Number the Stars Novel Study | The Rescue of the Danish Jews | Escape

Number the Stars Novel Study | The Rescue of the Danish Jews | Escape Across the Øresund

Build essential historical background before reading Number the Stars with this no-prep investigation of the rescue of Denmark’s Jewish population in October 1943.

Students explore how thousands of Danish Jews escaped across the Øresund to neutral Sweden, examining the geography of the crossing, the role of fishermen and ordinary Danish citizens, and the remarkable scale and speed of the rescue.
Designed for Grades 6–8, this lesson combines historical research, geography, evidence analysis, and collaborative problem-solving to prepare students for the historical context surrounding Lois Lowry’s novel.

What's Included
- Teacher Directions & Historical Overview
- Mini Research Questions & Group Activity
- 3 Research, Analysis & Planning Pages
- Escape Across the Øresund Map Project
- Color & Black-and-White Student Pages
- Suggested Research Resources

Why Teachers Love This
- Builds essential context before reading the novel
- Combines history and geography in one investigation
- Goes beyond fact-finding with evidence and cause-and-effect analysis
- Explores cooperation, courage, risk, and individual choices
- Moves students through research → analysis → planning → creation
- Provides structured support for the final map project
- Integrates ELA and Social Studies
- Designed for 1–2 class periods of 45–60 minutes
- No prep and ready to use

Perfect For
- Number the Stars Novel Studies
- Pre-Reading Activities
- Building Background Knowledge
- World War II & Holocaust Studies
- Historical Fiction Units
- Geography Integration
- ELA & Social Studies
- Grades 6–8
- Homeschool & Co-op Settings

Part of the Number the Stars: Building Background Knowledge Bundle
This lesson is part of the Number the Stars: Building Background Knowledge bundle—a collection of pre-reading investigations designed to establish the historical, geographic, cultural, and social context students need before beginning the novel.

Disclaimer
Number the Stars is written by Lois Lowry and is the property of its respective copyright holder. This resource is an independently created educational supplement and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Lois Lowry, the publisher, or the copyright holder. The novel is not included and must be obtained separately.
This resource addresses the Holocaust, Nazi occupation, and the rescue of Danish Jews in an age-appropriate historical context. Teachers should review materials for suitability for their students.

Created by GR Creative Creations