One of my kids won letters from rifka as a prize from the library summer reading program a. When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate to the united states, she spends nine months living in warsaw, with her care overseen by the hebrew immigrant aid society. In letters to her cousin, a young jewish girl chronicles her familys flight from russia in 1919 and her own experiences when she must be left in belgium for a. Sections date we will finish reading date we will discuss 1.
Stronghearted and determined, rifka must endure a great deal. Plot summary letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. Rifka was a 12 year old jewish girl inbetween the years of the holocaust. Essay and discussion questions are for the whole book. Nov, 2019 giving rifka a book helped to expand the readers understanding of her character, as well as providing a vehicle in which she could record her tale.
Letters from rifka project by chris parker on prezi. However, rifka encounters many difficulties along the way. This book is an indepth look at a 12 year old girls struggle to get to america from russia. Letters from rifka by karen hesse during world war i, some citizens of russia fled the country in search of a better life. In letters to her cousin back home in russia, 12yearold rifka tells of her journey to america in 1919, from the. I bought it for my 9year old and, thankfully, read a part of it first before making a determination to give it to her. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Letters from rifka 1993 read online free book by karen. Cultural vocabulary connecting to vocabulary figurative language theme compare and contrast analyzing setting mapping activity character analysis text evidence inferenc. Karen hesse born on august 29, 1952 baltimore, maryland is an american author of childrens literature and literature for young adults. Free flashcards to help memorize facts about letters from rifka vocabulary words 158. The thrilling novel letters from rifka includes content some students may struggle to understand.
Growing up in baltimore, maryland, karen hesse dreamed of many different careers archaeologist, actress, and author. Its important to lay some background knowledge early by posing these prereading questions. Find an answer to your question read these sentences from a speech. In letters from rifka, rifka and her family travel to many countries before arriving in the united states. Other activities to help include hangman, crossword, word scramble, games, matching, quizes, and tests. Feb 01, 2009 karen hesse is the author of many books for young people, including out of the dust, winner of the newbery medal, brooklyn bridge, phoenix rising, sable and lavender. Book writing tips writing promps writing boards writing characters writing resources writing help writing skills creative writing writing ideas why is a good guy an antagonist. The next time you are visiting with the elders in your family try to get them to tell tales about their childhood.
Rifka, the protagonist of this book, is 12years old, which matches the beginning age for appropriateness of this book. My favorite highlights were when rifka and her family got typhus but survived. Her brother nathan was drafted into the russian army and his family did not want that,off on their journey they go to america. This comprehensive lesson plan includes 30 daily lessons, 180 multiple choice questions, 20 essay questions, 20 fun activities, and more everything you need to teach letters from rifka. Choose from 500 different sets of letters from rifka 2 flashcards on quizlet. Hesse discovered that she was good with words in the fifth grade. Theyre afraid of being on the wrong side, and thinks its better off for everyone if they dont prolong the inevitability of the bads winning. She endures prejudice, displays family loyalty, and shows perseverance and growth. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifkas family makes their way across russia to poland and the u. Along the way she faces many obstacles and the only way she feels comfort is when she writes in a book called pushkin, that her cousin gave her. In the book letters from rifka by karen hesse, a young jewish girl named rifka, has to go through an experience such as escaping religious belief and running away from pogroms.
Jun 01, 2012 letters from rifka is largely inspired by my great aunts early experiences. I learned more about jewish history from this book. Free english vocabulary flashcards about rifka vocabulary lis. Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more. Rifka s mother talk to her about how it has been in america. I remember being so fascinated by rifka s story i still think back to it today. Among contemporary honors it won the 1993 national jewish book award in category childrens literature. Rifkas father decides its time to leave russia and go to america so they can avoid the german army. But bear in mind, language is mans way of communicating with his fellow man and it is language alone which separates him from the lower animals. Twelveyearold rifkas journey from a jewish community in the ukraine to ellis island is anything but smooth sailing. Free letters from rifka worksheets and literature unit for.
