Annefrank Teachersguide
Annefrank Teachersguide
Annefrank Teachersguide
Teachers Guide
TA M S I N G R E I G, E L L I E K E N D R I C K , A N D I A I N G L E N
A S E DITH, A N N E, A N D OT TO FR A N K .
2010 WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Table of Contents
3
Introduction
10
13
14
15
16
18
20
Recommended Resources
23
Credits
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Introduction
The Diary of Anne Frank has become one of the worlds most widely read works of
nonfiction after the Bible. In adapting this classic for a new generation, screenwriter
Deborah Moggach set out to show young viewers that Anne was a thoroughly modern
teenagersimilar in many ways to todaywho lived in anything-but-normal times.
Moggach explains:
Like many people, I read the diary when I was young. Now, on rereading it, Im struck by
how contemporary Anne isobsessed with boys, with her looksrebellious, highly critical
of her mother. In other words, a thoroughly modern teenager. In past adaptations, she has
been somewhat sanctifieda bit cheeky and talkative maybe, but also over-sweet. I want to
be true to the real girl. Sure, she got on peoples nerves; but she was also full of life, her own
sternest critic and, above all, she made people laugh.
About this Guide
The Diary of Anne Frank is frequently taught in middle school and high school, and many
materials for teaching the book already exist. While the diary is often taught either as a
historical document or as a literary work, this guide encourages students to look at it as
both. It is intended to provide middle school and high school teachers with strategies and
materials that support classroom viewing and discussion of The Diary of Anne Frank, based
on a brand-new film version and new information about Annes family, life, and death.
Discussion questions, activities, reproducible worksheets, and assignment ideas are
supplemented by an extensive listing of resources for further exploration. The guide aims to
spark critical thinking and reflection on Anne Franks diary, both as a literary classic and as
a rich and illuminating first-person account of life in hiding during World War II; more
broadly, the guide addresses the themes of prejudice, hate, hope, courage, and heroism that
suffuse the diary. The guide also draws contemporary connections. Whether you use this
guide in conjunction with existing lesson plans or to develop a new approach to the diary,
you will want to provide enough historical and literary context so that students have a firm
foundation on which to build their understanding.
For students who have read The Diary of Anne Frank, the film offers an opportunity to
deepen their appreciation of Anne Franks story and to consider the process by which a
book is adapted for the screen; the film can also be used to introduce Anne Frank to
students who have not read her diary. In social studies, history, English, and writing
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courses, the film can serve as a key element within a larger unit on World War II,
Holocaust studies, or coming-of-age literature; it can also be used as a resource within
units on diversity, tolerance, and human rights.
This guide has been developed in consultation with Facing History and Ourselves, an
international educational organization that provides educators, students, and ordinary
citizens with the information and tools they need to examine the history of racism,
antisemitism, and prejudice, and to link that history to the moral choices they confront in
their own lives. At the core of their work is the resource book Facing History and Ourselves:
Holocaust and Human Behavior, (http://www.facinghistory.org/resources/hhb) which
explores the consequences of hatred. Available for download, borrowing, or purchase, this
book has helped students all over the world learn to recognize the consequences of bigotry
and other forms of hatred. Facing History and Ourselves uses that book and related
resources online and in in-person seminars and workshops. For more information, visit
http://facinghistory.org.
This guide also utilizes many observations from the 2009 publication Anne Frank: The
Book, The Life, The Afterlife by Francine Prose. Prose argues that Anne Frank was not an
accidental author but rather an extraordinary writer who crafted a deliberate work of art
when she wrote and revised her diary. Not only does Proses research inform the reader as
they experience the book, but her observations help give context to some of the original
aspects of the film. An interview with Francine Prose is included in the guide and can help
students and teachers understand why Anne Franks story is still relevant today.
A N N E, ED ITH, A N D
M A R G O T F R A N K , 19 3 3 .
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Historical Context
The History of Antisemitism
In times of crisis, Jews and other minorities have always been at risk, and the upheavals
after World War I and the worldwide depression that began in the 1930s were no
exceptions. In such times, many people are attracted to simple answers to complex
problems. Those answers often place the blame for the crisis on the other in the society.
Antisemitism rose in nearly every nation in Europe and the Americas during those crises.
