Samantha Dittmar's 19-20 Number the Stars Reflection Journal

Number the Stars

Reflection Journal

By: Samantha Dittmar

Building Background
Knowledge

Learning Target: I can compare and contrast two or more
characters, settings, or events in a story, drawing on specific
details in the text.

Background of this Story:
In some countries around the world the government is

called a dictatorship. In a dictatorship, one person or a small
group of people have complete control of the country. In many
cases the military enforces the control. If a person does not
follow the rules, they may be arrested, threatened, scared, or
tortured. The citizens of that country are not allowed to talk or
act against the dictatorship. A person can be rewarded if they
tell the dictatorship about other people who are against the
government.

Interpretive Question: How does the dictatorship
system of government in the story affect Pedro, his
family, and the citizens it governs?

R Restate the Question (green) Mrs. Rodriguez’s Example
- Read the question or prompt In the book, The Composition,
- Underline keywords Pedro, his family, and their entire
- Rewrite the question as a community are negatively affected by
statement using your own words the dictatorship government. One
example from the text of the problems
A Answer the Question (green) that the dictatorship caused can be
- Answer the question found on page 8. Don Daniel was
*If there is more that one part of dragged down the street by two men
the question, make sure to answer who were “pointing machine guns at
ALL parts. him.” This clearly shows that the
dictatorship is treating the people in
C Cite Evidence (yellows) the community poorly by threatening
- Use evidence from the text to them with weapons. Pedro’s parents
support your answer. lived in fear that they would be caught
-Include both paraphrased going against the government. They
evidence and direct quotes had to turn their radio down very low
so that they wouldn’t be caught
Possible evidence starters: listening. Pedro’s mom was so scared
According to the text… that she “cried silently at the table.”
For example… This is further evidence that the
On page ___ it says… government was making the people
Further support can be found... live in fear and even their daily tasks
In the article/ chapter it states... are being impacted. Finally, Pedro
himself was negatively affected by the
E Explain (reds) government. He was put in the
- Explain how each piece of text position of having to lie on his
evidence supports your answer. composition so that his parents
wouldn’t be caught. The dictatorship
Possible explain starters: tried to turn children against their
This clearly shows that… own parents. Obviously, the
This means that… dictatorship created fear and
This further supports the idea that… hardships for everyone that Pedro was
close to in his life.
S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Building Background
Knowledge

World War II and
the Holocaust

Learning Target: I can provide a summary of the text that
includes the main ideas and key details, as well as other
important information.

Summary of the article:
The article “World War II and the Holocaust” proves

how Adolf Hitler set out to rule the world. He came into power
in 1933 and began to promote and encourage the blaming of
their issues on the Jews in Germany. Starting in 1941,
Jewish people were relocated to concentration camps. In
these camps over six million died. He joined forces with
Japan and Italy. When bombed Japan bombed Pearl Harbor
on December 7th, 1941, the United States entered the war
and fought against the Axis powers until September 2th 1945
when the war ended.

Building Background
Knowledge

Underground
Movements

Learning Target: I can explain the relationships or interactions
between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a
historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific
information in the text.

How have underground movements affected events

throughout history? It affected It gained
Jews and the Nazis
Underground made them power
Railroad have to leave
their homes to
flee

Underground
Movements

Helped Not an World
free actual War II
slaves railroad

Building Background
Knowledge

Learning Target: I can compare and contrast two or more
characters, settings, or events in a story, drawing on specific
details in the text.

Background of this Story:
“For centuries, the Star of David was a symbol of Jewish

pride. But during World War II, Nazis used the Star to
segregate and terrorize the Jewish people. Except in
Denmark. When Nazi soldiers occupied his country, King
Christian X of Denmark committed himself to keeping all
Danes safe from harm. The bravery of the Danes and their
king has inspired many legends. The most enduring is the
legend of the yellow star, which symbolizes the loyalty and
fearless spirit of the king and his people.”

