Anne Frank Nonfiction Activity - Holocaust Helpers Lesson and Jigsaw Activity

This Anne Frank nonfiction activity gives students a meaningful way to learn about the real people who risked their lives to help Jewish families during World War II. This lesson begins with an introduction to the helpers connected to Anne Frank. Then, students read nonfiction articles on five additional helpers during the Holocaust and complete a jigsaw activity. With presentation slides, structured nonfiction texts, and a notes and reflection template, this Anne Frank nonfiction activity helps students work together to build background knowledge and deepen their understanding of important figures during the Holocaust. Everything is organized to make this Anne Frank nonfiction activity simple and engaging for students, whether you are beginning your Anne Frank unit or reinforcing historical context later in your study.

This is included in a unit plan:
→ Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl Unit Plan

Included in This Anne Frank Nonfiction Activity:

➡️ Anne Frank Helpers Presentation Slides: This 18-slide presentation introduces the importance and humanity of the helpers during the Holocaust and sets the stage for the jigsaw activity. The slides highlight key individuals who supported Anne Frank, including Miep and Jan Gies, Bep and Johan Voskuijl, Victor Kugler, and Johannes Klieman. The presentation also offers discussion prompts, and includes helpful video links so students can connect historical events to real people.

➡️ Five Holocaust Helper Nonfiction Articles for Jigsaw Activity: After learning about the helpers in Anne Frank, students work with a group to read one of five student-friendly articles about real helpers during WWII: Sir Nicholas Winton, Carl Lutz, Corrie ten Boom, Henriette Henriquez Pimentel, and Geertruida Wijsmuller-Meijer. The articles detail each person’s background, the risks they took, and the impact of their actions. Students become experts on their assigned helper, then move to their jigsaw groups to teach their peers, so everyone learns about all five individuals.

➡️ Reading Notes and Reflections Page: Students use this organizer in their expert groups to track key facts, events, and insights about their assigned helper. The note-taking process helps keep students focused while reading and serves as a clear reference during the mixed-group discussion.

How to Use This Anne Frank Nonfiction Activity:

1. Start by guiding students through the presentation slides to introduce the helpers connected to Anne Frank.
2. Divide the class into expert groups and give each group one nonfiction article to read and discuss.
3. Have students take notes as they read and work, gathering the information they’ll need to teach their peers about this helper.
4. Move students into jigsaw groups so that each group includes an expert on each helper. Students then share what they learned about each helper with their group.
5. Close the lesson with a reflection and discussion about the shared traits, risks, and motivations of the helpers and how these stories expand students’ understanding of Anne Frank’s experiences.
   
   
   

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