Seventh Graders spent yesterday's class learning through games. We played Follow the Leader, Find the Ring, and a funny game I like to call Round Red Rover! Through this series of games, the seventh graders started to understand what it's like to form a group where some people are "in the know" and others are left out.
Afterwards, we discussed what it felt like to be both on the inside and the outside of the group. Students noted that when they were a part of the group, they felt powerful, like they were a part of something, like they had a secret. They also recognized that it was funny, in this situation, when someone was left out.
But when we started to connect these games to what happened to the Jews during the Holocaust, we realized it isn't so funny to leave people out. The seventh graders had some great questions, like how come the Jews didn't leave Germany when they began to be treated differently? Why didn't anyone stand up for their Jewish neighbors? Throughout the rest of the year, we'll be discussing these issues in greater depth.
Ask your child what it felt like to be on the inside!
What a great jumping off point for our kids to think about what it means to be included or excluded. And so important both for the study of the Holocaust and for every day life as a 7th grader.
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