Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz - The Perils of Indifference Connection Activity
During your Prisoner B-3087 unit, challenge students to think critically about the role of indifference with this meaningful connection activity linking Alan Gratz’s novel to Elie Wiesel’s powerful speech The Perils of Indifference. Using key passages from the novel, students examine how indifference appears in the text and consider the consequences of people choosing not to act. Through small-group discussion and a structured written response, students connect Wiesel’s message directly to Yanek’s experiences and reflect on how indifference, as well as moments of compassion, affect individuals during times of crisis.
This is included in a unit plan:
>>> Prisoner B-3087 Unit Plan
Included in the Prisoner B-3087 Perils of Indifference Connection Activity:
➡️ Perils of Indifference Activity Teacher Instructions Page: These detailed instructions guide teachers through each step of the lesson, including how to introduce Wiesel’s speech, facilitate class and small-group discussions, and support students with their written reflections. The instructions make implementation simple and clear.
➡️ Student Discussion Task Cards: These task cards feature carefully selected quotes from Elie Wiesel’s speech and are designed to support focused small-group discussion. Students analyze the meaning of each quote, discuss Wiesel’s message about indifference, and make connections to events, characters, and situations in Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz.
➡️ Perils of Indifference Prisoner B-3087 Connection Assignment: In this written task, students respond to one quote from the speech and connect it to a specific passage from the novel. Students use text evidence to explain how indifference impacts Yanek and others, including moments when bystanders remain silent as well as times when people show humanity and compassion.
➡️ Perils of Indifference Prisoner B-3087 Connection Assignment Teacher Answer Key: This completed sample response provides a clear model for students, supports class discussion, and helps teachers guide expectations for evidence-based writing.
How the Prisoner B-3087 Perils of Indifference Connection Activity works:
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Students will begin by listening to Elie Wiesel’s speech The Perils of Indifference and reflecting on its message.
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Next, students work in small groups to discuss task cards featuring quotes from the speech and connect each idea to events or details from Prisoner B-3087.
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Finally, students select one quote to respond to in more depth, explaining how Wiesel’s message connects to Yanek’s experiences and what it reveals about the impact of indifference.
This activity is best used anytime after students have completed Chapter 27 (or at the end of the novel), which is when they will be better prepared to analyze how indifference shapes Yanek’s understanding of the world around him.
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