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Tova Friedman, Holocaust Survivor

Surviving Auschwitz (Season One)

*An 826 Digital Lesson Partner

Overview

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Tova Friedman Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"Human beings are built to have resilience. That's how we were made." 
- Tova Friedman, The Thread

Tova Friedman reflects on being a Holocaust survivor, vividly describing her time in the ghettos, labor camps, and her liberation from Auschwitz at the age of 6. Friedman shares the challenges her family faced as survivors in postwar America. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling and her commitment to ensuring her children and grandchildren carry on the legacy of remembrance and resilience.

 

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Lesson Objectives

Social Studies

*Deepen understanding about the Holocaust

*Connect one life story to a seminal historical event - World War II and the Holocaust

*Explore the emotions of loss and grief and the capacities of resilience and courage

English Language Arts

*First-person witness acount and memoir writing

*Explore the idea of purposeful work and a meaningful life

*Examine perspective taking from the point of view of one Holocaust survivor

*Use Tova Friedman's episode as an example of a testimony and memoir, or as evidence in the writing of a rhetorical argument, commentary, or synthesis essay

Social Emotional Learning: By offering engaging personal narratives, students can discuss and strengthen the five SEL competencies - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Media Literacy: Students will practice media literacy skills by analyzing information, points of view, and claims made in The Thread and be able to translate these strategies with all forms of media to make more informed decisions.

Tova Friedman Lesson | Teaching The Thread

First Take >

The "First Take" activity is a warm-up writing or conversation exercise created uniquely for The Thread to strengthen media literacy skills. Like an opening song in a musical, the first stanza of a poem, or even the first impression one person makes on another, the "First Take" asks students to reflect and share their initial thoughts and feelings about the episode’s opening and why the filmmaker and editor made these choicess.

Download Tova Friedman's lesson to access the complete "First Take" activity.

Tova Friedman Lesson | Teaching The Thread

The Thread Up Close >

 

After watching the interview, students will debrief and discuss this life story and engage in a close read and analysis of the interview using the “Survivng Auschwitz” episode and transcript. 

In the lesson, several examples of texts are presented to use as models. 

Download the lesson to access "The Thread Up Close" activity.

Tova Friedman Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"Surviving Auschwitz" >

 

Students will explore Tova Friedman’s TikTok Channel maintained by her grandson and watch her posts in the "History of the Shoah" and "Daughter of Auschwitz" sections. 

Download the lesson to access the complete "Survivng Auschwitz" reflection activity.

Resources

See lesson for resources

826 Digital Lesson:  "Storytelling Is Who We Are"

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