The Rise of Nazi Germany
In Germany, the claim that Jews were responsible for all of the nations problems was
fostered by groups like Adolf Hitlers National Socialist, (Nazi) Party. In speech after
speech, they insisted that the Jews were everywhere, controlled everything, and acted so
secretly that few could detect their influence. The charge was false, but after hearing it again
and again, many came to believe it.
T H E E N T R A N C E TO T H E S E C R E T A N N E X WA S
H I D D E N B Y T H I S M O V E A B L E B O O KC A S E .
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M A R G O T, E D I T H , O T TO, A N D A N N E F R A N K ( F E L I C I T Y J O N E S , TA M S I N G R E I G, I A I N G L E N , A N D E L L I E K E N D R I C K )
WA I T TO S E E I F T H E I R H I D I N G P L A C E H A S B E E N D I S C O V E R E D.
In 1933 the Nazis took control of Germany. Once in power, they destroyed the nations
democratic institutions and turned Germany into a police state. They were also determined
to protect Germans from the nations racial enemiesthe Jews. In just six years, 400
anti-Jewish measures were enacted. Each was designed to protect so-called Aryan blood
from contamination with so-called Jewish blood. Otto Frank was among the first
German Jews to understand how dangerous this new government-led antisemitism
really was.
Anne Frank and Her Family in Historical Context
In 1933, Otto Frank left Germany and settled in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlandsa city with a reputation for religious tolerance. Otto Frank had this reputation in
mind when, a year later, he made the decision to move his wife, Edith, and daughters,
Margot and Anne, from their home in Frankfurt to Amsterdam. Like many other Jews,
Otto Frank believed that by leaving Germany and emigrating to the Netherlands, he would
be transporting his family to safety and freedom. Although the Netherlands had its own
Nazi Party, they were not yet a danger. So the Franks and other refugees from Germany
settled comfortably in their new home.
In Amsterdam, Otto Frank set up a successful company that produced pectin, an
ingredient used to make jam. Within a year, the Franks had settled into an apartment,
and Margot and Anne were attending school and flourishing in their new home.
Then on September 1, 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland. Two days later, Britain and France
declared war on Germany. World War II had officially begun. By 1940, the Germans
occupied the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. In June
1941, they invaded the Soviet Union. By December of 1941, the Germans had also
declared war on the United States.
When Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940, the Frank family once again found itself
living under Nazi rule. Over the next two years, Jews were gradually removed from public
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life. The first mass arrests took place in February 1941. In one of the first entries in her
diary, Anne described the conditions Jews faced in the Netherlands:
Our freedom was severely restricted by a series of anti-Jewish decrees: Jews were required to
wear a yellow star; Jews were required to turn in their bicycles; Jews were forbidden to use
streetcars; Jews were forbidden to ride in cars, even their own; Jews were required to do
their shopping between 3 and 5 p.m.; Jews were required to frequent only Jewish-owned
barbershops and beauty parlors; Jews were forbidden to be out on the streets between 8 p.m.
and 6 a.m.; Jews were forbidden to go to theaters, movies or any other forms of entertainment; ... Jews were forbidden to visit Christians in their homes; Jews were required to
attend Jewish schools, etc. [ JUNE 20, 1942]
From THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: THE DEFINITIVE EDITION by Anne Frank, edited by Otto H. Frank and Mirjam Pressler, translated by Susan Massotty,
translation copyrights 1995 by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. Used by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
K AT E A S H F I E L D A S M I E P G I E S .
Before the war began, the Germans had been intent on driving as many Jews as possible
out of Germany. By 1939, about half of all German Jews had left the country. Once the war
began, emigration was no longer possible and it was then that the Germans turned to
murder. In 1940, the first massacres took place in Poland. Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing
units) now set out to destroy entire Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. They forced
more than 1.5 million Jews from their homes, shot them, and then buried them in mass
graves.
By July 1941 Nazi officials were increasingly concerned about the inefficiencies of these
operations and the psychological burden they placed on the killers. So they devised a more
complete solution of the Jewish question by creating six death camps in PolandChelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek, and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Of the6 million Jews
killed during the Holocaust, approximately 2.7 million were murdered in the death camps
by the time the war ended in 1945.
