Introducing The story
If students have not had an introduction to the Holocaust prior to this lesson, you may wish to involve them in one or more of the resources above to provide a framework for understanding and learning.
Vocabulary:
The following terms/concepts are integral to the story. Share these with students to insure they have the background knowledge necessary:
Olympic Games, 1936
rescuers
Hellas (Greece)
Nazi Party
prejudice
Partisans (resistance fighters)
bystanders
Read the introduction of the book, Ten Gold Medals: Glory or Freedom aloud.
What do students know about the Holocaust? Create a K-W-L graphic organizer on
the board or on a large piece of butcher paper to list what students "know" and "want
to know" in terms of the Holocaust. As they discover answers to their questions, have them fill in the "L" portion- "What I Learned." Finally, at the end of the unit, what questions do they still have? Provide resources to help them discover the answers independently and then share with classmates…
Locate the country of Greece on a world map. What countries, bodies of water, etc. border this country? Trace the journey of the Cohen family from Greece to Palestine (now Israel) and discuss the dangers they faced along the way.
Journal Writing:
All students should keep a journal to record their reflections as they read the novel. Often, journal writing is a catharsis allowing them to sort out their feelings and express their emotions. In addition, it gives them the opportunity to search for their own meanings and draw conclusions.
While there are various types of journal entries, the double-entry journal is an excellent strategy that encourages students to reflect and as appropriate, connect what they read to their own lives. To create a double-entry journal, students divide each page into two columns. For each chapter, they can select a quote that was significant to them, write it in left column of the journal. Then, on the right side of the journal they write a reaction to the quote. Periodically, allow students to share with the class a quote they selected as well as their reaction. Follow this up with class discussion and research as appropriate.
Example: Chapter: "The Third Gold Medal"
Quote: "I have wondered for a long time what my uncle Isaac Cohen might have accomplished if he had actually entered the Olympic competitions in 1932 and especially, if he went to the 1936 Olympics that were held in Berlin, Germany... Would my uncle and his family have come to the same fate if he had competed?"
Reflection: There are so many, “What-if’s” associated with the Holocaust. All the lives that were lost—I wonder what each might have accomplished and where their journeys might have taken them.
Questions for Discussion:
These can be used to supplement student questions and thoughts:
- What is prejudice? How does it destroy people? What can be done to stop prejudice? What other groups of people have been persecuted in the past and in today s world?
- What was is like for Jewish people in Greece before the Holocaust? Why were they persecuted by the Nazis?
- Why did Isaac Cohen s children find it so difficult to believe that they would have to flee their home?
- How did the Nazis know who was Jewish and where they lived?
- How are the children in the Cohen family just like you and your friends?
- What were some of the most difficult things the children had to face when they were in hiding?
- Most survivors of the Holocaust had to begin a new life, in a new land. What are some of the challenges they faced?
- What is your definition of "courage?" Of all the people you were introduced to in the novel, who do you believe was the most courageous? Explain. Of all the people introduced in the novel, who did you respect least? Explain.
- When asked, “How did you survive the Holocaust?” many survivors said they survived because of luck. Others said it was because they never gave up hope. Many responded that they survived because of the kindness and bravery of others. Based on the various experiences described in the book, how do you think the Cohen family would respond to this question?
- Why is this book an important one for students your age to read?
- Think about the title of the book, Ten Gold Medals: Glory or Freedom. What importance did his father s medals have to Laiki at the beginning of the book? How did the importance of the medals change?
- Perhaps the most important lesson of the Holocaust is the need to stand up against evil and work together to help others. What can you do in your own life to make this happen?
After The Story
"What Kind of World Do You Want?”
With classmates, watch the following video that uses photographs to accompany the song by Five for Fighting:
Use the question the song poses to begin a conversation: “What kind of world do you want? “What would it “look” like?
Create a class video with ideas generated and accompanying pictures. Create your original background music or select an appropriate piece from those in the public domain.*please share these with us so we can share with others- send the ink to
[email protected]
“A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words”
Study the photographs included in the book
Ten Gold Medals: Freedom or Glory and select one that interests you most. What questions come to mind when you look at this photograph? In small groups, discuss the pictures selected and questions they suggest. As appropriate research the photographs further to discover more.
The 1936 Olympics:
Research the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, and the treatment of the Jewish athletes as well as athletes representing other minority groups. Share your findings in a creative way-i.e. digital story. For an excellent article on this topic, visit:
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, “Introduction to the Holocaust.”
Cartoon Creation
How did the Olympic Games in Germany support or deny the spirit of the Olympics? Create an editorial cartoon to reflect your “take-away."