Mar 17, 2017 i had a book report due and got a group of friendsover 9000 gamer, camera man,tessa constantine rifka, isaac lowe nathon, cameron the beast saul editor. Letters from rifka interactive journal interactive. Small groups read assigned chapters from the book, letters to rifka, then work together to fill out comprehension worksheets associated with their chapters. Setting letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. She has brothers in america, so they are going to escape to go to them. We plan to read letters from rifka and meet on these dates. Her family had to flee russia so her brothers would not be killed because they fled their regiment in the russian armed services.
I never read the heading date, pushkin lines i did like the idea of rifka writing letters to her friend in russia. Letters from rifka is a short childrens novel narrated by a 12 year old jewish girl fleeing russia in 1919. Studying this novel expands the exploration of the value tikvah, hope, the theme of the shevat 5764 issue of babaganewz. Lessons and ideas books and authors top teaching blog teachers tool kit student activities the teacher store book clubs book fairs. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout letters from rifka by karen hesse. Letters from rifka is a childrens historical novel by karen hesse, published by holt in 1992. She has received honors including the scott odell historical fiction award, the christopher award, and the macarthur fellowship genius award, making her only the second childrens book author to receive this prestigious grant. In letters from rifka, rifka and her family travel to many. For an extension idea, see the extension section of this lesson plan. They are going to help you out while you read the selection from letters from rifka emma likes to ask questions about what youre thinking while you read alex tries to answer emmas questions and asks for your help along the way with the help of your coaches youll be a literary whiz in no time.
Ms hesse is also the author of wish on a unicorn and the forthcoming lesters dog and lavender. See more ideas about lettering, teaching and novels. A youth in nazi germany tells the truth about hitler. Because she has no spare paper, she uses the blank spaces of the book to write letters to a cousin who remains in the motherland. The idea that sitara should be embraced only because her family supported. Rifka also shows her mother about the boy who looks at rifka as a mother. See more ideas about teaching reading, teaching and reading workshop. Rifka writes letters in the margins of a book of pushkin to a cousin still in russia, telling of her loneliness, fear and determination to join her family. You dont desert the army, especially if youre jewish. This book is especially powerful because, as the author tells us in the beginning of the story in her authors note, rifkas experiences are largely based on. Front cover template writing prompt directions includedliterary elements flipbook characters, theme, conflict, climax, resolution, symbolism, foreshadowing, setting, irony.
However, rifka encounters many difficulties along the way. Along the way she faces many obstacles and the only way she feels comfort is when she writes in a book called pushkin, that her cousin gave her. Jan 01, 1992 letters from rifka is a short childrens novel narrated by a 12 year old jewish girl fleeing russia in 1919. Letters from rifka and millions of other books are available for instant access. They have a dangerous escape, and meet some unpleasant people along the way. Hello select your address best sellers todays deals new releases todays deals new releases. Sections date we will finish reading date we will discuss 1. With simple and carefully chosen words, rifkas letters reveal her inner most heart and her fears, and they give us a startling and sometimes disturbing picture of her ordeals. This book is an indepth look at a 12 year old girls struggle to get to america from. The activities in this book are based on sentences and paragraphs.
The book is super unique in that it is written as series of journal entries or letters. Twelveyear old rifkas family is on the run because her brother deserted the army. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifkas family makes their way across russia to poland and the. After finishing the book, students should transfer their ideas to an. A comprehensive database of letters from rifka quizzes online, test your knowledge with letters from rifka quiz questions. Letters from rifka through the looking glass childrens. The time peroid for the story was during the 1920s, the setting occured in various places. Written in a book of pushkin poetry, to cousin tovah. The letters from rifka lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. Beginning in russia in 1919, this epistolary novel, based on experiences of the.
From newbery media winner karen hesse comes an unforgettable story of. In letters from rifka, rifka and her family travel to many countries before arriving in the united states. To ask other readers questions about letters from rifka, please sign up. Rifka celebrates her thirteenth birthday in the book. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka. Rifkas compelling story, relating her burgeoning maturity and ability to cope with her situation, is presented in letter format. In her obituary she was credited with being the inspiration for the character of rifka. Letters from rifka timeline timeline created by kittycat. Twelveyearold rifka tells her story through a series of letters written to her cousin tovah. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka and her family flee russia for america in the hope of a better life. Indeed it is within the pages of this beloved volume that rifka writes letters to tovah, letters describing her experiences and her feelings. Also, i liked how she was the little mother of a polish baby when the babys real mom died from typhus. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form of letters to tovah.
Rifka finally sees her mother and she has never been happier, especially in her problem. Then have students briefly research each country and provide relevant. Praise for letters from rifka hesses vivacious tale colorfully and convincingly refreshes the immigrant experience. Twelveyearold rifkas journey from a jewish community in the ukraine to ellis island is anything but smooth sailing. For each country rifka visits, have students label that country on the map.
It is 1919 and rifkas brother nathan has deserted the russian army. This letters from rifka lesson plan is suitable for 6th 8th grade. Pj our way offers free, monthly jewish chapter books to kids 911 years of age. In letters to her cousin, a young jewish girl chronicles her familys flight from russia in 1919 and her own experiences when she must be left in belgium for a teachers lessons and ideas.
Letters from rifka detail questions flashcards quizlet. The russians and other people are treating the jews badly there. Terms in this set 54 what gift did tovah give rifka in berdichev. Letters from rifka is the story of a young russianjewish girl and her family who leave their homeland in 1919 to travel to america. When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate to the united states, she spends nine months living in warsaw, with her care overseen by the hebrew immigrant aid society.