THE GREATEST ENEMY: BYSTANDERS
The Holocaust survivor Miles Lerman
has aptly remarked on the significant
role bystanders played in allowing the
Holocaust to occur. A perpetrator is
not the most dangerous enemy, Lerman
argues. The most dangerous part is
the bystander because neutrality always
helps the killer.
FA C I N G H I S TO R Y A N D O U R S E LV E S , A N N E F R A N K
I N T H E W O R L D E X H I B I T: T E A C H E R S G U I D E.
B R O O K L I N E , M A : FA C I N G H I S TO R Y A N D
O U R S E LV E S N AT I O N A L F O U N D AT I O N , I N C .,
19 9 3 , P. 1
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T H E O F F I C E W O R K E R S W H O H E L P E D T H E R E S I D E N T S O F T H E S E C R E T A N N E X . F R O M R I G H T TO L E F T:
M I E P G I E S , J O H A N N E S K L E I M A N , O T TO F R A N K , V I C TO R K U G L E R , A N D B E P V O S K U I J L .
VIEWING IDEA
Have students watch the first ten
minutes of the film. Then ask
them to analyze the reasons
why the Frank family made the
decision to go into hiding.
What were conditions like for
Jews in the Netherlands after
the Nazi occupation? What new
restrictions did the family face
after they moved into the annex?
Ask students to imagine how it
might feel to have to change
your life in so many ways simply
because you are Jewish.
Early in July 1942, Annes older sister Margotwho had just turned 16was ordered by
the Nazis to report to a work camp. Otto Frank had anticipated this development months
earlier and had secretly created a hiding place for his family in the back of the warehouse
above his office, with the help of a few trusted employees. The Franks moved into this
hiding place, also known as the secret annex, on July 6, 1942. They were soon joined by
another family, whom Anne called the van Daans in her diary, and later by a dentist whom
Anne called Albert Dussel. A group of helpersincluding Miep Gies, who worked in
Otto Franks office and who died in January, 2010 at the age of 100risked their lives by
offering support to the Franks when they went into hiding. This group of eight lived in the
annex for more than two years; it was here that Anne wrote hundreds of entries in her
diary, which she nicknamed Kitty. Anne addressed Kitty as if she were writing letters to a
close friend.
On August 4, 1944, German police raided the annex after being tipped off to its existence
by an anonymous informant. The Franks, the van Daans, and Mr. Dussel were all sent to
Westerbork, a Dutch transit camp (a temporary camp where Jews and other prisoners were
held before they were shipped to forced labor or death camps), and from there deported to
Auschwitz, a death camp.
The Franks were on the last transport from the Netherlands to Auschwitz. Mrs. Frank was
murdered there. As the Soviet troops advanced into Poland in the winter of 1945, the
Germans shipped many inmates, including Anne and Margot, into Germany. Margot and
Anne were transferred to a concentration camp called Bergen Belsen where they died of
typhus in March 1945 just weeks before the war ended. Of the eight Jews who had hidden
in the annex, only Otto Frank survived. He was instrumental in editing Annes diary and in
bringing her storyand her remarkable talents as a writerto the attention of the
world.Adapted from Facing History and Ourselves, Brookline, MA: Facing History and
Ourselves National Foundation, Inc. Copyright 2010.
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S T U D E N T H A NDOUT
Key Dates
W O R L D WA R I I
control of Germany.
on Germany.
May 10, 1940 Germany invades the
Netherlands and institutes a series of anti-Jewish laws.
December, 1940 By this time, Germany occupies Denmark,
Associated Press
ANNE FR ANK
concentration camp.
March 1945 Anne dies of typhus at Bergen-Belsen.
May 7, 1945 Germans surrender; World War II ends in Europe.
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Once students have finished watching the film, ask them to meet in small groups according
to the theme they selected. Instruct each group to discuss how seeing the film informed
their thinking about the theme they chose using the After Viewing questions to guide their
discussion.
As a culminating activity, have each group report to the entire class on the key points they
discovered by considering the film through these themes.
TA M S I N G R E I G A S E D I T H F R A N K .
In Search of Self
Before Viewing
How have you changed over the past two years? How would your friends or family
members say you are different today than you were two years ago?
After Viewing
In what specific ways did Anne change during her months in the annex? To what extent
are these changes in response to her situation in hiding, and to what extent are these
changes part of growing up?
