Mrs. Dorhout's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 3

• Beyond Anne Frank: Diaries of Teenage Holocaust Victims

  Funded Nov 23, 2022

  I want to thank you again for your generous support of our project. We are studying the Holocaust and have read "The Diary of Anne Frank". With the purchase of the book "We are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers who Died in the Holocaust", we were able to learn more about other teenagers who experienced the horrors of that time. I am working to include more primary sources in our Holocaust studies because I believe that hearing from the victims themselves is one of the best ways to tell the story.

  In addition, reading this book reinforces skills across several curricular areas, including reading, writing, and social studies. Some of the important reading skills include finding main ideas, finding supporting details, determining an author's purpose, making connections, and evaluating the advantages/disadvantages of different types of texts. As they read, discuss, and write, students also reinforce important writing skills such as making a claim and supporting a claim with evidence. Thirdly, important social studies skills are practiced. These skills include gathering and evaluating sources, developing claims, using evidence, and communicating conclusions.

  In addition to reinforcing reading, writing, and social studies skills, this book also helps students to make connections with the lives of real people who experienced the Holocaust, giving another perspective that is not available in an informational text. With a historical event that is so nuanced and multifaceted, it is really important to show students a variety of sources and experiences and to help them understand that every Holocaust victim was a unique human being, with a unique story.

  Once again, I thank you for your generous support of our middle-school students. You are truly making a difference in their lives!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Dorhout

  This classroom project was brought to life by Seed to Read and 4 other donors.

• Write like a Scientist: Use "Science World" to Supplement Writing

  Funded Nov 17, 2021

  Thank you so much for supporting our project "Write Like a Scientist!" This project allowed us to order a classroom set of the Scholastic publication Science World. Access to current, high-quality science news at an appropriate reading- and interest level for my middle-school students has been a great addition to our writing curriculum. One of the writing standards that we teach is to write informational texts. In order to write high-quality texts, students need access to high-quality information and research. Science World--with its print- and digital copies and materials--is the perfect way to use information in the students' own writing. It has also given us a chance to do some cross-curricular work between the language arts classes and science classes, showing our students that the things we learn in one class are not limited to just that class.

  Students love Science World, too. Lille wrote, "I like using the Science World articles because they are well written and easy to understand. This makes it very easy to find answers, facts, and new quality information. I appreciate having access to quality articles." Reece wrote, "The advantages of using Science World is that we can actually use articles that are entertaining. They are not like an average textbook and it is fun reading them instead of it being a task. Learning about bazaar up-to-date facts about our world is way better than just learning in a classroom setting. I feel more free when I read it as well." Riley wrote, "When using Science World magazine in language arts class, it helps students learn more about things normally we would not have read about. I personally really enjoyed using the magazines as it gave me an opportunity to learn more."

  Thanks again for your support!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Dorhout

  This classroom project was brought to life by Young Sheldon on CBS and one other donor.

• Number the Stars: How the Danish People Resisted the Nazis

  Funded Mar 5, 2020

  I wanted to thank you again for your generous gift that allowed me to purchase the novel "Number the Stars". Because my students have a historical literature course that dives into the Holocaust and its literature, having this book was a great addition to our library.

  "Number the Stars" is set in Denmark during World War II. While there are many fictional books set during the Holocaust, this book gives a unique perspective that is not covered in many places. It is set in Denmark, one of the few countries in which the population at large worked to save and protect as many Jews as possible. Unlike many of the other occupied nations, Denmark saved 90% of its Jewish population. This was accomplished through active resistance to the Nazis.

  The plot follows a family of resistors who smuggle Jews to the coast, where they can be smuggled to safety in Sweden, riding in the bottoms of fishing boats. It's a high-interest book that is not too difficult to read, so it gives readers a chance to read quality historical literature at a level that all students can handle.

  Along with the other literature we read, this book offers another perspective that makes the students' study of the Holocaust richer and more historically balanced. Reading this book helps students to realize that they want to read other books in the genre. It also gives a perspective on another country, and during our pre-reading we did a virtual field trip to Denmark.

  I thank you so much for your contribution. You are truly helping to change lives.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Dorhout

  This classroom project was brought to life by A group of anonymous donors and one other donor.