Refugee Novel Study | Jewish Life in Europe Before WWII Background Knowledge

Refugee Novel Study | Jewish Life in Europe Before WWII Background Knowledge

Help students understand Josef’s world in Refugee by Alan Gratz by first helping them understand the rich Jewish communities that existed throughout Europe before World War II.

This no-prep lesson is part of a larger Building Background Knowledge Bundle for the novel Refugee by Alan Gratz. The bundle is designed to introduce students to the real historical events, places, cultures, and circumstances behind the novel before reading, giving them the context they need to better understand the experiences of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud.

In this lesson, students explore Jewish life in Europe before WWII, focusing not only on persecution but on the vibrant communities that existed for generations. Students investigate everyday family life, schools, synagogues, businesses, languages, religious practices, music, traditions, and community life. They also examine the history of antisemitism before Nazi rule to understand that the discrimination of the 1930s developed from older patterns of prejudice and exclusion.

Students Will:
- Investigate Jewish communities in Europe before World War II
- Research a specific European city or region
- Explore everyday family and community life
- Examine languages, traditions, faith, holidays, schools, businesses, and culture
- Compare shared daily experiences with distinctive Jewish community traditions
- Investigate evidence of antisemitism before Nazi rule
- Analyze why Jewish history should not be understood only through persecution and loss
- Collaborate to create a Refugee Context Gallery Exhibit
- Share their research through a Gallery Walk

What’s Included:
- Teacher Directions
- Student-friendly historical overview
- Mini research questions
- Group Activity directions
- Understanding a Community research organizer
- A Fuller Picture of Jewish Life analysis activity
- Antisemitism Before the Nazis research section
- Think Like a Historian reflection
- Trusted online research resources
- Color and black-and-white student pages

Group Activity: Refugee Context Gallery Exhibit
Students work collaboratively to select a European city or region with a significant Jewish community and investigate its specific daily life, culture, and traditions before World War II. Groups then create a Gallery Walk display that teaches classmates about the community and includes historical context about antisemitism in the region before Nazi persecution.

Perfect For:
- Refugee by Alan Gratz novel studies
- Pre-reading activities
- Building background knowledge
- Grades 6–8
- Middle school ELA
- Historical fiction units
- Holocaust and WWII background studies
- Cross-curricular ELA & Social Studies
- Collaborative learning
- Sub plans

Why Teachers Love It:
- No prep and ready to use
- Builds essential historical context before students begin the novel
- Introduces Jewish life through community, culture, family, and everyday experiences—not only persecution
- Helps students better understand what was disrupted and lost during the Holocaust
- Encourages students to use specific historical evidence instead of generalizations
- Develops research, analysis, historical thinking, collaboration, and presentation skills
- Includes structured student pages without over-scaffolding

This resource focuses specifically on Jewish life in Europe before World War II and the historical context surrounding Josef’s story. Look for the complete Refugee Building Background Knowledge Bundle for additional lessons exploring the people, places, events, and historical circumstances students encounter throughout the novel.