How does Annes image of
How and why does Anne develop as a writer during her two years in hiding? What
influences her perception of herself as a writer and how does this affect her relationships
with other people? How does it change the way she views herself as a person?
Screenwriter Deborah Moggach set out to portray Anne as a thoroughly modern
teenager. Ask students: What images come to mind when you think of a thoroughly
modern teenager? In what ways does Anne strike you as modern? What do you think
of Annes relationship with each of her parents or her relationship with Peter? What
similarities do you see between Anne and yourself? What differences seem most striking?
Hatred and Bigotry
Before Viewing
What do you think accounts for hatred and bigotry? What can we doas individuals
and groupsto overcome prejudice?
After Viewing
Throughout her two years in hiding, Anne wrestles with the question of goodness.
In what contrasting ways do her parents, her sister, and Peter van Daan define and
exemplify goodness and virtue?
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A N N E A N D E D I T H F R A N K ( E L L I E K E N D R I C K A N D TA M S I N G R E I G ) S I T W I T H P E T E R A N D H E R M A N N VA N D A A N
( G E O F F B R E TO N A N D R O N C O O K ).
What acts of
bigotry and antisemitism are depicted in the film? In her diary Anne
describes the many forms of discrimination she experiences before she goes into hiding.
Name some of the restrictions placed on Jews during World War II and consider why
each rule may have been put into effect. How do the events of the Nazi rise to power
and occupation of the Netherlands influence Annes life? Imagine living under these
restrictions and consider how you might have reacted.
Courage
Before Viewing
Describe a situation in which you or someone you know or have read about took a
courageous stand. What happened? Who benefited?
After Viewing
Consider Otto Franks statement to the fellow residents of the annex: Were lucky. Were
really very lucky. Why does he say this and what impact does it have on the residents of
the annex?
Why do the residents of
Consider the decision to invite Mr. Dussel to share the annex with the Franks and van
Daans. What risks does this decision pose for those in hiding as well as to their helpers?
What would you have done in this situation?
What examples of
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isit the Masterpiece Video Diary Project for students to view and create their
V
own diaries inspired by the themes in The Diary of Anne Frank. Visit the WGBH Lab
(http://lab.wgbh.org/masterpiece) for information on creating a video diary or see
Resources section.
enerate content for and launch a class blog that focuses on contemporary
G
connections to The Diary of Anne Frank. Examine models created by other classes,
such as http://thediaryofannefrank.blogspot.com, along with blogs by political
prisoners, human rights activists, and others whose present-day work has thematic
connections to Anne Franks story.
Create your own leaf for the Anne Frank Tree, an interactive monument on which
young people from around the world share their thoughts, stories, and artwork on
courage, freedom, goodness, and other themes related to The Diary of Anne Frank.
t the end of the film there is a description of what happened to each character after the
A
secret annex was raided by the Nazis. Select one character featured in the film and use
the Internet to find biographical data, photographs, and (if available) video of or writings
by this person. Although Anne used pseudonyms in her diary, biographical information
can be found on each resident of the annex. Compile the completed biographies into a
class set and share your work with other classes or family members.
I n her new book Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, Francine Prose notes that
Anne Franks diary is among the most frequently banned or challenged books in
American libraries and schools. Find out more about this phenomenon by investigating
a case in which citizens attempted to have the diary banned. What arguments were
presented on both sides, and what was the outcome? In your opinion, was the outcome
appropriate? Explain. Visit the Avon Lake, Ohio Public Library for background about
the banning of The Diary of Anne Frank (http://avonlake.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/
banned-books-staff-picks/) and Culpeper County Public Schools Pulls Explicit Text
(http://www2.starexponent.com/cse/news/local/article/ccps_pulls_explicit_text/
51217/) to learn more about a specific situation in which The Diary of Anne Frank was
challenged and/or banned. (Also see the Resources section.)
sing the Internet, learn about and report on a present-day example of genocide or
U
antisemitism. What are the roots of this situation? What steps are citizens and organizations taking to raise awareness and bring about change? In what concrete ways can you
make a difference on this issue?
I n October 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James
Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. Who were Matthew Shepard and James
Byrd, and in what ways were they the targets of hate? What protections does this new
law provide?
Choose an ethnic, religious, or cultural group and investigate how members of this
community have been portrayed in movies or popular culture, both in the past and
present. In an essay (perhaps a video essay), reflect on the ways in which media images
and popular culture reinforce or challenge stereotypes.
