5th grade students at Durhamville explored the novel Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, a story set during World War II in Denmark. Through the journey of a young girl helping her Jewish friend escape danger, students examined real historical events, built critical reading skills, and explored themes of courage, friendship, and moral courage.

Throughout the unit, students analyzed literary elements such as point of view, mood, and foreshadowing, while making meaningful connections between the novel and real historical events. These discussions fostered empathy and a deeper understanding of how ordinary people can make a powerful difference in extraordinary times.

What you saw in my class:

In the lesson photographed below, students worked on writing a clear, structured paragraph explaining Lois Lowry’s purpose in writing Number the Stars. Drawing on evidence from Lowry’s nonfiction writing and her Newbery Medal acceptance speech, students connected the author’s message to key events and themes in the novel.

The lesson focused on strengthening writing skills—particularly paragraph structure and sentence clarity—building on the analysis students had completed in earlier lessons. In doing so, students demonstrated their ability to organize ideas, use evidence effectively, and communicate their thinking with growing independence.