Source: Peachtree Publishers

Interpretive Question: How did King Christian X’s
response to the yellow Star order in the story
affect the citizens of Denmark?

R Restate the Question (green) Team Response:
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords King Christian X’s response to the yellow star
- Rewrite the question as a positively affected the citizen. One way he
statement using your own words affected his citizens was when people had to
wear the Star of David to prove they were Jews,
A Answer the Question (green) he wore one too, you can see on the image of
- Answer the question page,15. This showed his people that if they
*If there is more that one part of were going to mess with the Jews they would
the question, make sure to answer have to mess with him. This proves how the
ALL parts. king positively affected his people by basically
saying you mess with one Dane you mess with
C Cite Evidence (yellows) me. Another way king Christians' actions
- Use evidence from the text to affected his people was when after he started
support your answer. wearing the star everyone did to support the
-Include both paraphrased Jews you can also see this on page,16. This
evidence and direct quotes shows a way he positively affected everyone
was when everyone copied his actions and now
Possible evidence starters: said you mess with some Danes you mess with
According to the text… all Danes. Lastly, one way the king's response
For example… affected people was the tailor putting himself in
On page ___ it says… danger to put the stars on the king's clothes.
Further support can be found... This means that the king's response affected a
In the article/ chapter it states... citizen in Denmark, the tailor. You can see that
king Christian positively affected his people.
E Explain (reds)
- Explain how each piece of text
evidence supports your answer.

Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that…
This means that…
This further supports the idea that…

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Number the
Stars

Interpretive
Question
Responses

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 1

How are the characters’ lives
different than ours?

R Restate the Question (green) The character’s lives are different from
- Read the question or prompt ours in many ways. One way the
- Underline keywords character's lives are different from ours is
- Rewrite the question as a that they have nazi soldiers who yell
statement using your own words orders at children . I know they have
Nazi soldiers on the street corner who
A Answer the Question (green) yell odres at children because the text
- Answer the question says, page 10,”Halte”the soldier ordered
*If there is more that one part of the in a stern voice.”This proves that one way
question, make sure to answer ALL their lives are different from ours in the
parts. USA is by the fact they have soldiers who
give orders to children on every corner.
C Cite Evidence (yellows) Another way their lives are different is
- Use evidence from the text to the fact they currently have a war and
support your answer. live in fear well are time is currently at
-Include both paraphrased peace. I know this because the text says
evidence and direct quotes page 10,” When the war ends.” This
evidence shows that they currently have
Possible evidence starters: a war going on and in the USA we do not.
According to the text… Lastly, one other way their life is different
For example… from ours is by the fact they have a
On page ___ it says… shortage of butter and sugar because of
Further support can be found... the war. I know this because the text
In the article/ chapter it states... clearly states,” hasn’t been any butter, or
sugar..” This clearly shows that unlike in
E Explain (reds) the USA, because of the war they didn’t
- Explain how each piece of text have sugar or butter. As you can see, their
evidence supports your answer. lives are different from ours in more
than one way.
Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that…
This means that…
This further supports the idea that…

S Sum it Up (green)
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 2

How does this picture relate to the chapter?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
● Kings and Queens like the fairy tail Anne marie tells

● Fairy tales that Anne says never changes
● King Christian
● The castle

Learning Target: I can determine a theme of a story from details in the text,
including how characters in a story respond to challenges.

R Restate the Question (green) Chapter 3
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords “Now I think all of Denmark
- Rewrite the question as a must be the bodyguard for
statement using your own words the Jews as well.” What does