Rifka, the protagonist of this book, is 12years old, which matches the beginning age for appropriateness of this book. Rifkas family hid in the trains boxcars, and rifka had to distract the soldiers. From newbery media winner karen hesse comes an unforgettable story of an immigrant familys journey to america. They chose rifka because she could speak russian and she had light hair and blue eyes. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. This lesson will give you discussion and comprehension questions you can use with your. In this book a jewish girl named rifka has to escape from russia with her family. Have students use a blank world map to trace the journey of rifka and her family. Karen hesse is the author of many books for young people, including out of the dust, winner of the newbery medal, brooklyn bridge, phoenix rising, sable and lavender. My favorite highlights were when rifka and her family got typhus but survived. Twenty years ago i was in third grade reading my first karen hesse book, letters from rifka. Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more.
Her family decided to leave russia and take a train to poland where they got sick with typhus and were stuck there for weeks. Free letters from rifka study unit worksheets for teachers to print. Throughout her journey, rifka carries with her a cherished volume of poetry by alexander pushkin. When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate. Rifkas mother talk to her about how it has been in america. Its important to lay some background knowledge early by posing these prereading questions. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading letters from rifka. She has received honors including the scott odell historical fiction award, the christopher award, and the macarthur fellowship genius award, making her only the second childrens book author to receive this. This book is an indepth look at a 12 year old girls struggle to get to america from russia. Plot summary letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. Letters from rifka ebook by karen hesse 97814668025. Rifka and her jewish family have fled russia for america in 1919.
Rifka and her family have to escape to russia to get a better life. She knew what it was like to miss her home and all she knew, just like i was. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifka s family makes their way across russia to poland and the u. Read letters from rifka by karen hesse available from rakuten kobo. Explain to the students that they will be reading the book letters from rifka. Our online letters from rifka trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top letters from rifka quizzes. No, im sad to say my aunt lucy died in december of 2009 at the age of 97. Aug 20, 2010 rifka knows nothing about america when she flees from russia with her family in 1919.
As an adult, reading this book to my children was one of the most nostalgic experiences i think i have ever had. Rifka tells her mom about hows she been while in belgium. Modeled on the authors greataunt, rifka surmounts one obstacle after another in. Rifka s mother talk to her about how it has been in america. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. Letters from rifka plot summary letters from rifka is a story about a jewish girl that escapes to america because her brothers are wanted by the german army. This book is a fantastic resource if you are teaching your class about immigration. I bought it for my 9year old and, thankfully, read a part of it first before making a determination to give it to her. When garnet finds a silver thimble in the sand by the river, she is sure its magical.
This fine, page instructional activity culminates with each group getting together to meet for an exchange of ideas about rifka, and what she experienced on her trip. Teachers pet, writing assignments, vocabulary worksheets, group activities, critical thinking, teaching. Experiencing the letters rifka wrote to her cousin, tovah, allowed me to experience a sense of kinship. Are your students working on the book letters from rifka. But she dreams she will at last be safe from the russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the jews in the new country. Twelveyearold rifka s journey from a jewish community in the ukraine to ellis island is anything but smooth sailing. The plot section reads like a really bad book report. The thrilling novel letters from rifka includes content some students may struggle to understand. She was an exceptional woman, sorely missed not only by her family and friends but by readers of the book who have come to know and care for her and her fictionalized story. Read with a group group members read an agreedupon number of pages, complete the corresponding student journal pages, and meet to discuss. There are a couple parts that i did have to skip they talk about undressing in front of. It features a jewish familys emigration from russia in 1919, to belgium and ultimately to the u. Rifka makes the difficult journey from the ukraine to america and records the adventure, as well as her solo journey to rejoin her family after being separated from them, in a series of letters.
But she dreams that in the new country she will at last be safe from the russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the jews. Karen hesse calls letters from rifka a gift to my grandparents and to my heritage, and to people like rifka who have made the passage between two worlds. In letters to her cousin, a young jewish girl chronicles her familys flight from russia in 1919 and her own experiences when she must be left in belgium for a. Rifka knows nothing about america when she flees from russia with her family in 1919. In this book karen hesse beautifully captures the horrors of what it was like to be a jew living in russia and eastern europe during the early part of the twentieth century. Rifkas family quickly packed up their things and left. Letters from rifka plan your schedule my group members are.
The soldiers came to the boxcars to search for nathan, and rifka distracted them. Bartoletti has taken one episode from her newbery honor book, hitler youth, and fleshed it out into a full novel. Part of this could be a discussion of a move they have made in the past. Introduction this study guide aims to provide material to help in the preparation of a lesson, unit, or bookclub discussion about the novel letters from rifka by karen hesse. Karen hesse lives in williamsville, vermont, with her husband, randy, and her daughters, kate and rachel. Shortly after they leave poland rifka develops a deadly. Letters from rifka quizzes online, trivia, questions. This summary of letters from rifka includes a complete plot overview spoilers included.
Because she has no spare paper, she uses the blank spaces of the book to write letters to a. Read the book form the group that will read letters from rifka. Free letters from rifka worksheets and literature unit for. She carries with her a lone beloved volume of poems by pushkin. The letters, each prefaced by a few telling lines of pushkin, tell of the fear, indignities, privation, and disease endured as they traveled through poland and into. Listsyour heartsexplore idea listsexplore showroomdiscovertake the home style quiz. Beginning in russia in 1919, this epistolary novel, based on experiences of the authors greataunt, tells how 12yearold rifka nebrot and her family fled the antisemitism of postrevolutionary russia and emigrated to the us. I learned more about jewish history from this book.