N A Z I S O L D I E R O N PAT R O L I N
A MSTERDA M .
BANNED AND
CHALLENGED BOOKS
American Library
Association: About Banned
and Challenged Books
(http://www.ala.org/ala/
issuesadvocacy/banned/
aboutbannedbooks/index.cfm).
Explore more about banned
books by visiting this ALA web
site. It explains the difference
between a challenge to a book
and a banning of a book. It also
includes lists of books that have
been challenged or banned and
ideas and resources about ways
to meet these challenges.
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12
S T U D E N T H A NDOUT
N
Anne Frank Fonds, Basel/Anne Frank House, Amsterdam/Getty Images
ow that you have watched the film or read the book The Diary of Anne Frank,
consider how Annes first-person observations about her family, the van Daans,
and Mr. Dussel can make history seem more personal. Working individually or in small
groups, use the questions below to investigate what conditions were like for Anne
and her companions during the two years they hid in the secret annex. Compare and
discuss your responses with those of your classmates.
1
We have to have rules, declares Otto Frank soon after the Franks and van Daans move
into the secret annex. Name three of the many rules that the annex residents imposed
on themselves. What were the reasons for each rule? Of these rules, which do you think
would have been hardest for you to adhere to? Why? What rules would you make?
ow did the annex residents obtain food and supplies? What did they eat?
H
What deprivations did they face?
e people living in the annex could not have survived for 25 months without the
Th
loyalty and dedication of their helpers. What dangers did Miep Gies and the other
office workers confront in helping the Franks and van Daans hide? Think about the
commitment it took to provide daily assistance to eight people for 25 months. Why do
you think Miep Gies and her colleagues were willing to help the Franks? How did Anne
view Meip Gies and the others who helped the Frank family?
ow did the various annex residents cope with the feeling of confinement and the
H
loss of independence? What did the residents do to make their time in the annex less
oppressive? How was life different for them on weekdays versus weekends? Choose
two residents and compare their responses to life in hiding.
o what extent were Anne and her family aware of events taking place in the outside
T
world? How did they get information? Was the information they received reliable? How
much knowledge did they have about the course of the war and the treatment of Jews?
ummarize one of the most memorable arguments or quarrels that took place while Anne
S
and her companions were in hiding. What was at stake? How was the issue resolved?
I n what ways does reading about a single family and their life in hiding help you
understand the larger events of World War II? What do you see as the most valuable
historical lessons that can be learned through Annes diary? You may want to explore
some of the resources at the end of this guide to help you learn more about World War II
before you answer the questions above.
M I E P G I E S , 19 31.
WATCH INTERVIEWS
WITH MIEP GIES
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R E A D I N G C L O S E LY:
T
Darlow Smithson Productions for Masterpiece
Deepen your understanding of Anne Franks role as an editor of her own work by studying
the two passages below. The passage at left is the original version of the diary entry dated
July 8, 1942; the revised version appears at right. After reading both passages, discuss the
questions that follow. (For additional insights, see the section An Interview with Author
Francine Prose.)
For Discussion
1
Why is it significant that Anne revised her diary? How does it add to or take away from
the readers understanding of her experience? Read and compare the two versions of this
event. In what ways is the revised version different from the original? Point to specific
passages.
What new details and ideas does Anne add to the revision? How does the addition of
dialogue change the impact of the diary entry?
Which version conveys a greater sense of shock and chaos? In which version is the
sequence of events clearer and easier to follow? Explain.
ow does Anne portray herself in each entry? In which version does Anne refer to her
H
diary? What does she say about it?
e-read the quote to the left. How does Anne assess her skills as an editor of her own
R
work? Would you describe yourself as a sharp critic of your own writing? What do you
think are the keys to successful revision? Discuss.
A N N E F R A N K , I N A D I A R Y E N T R Y D AT E D
A P R I L 5 , 194 4
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14
S T U D E N T H A NDOUT
ne of the lesser known facts about The Diary of Anne Frank is that Anne purposely revised her diary so that
her experiences could be shared with the public once the war was over. According to the literary critic Francine
Prose, Anne Frank was not an accidental author but rather an extraordinary writer who crafted a deliberate work
of art when she wrote and revised her diary. Using the discussion questions on page 14, compare and contrast the
original version of Anne Franks diary entry (dated July 8,1942) with the revised version (dated April 5, 1944).