A Answer the Question (green) this mean?
- Answer the question
*If there is more that one part of Response:
the question, make sure to answer
ALL parts. “Now I think all of Denmark must be the
bodyguard for the Jews as well.” means the
C Cite Evidence (yellows) Danes should work together to defend
- Use evidence from the text to their people who are Jews.’ One way I know
support your answer. this because the text talks about how they
-Include both paraphrased took away Mrs. Hirsch shop.They were also
evidence and direct quotes afraid they might do it to other Jews. This
clearly proves that they needed to help the
Possible evidence starters: Jews and not let them take away their
According to the text… shops. Another way I know it means this
For example… because,the text says, “ All of Denmark is
On page ___ it says… his bodyguard” In this text that Annemarie
Further support can be found... dad told her he was referring to the king.
In the article/ chapter it states... Now Annemarie was saying that they
should defend the Jews like they do the
E Explain (reds) king.This shows that when Annemarie is
- Explain how each piece of text saying denmark must be bodyguard for the
evidence supports your answer. jews she was referring back to what her dad
said.Another way I know the meaning is
Possible explain starters: from page 26 ,”..she and all the
This clearly shows that… Danes-where to be bodyguard for Ellen.” In
This means that… this chapter she also found out Ellen was
This further supports the idea that… Jewish.This proves she thought they
needed to help out the Jews and her friend,
S Sum it Up (green) Ellen.Clearly you can see the meaning of
- Conclude your answer the quote from Annemarie,“Now I think all
- Link back to the topic sentence of Denmark must be the bodyguard for the
using different words Jews as well.”

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and whendrawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 4

How does this picture relate to the chapter?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
● Playing paper dolls and going to see the fireworks

● Annemarie remembers the fireworks she saw at Tivoli
● Kristi thinks she saw the fireworks on her birthday but really it was the

danes blowing up their fleet of ships
●

Learning Target: I can compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or
events in a story, drawing on specific details in the text.

Chapter 5

Compare and contrast the Danish Citizens and Nazis.
The first attribute has been chosen for you. Choose at

least two additional attributes to compare.

Danish Attributes Nazi Soldiers
Citizens Being
They want Jews gone. They are
The danish citizens don't Compared trying to get rid of them from
support the persecution of Denmark.I know this because
Jews.I know this because the Feelings about the
text says,”..she and all the Jewish people the text says,”It is there way of
Danes-where to be tormenting.For some reason
bodyguard for Ellen.”Ellen they want to torment the Jews.”
is Jewish.

They are scared because they Feelings about the They feel like their actions are
are very harsh and mean to the Nazi soldiers justified.I know this because
people.I know this because the they would not be so mean if
they didn’t believe in hitler and
text says,”Tembeling..”
his ways.

They think he is great but that Feelings about the They think the King
king should let them do
they need to protect the Jews. whatever they want
The text says,“ All of with Jews and how to
Denmark is his handle the situation.

bodyguard”.Which proves
that the daines love their

king.

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 6

How does this picture relate to the chapter?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
● The book says that Annemaire dad says he will be bring heir uncle a

pack of cigarettes
● Their has not been any cigarettes since the war and he was using it as a

sort of code that they would be bring more cigarettes(Jews) to Uncle
Henrik.

● He used the word cigarettes as code to say Ellen was coming.

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Chapter 7-8
How does war change people?
R Why?
A
C Restate the Question (green)

E - Read the question or prompt The war changed people in many
S - Underline keywords different ways. One way I know this is
- Rewrite the question as a because the text says,”... They relocate
statement using your own words
the farmers’ butter, right into the
Answer the Question (green) stomach of their army!”This shows that
- Answer the question they had a lack of butter because they
*If there is more that one part of give it all to the army. That's hows that
the question, make sure to answer
ALL parts. their life changed by not having their
regular food like butter because of the
Cite Evidence (yellows) war and the Nazi’s taking it. Another
- Use evidence from the text to
support your answer. way I know this is because the text
-Include both paraphrased says,”..maybe even dangerous to explain
evidence and direct quotes
who Ellen is.” They can’t tell anyone
Possible evidence starters: who ellen is because of the war and how
According to the text…
For example… it affects the Jews. This shows that one
On page ___ it says… way the war changed people was by the
Further support can be found... Jews having to say that they aren’t Jews
In the article/ chapter it states... so they are not Prosecuted. Lastly one
other way I know this is because the text
Explain (reds)
- Explain how each piece of text says,”..soldier strolled through the
evidence supports your answer. car..”This changed people by everyone
living in fear because the Nazi soldiers
Possible explain starters: were everywhere, even on train cars.
This clearly shows that… This proves they were affected by the
This means that… war because they lived in fear from the
This further supports the idea that…
Nazi soldiers who are everywhere.
Sum it Up (green) Certainly, you can see the war changed
- Conclude your answer and affected many different people in
- Link back to the topic sentence
using different words many ways.

Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously

Learning Target: I can determine a theme of a story, from details in the text,
including how characters in a story respond to challenges.

Chapter 9-10

Compare and contrast Mama and
Annemarie and how they faced the
challenges when the German soldiers

came to the “funeral.”

Mama Attributes Annemarie
Being

Compared

Mama was very calm when the How they handled the Anniemarie put on a brave
soldiers asked what they were German soldiers face and lied to the soldiers.
talking to them. I know this because the text
doing,”..there has been a says,”My great aunt Birte,”
death,”Mama’s voice replied she lied…”That shows she
calmly.”This show Mama was very
put on a brave face well
calm. talking to the soldiers.

Mama was quick on her feat and How they deceived Anniemarie said,”My great aunt
made up a lie about why they the soldiers by lying Birte,” she lied in a firm voice.”
couldn't open the coffin.I know and the soldiers believed her.
this because the story to them. The thing they share in common
is being so quick on their feet.
says,”..because Aunt Bertie died
of typhus..” In the book Aunt

Bertie doesn’t even exist so this
has to be a lie Mama came up

with, right there and then.

I know Mama was scared How they were both I know Annemarie was scare
because the text says,” Her scared. because the text says,”She
swallowed.”Which sows she was
mother shook her head
quickly,and glanced at the open afraid.

window..” This shows her
mother was scared the Nazi

soldiers were still there.

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

R Restate the Question (green) Chapter 11
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords When is telling the truth
- Rewrite the question as a important? When is not
statement using your own words
telling the truth important?
A Answer the Question (green)
- Answer the question There are times when telling the truth is
*If there is more that one part of important and sometimes not so
the question, make sure to answer
ALL parts. important.One example of when telling the
truth is not as important is when the Nazi
C Cite Evidence (yellows)
- Use evidence from the text to soldiers come to Annemarie’s house and ask
support your answer. who Ellen is. In the text it says,” Your
-Include both paraphrased name?...Ellen swallowed. “Lise,” she
evidence and direct quotes
said..”This shows Ellen had to lie about her
Possible evidence starters: identity to keep herself, Annemarie, and her
According to the text…
For example… family safe and that was very important.
On page ___ it says… Another example of when telling the truth is
Further support can be found... important was when the text says,”They plan
In the article/ chapter it states... to arrest all the Danish Jews.They plan to take
them away..” In this text Annemarie’s father
E Explain (reds)
- Explain how each piece of text was explaining what the girls needed to be
evidence supports your answer. careful and hide from.This was a time where
telling the truth helped the girls know to be
Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that… careful if the soldiers come,and when they
This means that… did this information was beneficial. Lastly,
This further supports the idea that… the text says,”it is much easier to be brave if
you don’t know everything.” was what Henrik
Sum it Up (green) said when Annemarie called him and Mama
- Conclude your answer out about lying to her.This was a time where
- Link back to the topic sentence it was important to lie because the text talks
using different words about how it is easier to be brave when you

Possible summary starters: don’t know the truth or the whole
Clearly Definitely Certainly story.Certainly there are times when lying is
To sum up In fact Obviously
good and others it is bad.

S

Learning Target: I can determine a theme of a story, from details in the text,
including how characters in a story respond to challenges.

Chapter 12-13

How does this text relate to Number the stars and
particularly Annemarie in chapter 13?

