a list noting how the Jews were segregated….they couldn’t ride the bus, go to the same school as German children, participate in public sports including swimming, they could only shop at markets which would accept Jewish customers……so many ways. We then searched our minds and were able to see that many of these same discrimination patterns happened to African Americans and Japanese Americans.
Without Anne’s diary we probably would not understand fully the deep personal impact the segregation and hiding had on one little girl and ultimately a nation. Anne is a fine example of how one person really can make a difference even if they do not think they ever will. So remember everyone has the potential to positively impact the world, even through activities that may seem ordinary or mundane.
What are some examples of ways one person – or even a classroom – can make a difference? In our schools? Our neighborhoods? Our communities? And possibly the world? We invite you to please share your thoughts by posting a comment.
If I were Anne I would be very sad in this situation.wouldnt you?
I think a person could change
One person can make a difference by picking up trash and recycle. Also people can make a diffrence by helping one another.
One person can make a diffrence by being kind and recycle,reuse and reduce.And people can make a diffrence by picking up trash for the earth.
I could tell that this story is true.This story is the best that i’ve ever read.Anne Frank is a strong person,even when she didn’t survive I still think she is a talented person.I thought she was a talented person because if she hadn’t wrote in her diary then this story would have never been published.
Anne Frank was a person who inspired many jewish people and americans to and even german people.
I think that one person can make a diffrence in many ways.One way is respecting others for what they do to make this place a better world for us.Some people just throw trash instead of throwing it in the recycling bin or trash can.If you don’t throw your trash away,this place will be so dirty that we won’t be able to live on Earth.Then we will have to live in space or something other than Earth because it will be full of trash just like the people in the movie”Walle”.
I think Anne Frank was a brave young girl . I think that was amazing to know her diary was named Kitty .
I think one person can make a different by cleaning up the neighborhood and the school. I think someone that can change their neighdorhood can chane the world
I think one person could make a diffence by , helping ,being kind,and being fair to others.
I think that a person could change a people by not giving up on them,help them,and never let them give up.Also if someone is making fun of you,just be kind.
I think that one person can make difference by helping people at your neighborhood or at school. People can make difference in the whole world.
One way you can make a difference is that you can fight for your rights and get them.
I think Anne is really brave. She didn’t want to go to cocentration camp, but she had to. One person can make a difference by standing up for yourself.
Hello to Ms. McKillop’s Class,
I am going to travel up to the town of Chico, CA, in a couple of weeks for a very special occasion. I have the opportunity to interview and videotape Hannie Voyles, a schoolmate of Anne Frank’s.
As a small child (a few years younger than Anne), Hannie survived the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. Her Jewish mother had to stay hidden in there apartment, never able to come out into the public to buy food or even to play at the park with Hannie. At the age of 7, Hannie became her mother’s “eyes” and “ears.”
Do you have a question you would like me to ask Hannie? One you think would help children everywhere understand what surviving the Holocaust was really like, from a child’s perspective?
Let me know,
Mrs. Desler
I recently met a survivor of the Holocaust. Her story was one I will never forget. I believe that every bend in the road of life can change you forever. I believe that you should treat an individual the way you would like to be treated. I feel very sad for people like Anne who did not get the chance to grow up.
We should really respect the elder generation cause of how much they went through
It strikes me as very interesting to think about why human beings are so cruel to one another. If only people realized that if we all worked as one, many of the earth’s problems would be easily solved. I feel very sorry for the Frank family, and other Jews during this time, but especially Anne because she was the youngest. If only she had had a fair chance at life, I know she would of turned out to be one of the greatist women in all of history. Too bad she had to accomplish this through suffering and hardships. Not to mention such an early death.
We too, have meet a Holocaust surviver. Her name was Liz Igra. It was amazing to hear her story. I was amazed to hear all these details about her family and how she still to this day can hear the guns shooting, the bombs going off and the cheering from the crowd. It was sad that she had to say goodbye to her father and never got to see or hear form her father again and they suspect 20 minuets later, after she said goodbye to him, he died. I wish that that didnt have to happen to her, because I know and she felt and she told us that she still struggles to this day because of his death. But she didnt know later till she was older that her father most likely got killed 20 minuets after they had to say their goodbyes.I don’t think I will ever forget the story she told us about her life and how she survived the Holocaust. She has been married for more than 50 years and has 6 kids.
No matter what we go throgh or how tough it is , just imagine what she went through. It’s not as tough as what she went through. Her story is absolutely touching. I hope her story touches you as well. It can change how you look at life and can help someone appriciate what we have in life and that we dint have to go through what she went through. We are truely blessed.
Thanks!