Refugee by Alan Gratz Activity The Perils of Indifference Elie Wiesel Connection
This Refugee activity challenges students to make powerful connections between Refugee by Alan Gratz and Elie Wiesel’s speech The Perils of Indifference. Through listening, discussion, and written reflection, students explore how indifference impacts individuals during times of crisis and analyze how this theme is developed through the experiences of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud. By examining both texts together, students deepen their understanding of the novel’s themes while building critical thinking and discussion skills grounded in real-world issues. This Refugee activity is best used after students have completed Chapter 45, once they have a strong understanding of how indifference affects each character’s journey and can make deeper thematic connections.
This is included in our popular unit plan:
→ Refugee by Alan Gratz Unit Plan
Included in the Refugee Activity Perils of Indifference Connection:
➡️ Perils of Indifference Refugee Activity Teacher Instructions Page: Use these detailed instructions to guide students through the full Refugee activity, including listening to Wiesel’s speech, facilitating structured discussions, and setting expectations for the written response. This ensures a smooth flow from introduction to deeper analysis.
➡️ 12 Student Discussion Task Cards: Students work in small groups to analyze impactful quotes from The Perils of Indifference. Each task card prompts students to think critically about the meaning of the quote and connect it to specific moments in Refugee, encouraging thoughtful discussion and collaborative learning.
➡️ Perils of Indifference Refugee Connection Assignment: Students extend their thinking by selecting one quote and writing a focused response that connects Wiesel’s message to a key event from the novel. They must explain how indifference is shown and support their ideas with clear text evidence, helping them strengthen their analytical writing skills.
➡️ Connection Assignment Teacher Answer Key: A completed sample response is included to support class discussion, model strong analysis, and make grading more efficient. This resource helps guide students toward meaningful, evidence-based connections between the speech and the novel.
If you like this Refugee activity, you'll love this resource:
→ A Year of English Bell Ringers
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