My Thoughts:

(Can be expressed in bulleted points or paragraph form)
● An ordinary person saved the day, like when Annemarie took the packet

down to her uncle.
● Both characters were brave.
● How mama led people to safety
● How Mama, Peter, and Henrik were being helpful guides to the families.
● Risked themselves for others

Learning Target: I can quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

R Restate the Question (green) Chapter 14-15
- Read the question or prompt
- Underline keywords What is the author’s purpose of
- Rewrite the question as a including the story of Little
statement using your own words Red Riding Hood during
Annemarie’s run through the
A Answer the Question (green) forest?
- Answer the question
*If there is more that one part of The author’s purpose of including the story
the question, make sure to answer of little Red Riding Hood during
ALL parts.
annemarie’s run through the forest was to
C Cite Evidence (yellows) add a relating story. I know this because the
- Use evidence from the text to
support your answer. text says,”...nothing more than a silly little
-Include both paraphrased girl.” In this text Annemarie’s mother was
evidence and direct quotes talking to her about getting the basket to
Henrik.This proves a way it relates because
Possible evidence starters: in the story Red Riding Hood is just a silly
According to the text… little girl just like Annemarie’s mother tells
For example…
On page ___ it says… her to be. Another way I know this is
Further support can be found... because the text says,”..Forgot his lunch,and
In the article/ chapter it states...
I am taking it to him.” This relates to the
E Explain (reds) story by the fact Red Riding Hood had been
- Explain how each piece of text
evidence supports your answer. bring food to her grandmother just like
Annemarie was bringing food to her
Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that… uncle.Lastly the text says,”she heard a low
This means that… growl.”The author uses the story to relate to
This further supports the idea that… what is written in the chapter like hearing a
low growl like the wolf did in the story.This
Sum it Up (green) is a way that the story relates to the chapter
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence because of the low growl made by the
using different words soldiers dogs just like the low growl from
the wolf in the story. Clearly you can see
Possible summary starters: the author’s purpose of including the story
Clearly Definitely Certainly
To sum up In fact Obviously of little Red Riding Hood during
annemarie’s run through the forest was to

add a relating story.

S

Chapter 16-17 and
Afterword
Why does the author include the
“Afterword?” Why is it important
to read the afterword, especially
Restate the Question (green) in historical fiction books?
R
A - Read the question or prompt
C
- Underline keywords
E
S - Rewrite the question as a

statement using your own words The author includes the afterword to tell you
the real story and what was true and what was
Answer the Question (green) not.This is important so if the reader needs to
- Answer the question is trying to find the real story or wants to know
*If there is more that one part of
the question, make sure to answer about how she created a book it will inform
ALL parts. them. I know this because the text says,”.. where
facts end and fiction begins.”It is important to
Cite Evidence (yellows)
- Use evidence from the text to know what is facts and what is fiction.This
support your answer. proves that one reason the author included an
-Include both paraphrased
evidence and direct quotes afterword was to tell the charter what is real
and what is fiction and it is important to know
Possible evidence starters:
According to the text… the real story .Another way I know this is
For example… because the text says,”.. Who was herself a child
On page ___ it says…
Further support can be found... in Copenhagen…” Saying this was important
In the article/ chapter it states... for the reader to know it was based of a real
person's story but with fictional characters.This
Explain (reds)
- Explain how each piece of text shows the author gives us important
evidence supports your answer. information on how she came up with the
book and how it was based of a true story in the
Possible explain starters:
This clearly shows that… afterwords. Lastly one other way I know
This means that… including a afterword in the book was
This further supports the idea that…
important is because the text says,”.. Is recorded
Sum it Up (green) in one of the documents that still remains
- Conclude your answer
- Link back to the topic sentence from that time.” This is important because the
using different words reader learns that that part was true.”This
further supports the idea that the autor
Possible summary starters:
Clearly Definitely Certainly includes the afterword is to show that some
To sum up In fact Obviously parts are true, like this sentence about how
what that boy said to the German soldier,and it
is a fun little true story. As you can see the
author includes the afterword to tell you the
real story and what was true and what was
not.This is important so if the reader needs to
is trying to find the real story or wants to know
about how she created a book it will inform

them.