Youre supposed to say it once, publish it, and then its published, and you dont say it again. Someone write this ik u have a writing board and im. At the end, rifka is finally able to send the letters to her cousin. Hesses vivacious tale colorfully and convincingly refreshes the immigrant experience. View book info and cumulative award history for letters from rifka by karen hesse. Letters from rifka is a childrens historical novel by karen hesse, published by holt in 1992. Letters from rifka download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The book letters from rifka, by karen hesse is an inspiring diary of a young russian girl and her family immigrating to america during the time of the bolshevik revolution. Letters from rifka is a story about a jewish girl that escapes to america because her brothers are wanted by the german army.
Then have students briefly research each country and provide relevant. This passage describes her feelings as she enters new york harbor. Letters from rifka is the story of a young russianjewish girl and her family who leave their homeland in 1919 to travel to america. Drew gilpin faust as a scholar, you dont want to repeat. She is acting to be nothing but a little girl like in the book, number the stars. On the way many obstacles occur, but the main conflict is rifka s disease not allowing her to live in america with her family. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
The letters from rifka lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Im willing to bet you have more than a few treasures growing on your own family tree. She studied theatre at towson state college, and finished her undergraduate degree at the university of maryland in english, psychology, and anthropology. On ellis island rifka meets a new friend named ilya, but he first does not talk to her nor will he eat, so everyone thinks. Rifka finally sees her mother and she has never been happier, especially in her problem. Rifka also shows her mother about the boy who looks at rifka as a mother. The year is 1919 and rifka and her family are making the. Now no one is going to make you talk possibly no one can. Also, i liked how she was the little mother of a polish baby when the babys real mom died from typhus. Karen hesse is the author of many books for young people, including out of the dust. Letters from rifka plan your schedule my group members are. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. Rifka s brothers are wanted by the german army, and they are coming to get them.
Letters from rifka is a novel written in the form of letters from a young girl to her cousin about her adventures as she travels to america. After doing a bit of research, i felt pushkin, whose poetry i knew only in passing, seemed the best optionhis work would have been in print and its possible rifkas family, particularly. When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate. Letters from rifka teacher guide by novel units paperback by novel units author 4.
She has received honors including the scott odell historical fiction award, the christopher award, and the macarthur fellowship genius award, making her only the second childrens book author to receive this prestigious grant. Rifka finally arrives in america but has to stay at ellis island for a time. Konigsburg powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. The kind rifka would look at in her belgium home with marie and gaston. The premium pro 50 gb plan gives you the option to download a copy of your binder to your local machine. This book tackles the issues of antisemitism and a totalitarian government, which are the underlying causes of rifka s familys need to flee russia. Occasionally, when i grab a banana, i remember rifka laughing about how people on the island used bananas to tell if someone was a new immigrant.
Rifka tells her mom about hows she been while in belgium. All questions are taken from our litplan teacher pack for letters from rifka, but you dont need to haveuse the litplan to use this slide presentation. Modeled on the authors greataunt, rifka surmounts one obstacle after another in twelveyearold rifkas journey from a jewish community in the ukraine to ellis island is anything but smooth sailing. Learn letters from rifka 2 with free interactive flashcards. I want to have a copy of this book to keep and read for years to come and then to pass on to newer readers. Rifkas journey websites for the book letters from rifka mixed up files websites for the book from the mixedup files of mrs. That was a totally new idea to me, and i would need time to think about it. Rifka knows nothing about america when she flees from russia with her family in. Letters from rifka student workbook common core aligned by. Free letters from rifka study unit worksheets for teachers to print. It features a jewish familys emigration from russia in 1919, to belgium and ultimately to the u. Have students use a blank world map to trace the journey of rifka and her family. Conflictclimax letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifka s family makes their way across russia to poland and the u.
Also, she could speak russian without the yiddish accent. Rifka is used as the decoy for the russian soldiers at the train station because even though shes jewish, she has blonde hair and blue eyes which is unusual for a jew to have. This is a 50 page student workbook to guide students as they read independently, in small groups, or as a whole class. We learn all about rifkas travels through the letters. Twelve yearold rifka is the strong jewish heroine of this historical novel.