Lesson
2
:

Learning Humanity from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 6

UNIT

9

Humanity

Last Updated:

June 10, 2025

In Unit 9, Lesson 2, “Learning Humanity from a Nonfiction Text,” students will learn examples of humanity from the lives of six teenagers who helped to rescue Jewish people during WWII. Additionally, students will answer questions to develop their critical thinking skills and advance their academic dialogue skills through class discussion.

SUGGESTED TIME:

  • 12 sessions of in-class independent reading or 12 homework assignments to complete the book, Heroes of the Holocaust: True Stories of Rescues by Teens by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun. The book has an introduction and six chapters, for a total of 183 pages.
  • Students should complete the worksheet questions as they read the book
  • Allow one class period to discuss the worksheet questions.

RELATED SUBJECT:

English Language Arts

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Read a nonfiction text and demonstrate understanding of the central ideas 
  • Determine the author’s purpose in the text 
  • Compose answers to questions that demonstrate comprehension of the word humanity 
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar  
  • Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.2

Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.3

Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.5

Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.6

Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.7

Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.4

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.9

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1.A

Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1.C

Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1.D

Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.1

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

Moral Character A2

Understand and explain why the expression “to get along, go along” may prevent some people from being an “active bystander”

Moral Character A4

Understand and explain why the expression “to get along, go along” may prevent some people from being an “active bystander”

Moral Character A4

Understand and explain why the expression “to get along, go along” may prevent some people from being an “active bystander”

Moral Character A5

Understand and explain why caring (and helping others) should never be motivated by the likelihood of being recognized or rewarded for your help or support

Performance Character A6

Describe a role model who demonstrates a positive attitude, effort, and grit

Civic Character A2

Explain why friends have a responsibility to speak up or take action to prevent or stop others from engaging in disrespectful, dangerous, harmful, or illegal conduct

Civic Character A4

Explain why protest and civil disobedience are essential to the democratic process

Civic Character B2

Describe how a role model challenged an unjust law

Social-Awareness A1

Experience and demonstrate empathy

Social-Awareness A3

Demonstrate respect for other people’s opinions and perspectives

Social-Awareness A4

Analyze the impact of stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice (at school, in the community and beyond)

Social-Awareness A5

Practice “perspective taking” as a strategy to strengthen your acceptance of others

Social-Awareness A6

Demonstrate awareness and understanding that despite differences, all people have similar needs, feelings and wants

Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills A5

Understand and practice positive collaboration and cooperation skills (e.g., teamwork)

Responsible and Ethical Decision-Making A3

Write about and share a principle you want to live by that you learned from a family member, book, movie, or personal experience

LESSON PROCEDURE

Step 1: 

  • Explain that we will be reading a book that tells the true stories of six teenagers who helped to rescue Jewish people during WWII.
  • There is a special honor called the Righteous Among the Nations for non-Jews who took great risks to save Jews during the Holocaust.
  • To learn more about Righteous Among the Nations, play the video: Who are the Righteous Among the Nations? by Yad Vashem (~3 min)

Step 2: 

  • Have students complete the book, either through multiple in-class silent reading sessions or as homework: Heroes of the Holocaust: True Stories of Rescues by Teens by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun
  • Have students complete the short-answer questions on the worksheet as they read the book. 

Step 3: 

  • Allow at least 50 minutes for in-class discussion of the short-answer questions on the worksheet.

GRADE 6 UNIT 9 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING HUMANITY FROM A NONFICTION TEXT

Vocabulary

  • Active bystander: I take responsible action to help people in need instead of remaining passive and becoming complicit.
  • Humanity: I see that every person is special. People are more alike than unalike. We all need to work together to make our lives better.
  • Righteous Among the Nations: An honor for non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews, given by the organization Yad Vashem.

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER WHILE READING Heroes of the Holocaust: True Stories of Rescues by Teens by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun: 

  1. How many people have received the honor Righteous Among the Nations?

  1. Which of these stories made the greatest impact on you and why?

  1. How did Maria Andzelm and her family help Jews in Poland? 

  1. How did Henri Zylberminc help Jews in Belgium? 

  1. How did Hilde Jacobsthal help Jews in Holland, and what now-famous person did she know? 

  1. How did Ferenc Schatz go into “the lion’s den” to help Jews in Hungary? 

  1. How did Liliane Belinne help Jews in Belgium? 

  1. What did Preben Munch-Nielsen and his fellow students do in Denmark to resist the Nazis and help Jews? 

  1. Preben’s story covers the same time and place as Lois Lowry’s novel Number the Stars. What are 2 similarities and 2 differences in those stories? 

  1. What is one way that you can show humanity in your own life, to Jews or to others who are different from you? 

  1. Write about and share a principle you want to live by that you learned from reading this book.

Prohuman K-12 Curriculum © 2025 by Prohuman Foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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