Activity Overview
Tracking Elie’s life as he explains it in the novel is important for making connections with the story. Night is an exemplary novel for students to use to connect to on many different levels. In this activity, students will create a timeline to make text to world (History) connections. As part of learning about the Holocaust, students can use Elie Wiesel’s first hand experience of the atrocities to help further understand the political and factual occurrences during the war. They may also want to supplement their timeline with additional research.
Example Timeline of Night
| 1941 | Elie is introducedElie is 12 years old and is studying the Kabbalah. He is curious about his faith. He urges his father to teach him Jewish mysticism. His father declines, saying he is too young. Elie finds Moshe the Beadle who becomes his Rabbi (Teacher). |
|---|---|
| 1942 | Moshe Warns of AtrocitiesThe Hungarian government sends for all foreign Jews who could not prove Hungarian citizenship. They are deported to Nazi-held Poland. On the way the SS murder them. Moshe is able to escape and returns to Sighet to tell his story, but no one believes him. |
| 1943 | The Calm Before the StormElie celebrates his bar mitzvah and continues to study the Bible and other Jewish books. |
| 1944 | German OccupationIn March, Sighet is occupied. Jews are forced to wear stars. Soon their businesses are shut down. |
| 1944 | Then Came the GhettosIn May, Jewish homes are raided and they are forced into the ghettos. |
| 1944 | Transport to AuschwitzAt the end of May, Elie’s father learns that all the Jews will be transported to a concentration camp. They are expelled from the ghettos and forced onto cattle cars by the hundreds. Once at Auschwitz, Elie and his father lie to survive. |
| 1944 -1945 | Life in the CampFor seven months, Elie and his father work in the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Buna. |
| 1945 | SS Units Evacuate Auschwitz / Death MarchOver the winter, Elie's foot becomes infected, and in January, he requires an operation. With the Red Army advancing, the SS evacuates the camp and forces the prisoners on a 50 mile death march to Buchenwald. Of the 20,000 who left the camp only 6,000 survive. |
| 1945 | Elie's Father Dies/ ShlomoJanuary 29: The prisoners arrive at Buchenwald, but Shlomo Wiesel dies of dysentery, starvation, and exhaustion. Elie becomes guilt stricken with feelings of relief and sadness. |
| 1945 | Liberation in AprilElie is liberated and sent to France, where he spends time recovering from intestinal issues. “From the depths of the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me. The look in his eyes, as they stared into mine, has never left me. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a timeline of major events that took place in Elie Wiesel's life.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the description boxes, write brief summary of each event.
- Create an illustration for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Events and Dates | The events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. The dates provided are correct. | Most of the events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. Most of the dates provided are correct. | Some of the events chosen for the timeline are significant. There may be missing events, or events that are irrelevant. Too many dates may be incorrect. |
| Explanations/Descriptions | The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are accurate and provide insight into the significance of the events. | The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are mostly accurate and attempt to provide insight into the significance of the events. | There are several glaring inaccuracies in the explanations or descriptions of the events. There may be little or no insight int the significance of the events, or the information provided may be too limited or missing. |
| English Conventions | There are 0-2 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. | There are 3-4 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. | There are 5 or more mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. |
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