REVISED VERSION
ORIGINAL VERSION
From THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: THE DEFINITIVE EDITION by Anne Frank, edited by Otto
H. Frank and Mirjam Pressler, translated by Susan Massotty, translation copyrights 1995 by Doubleday, a
division of Random House, Inc. Used by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
A N N E AT H E R D E S K , J A N 1941.
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I A I N G L E N A S O T TO F R A N K .
As screenwriter Deborah Moggach points out, Anne Frank changed profoundly during her
two years in hidingand much of this change came through the discoveries she made as
she emerged as a writer. Annes initial motivation for keeping a diary was her sense of
loneliness despite being surrounded by those who loved her. The process of keeping a diary
gave her a sense of freedom and independence but Annes intended audience changed
during the time she was in hiding. In 1944, Anne Frank heard a radio broadcast in which
Gerrit Bolkestein, a member of the Dutch government in exile, told listeners that after the
war, he would like to collect first-person testimonies to document how the Dutch people
had suffered under the Nazi occupation. Bolkestein specifically mentioned that he was
interested in diaries and letters. It was at this time that Anne began revising her diaries to
make them into a more literary piece of work and she focused on her hopes of being a
writer after the war.
Diaries have taken on many new forms in the twenty-first century. They range from private
journals written on computers to the more public forms of blogs, tweets, and posts on
other social networking sites. The following section explores these types of diaries and
what impact they have on individuals and the public consciousness.
Diaries for the Twenty-First Century: Blogs, Tweets, and Multimedia
1
rivate/Public Words: During World War II many governments and media sources
P
tried to tell the world about the systematic genocide of the Jews, but the killing continued.
Can one persons words make a difference? What if Anne Frank could have anonymously
posted daily entries to a blog instead of to a diary? How might this public and immediate
dissemination of her thoughts and experiences have influenced the way ordinary people
thought about the Nazis treatment of Jews? In your opinion, would it have made a
difference? What do we gain and lose by shifting from private diaries to public blogs?
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16
2. Video and Radio Diaries: Apart from written documents, what other forms do diaries
take? Video and radio diaries are compelling ways for students to capture their ideas.
Invite students to visit WGBH Labs Open Call to create a video diary inspired by Anne
Frank (see box on p. 16). For tips on how to create a compelling video diary visit WGBH
Lab (http://lab.wgbh.org/resources) and check out the Freevlog resources. You can also
download the Facebook Diaries Handbook (http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/29749/v001/
btvcomcast.download.akamai.com/29444/Comcast_bTV_Production/17/273/ziddio
_facebook_fbd-howtoshootvideo.pdf ). Students may also want to visit Radio Diaries
(www.radiodiaries.com/makeyourown.html) and read about the process of creating their
own audio diaries. Working with a small group of classmates, have students come up
with a topic for a radio diary project and use the steps outlined in the Teen Reporter
Handbook (http://www.radiodiaries.org/handbook.pdf ) to create their own radio diary.
CHILDRENS VOICES
FROM WORLD WAR II
rite in the Anne Frank House Guest Book: Have students write a message about
W
their response to reading or watching The Diary of Anne Frank in the Guest Book
of the Anne Frank House (http://www.annefrank.org/Forms/TF5_1_Gastenboek.
asp?pid=36&lid=2).
4 Twitter: A form of
ELLIE KENDRICK
AND FELICIT Y JONES
AS ANNE AND
M A RG OT FR A N K .
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17
n her acclaimed 2009 publication Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife,
Francine Prose argues that Anne Frank was not an accidental author but rather an
extraordinary writer who crafted a deliberate work of art when she wrote and revised
her diary. The author of more than 20 works of fiction and nonfiction, Prose spoke with
Masterpiece Classic about the discoveries she made while writing her bookand
about Anne Franks literary legacy.
Q: What motivated you to write a book on Anne Frank?
Stephanie Berger
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18
event. On the other hand, there is genocide after genocide; so what does this mean and
what does this tell us? And what do [Annes] spirit and her experience tell us? I think its
very important to look at the decency of those people in the attic. Its inspiring to see
their extraordinary efforts and ability to have a civilized life in those insane circumstances
and amid all that brutality. I think honestly thats more inspiring than to say, Here was
someone who believed that people are really good at heart despite everything. Well, she
did and she didnt. On the other hand, whats undeniable is that despite everything that
was happening to them, these people were determined to treat one another as human
beingsas were their Dutch helpers, who were determined to save their lives if they
possibly could. And thats a hugely important lesson, I think.
Q: Do you think there is something about Anne Franks voice that continues to resonate
A: I hadnt known that Anne Frank rewrote the diary, and I think most people still dont.
And that turned it into a whole different book from the one I was going to write.
The information is out thereits not like I discovered itbut somehow no one, for
whatever reason, had paid attention. I kept calling up my friends and reading them the
variant versions and saying, Am I actually reading what I think Im reading? That was
the big discovery.
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Recommended Resources
Web Sites
Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/annefrank
Explore the making of the most accurate adaptation ever of
The Diary of Anne Frank, get insights from the screenwriter
and stars, and find out more about Anne Frank, her family,
and legacy.
The Anne Frank Center USA
www.annefrank.com
The Anne Frank Center USA, a partner organization
of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, uses the diary
and spirit of Anne Frank to educate young people about
racism, discrimination, and intolerance. The Resources
section of the Centers Web site contains downloadable
teaching modules on the Holocaust, human rights, and
multiculturalism.
Anne Frank Channel on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/annefrank
This video resource is designed to allow viewers to explore
the life and meaning of Anne Frank through images. The
channel contains the only known existing film footage of
Anne Frank (shot during the wedding of her neighbor on
July 22, 1941); an interview with Nelson Mandela, who
reflects on the strength he took from reading Anne Franks
diary; and a collection of photos.
Anne Frank Foundation
http://www.annefrank.ch
Established in 1963 by Otto Frank, the Anne Frank
Foundation works to preserve and promote the legacy
of Anne Frank. The Foundations Web site includes an
extensive archive of news articles, background on the diary
and its various editions, and a photo gallery.
Anne Frank Guide
http://www.annefrankguide.net
This resource guide, produced by the Anne Frank House,
includes photos and biographical background on Anne
Frank and her family; information on World War II and
the Holocaust; a detailed timeline that juxtaposes key
dates in Anne Franks life with events in World War II;
suggestions for projects; and a gallery of student work
inspired by Anne Franks story.
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Anti-Defamation League
http://www.adl.org
Dedicated to fighting antisemitism and all forms of bigotry
in the United States and abroad, the Anti-Defamation
League provides resources on combating hate, bullying,
and extremism, along with materials on religious freedom,
civil rights, and Holocaust education. The Education page
(http://www.adl.org/main_Education/default.htm) offers
free classroom lessons on diversity, civil rights, and other
multicultural themes.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
http://www.ushmm.org/
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders
worldwide to confront hatred, promote human dignity, and
prevent genocide. The site has an Anne Frank resource page
that will be particularly useful for teachers.
Partners Against Hate
http://www.partnersagainsthate.org
A collaboration of the Anti-Defamation League, the
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund,
and the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence,
Partners Against Hate features resources aimed at
combating youth-initiated hate violence. The sites For
Educators section offers downloadable teaching materials
to help students combat prejudice, confront hate, and
become catalysts for change.
Teaching Tolerance
www.tolerance.org
A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, this
site offers resources, teaching materials, and a quarterly
magazine (Teaching Tolerance) dedicated to reducing
prejudice and to anti-bias education. The organization also
offers free teaching kits, including One Survivor Remembers,
which tells the story of Holocaust survivor Gerda
Weissmann Kleinwho has been called the Anne Frank
who livedand includes primary-source documents
along with a teachers guide and copy of the Academy
Award-winning documentary on Kleins life. (To order, visit
http://www.tolerance.org/kit/one-survivor-remembers)
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Credits
Print Coordinator
Amy Kittenplan Hubbard
Designer
Danielle Edson
Associate Manager,
Editorial Content
Print Project Director
Cyrisse Jaffee
Writer
Bennett Singer
Advisor
Facing History and Ourselves
Anchor Books, a division of Random House, Inc., publishes the companion book
to The Diary of Anne Frank. For online information about other Random House, Inc.
books and authors see the Internet Web Site at http://www.randomhouse.com.
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