Lesson Plan - Important Themes in “Night” by Elie Wiesel
Learning Ally Bookshelf # KM754
Title
Important themes in “Night” by Elie Wiesel
Theme
English Language Arts - Analysis of themes in literature
Subject
Language Arts
Time
1 class period: 45-50 minutes
Grade Range
9th-12th grade
Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it
emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Objectives
Students will:
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Materials and
Preparation
Identify a salient theme in a selected passage of text.
Analyze the theme and highlight multiple examples from the rest of the text.
Discuss how this theme is resonant in the story or deepens the readers’ understanding of the text.
Write an essay using the five-paragraph outline on their chosen theme.
• Audio version of “Night” by Elie Wiesel, Learning Ally bookshelf
# KM754 (VOICEtext version).
• Print copies of “Night” by Elie Wiesel.
• Student worksheet Themes from Night (available on
Learning Ally website).
• Speakers/projector to read ch. 3 passage from audiobook to
class.
Optional
• 5 Paragraph Outline (available on Learning
Ally website).
Introduction/hook
Explain to the students that today we will be finding themes from our reading of the book “Night” by Ellie Wiesel. As a class,
have students raise their hands and come up with some common themes from other books the class has read. (Ex: resilience,
the power of the human spirit, faithfulness, family, love, etc.) Keep the list of themes on the board. Next tell students that we
will listen to a passage from “Night” by Elie Wiesel to come up with some themes about the book.
Instructional
Activities
Find the following passage in chapter 3 of the print copy of “Night” by Elie Wiesel (Note: because “Night” was translated from
the author’s first language, and recently updated, the prose may be different in the version you use, although the themes will
be the same.) You may cue the Learning Ally audiobook, bookshelf #KM754, and have the class listen/ follow along with the
text on an overhead projector.
LearningAlly.org
Lesson Plan - Important Themes in “Night” by Elie Wiesel
page 2
Learning Ally Bookshelf # KM754
Instructional
Activities (cont.)
“After a few minutes of this mad race we arrived in front of another block. The prisoner in charge was waiting for us. He was a
young Pole, who smiled at us. He began to talk to us, and, despite our weariness, we listened patiently.
“Comrades, you’re in the concentration camp of Auschwitz. There’s a long road of suffering ahead of you. But don’t lose courage. You’ve already escaped the gravest danger: selection. So now, muster your strength, and don’t lose heart. We shall all
see the day of liberation. Have faith in life. Above all else, have faith. Drive out despair, and you will keep death away from
yourselves. Hell is not for eternity. And now, a prayer--or rather, a piece of advice: let there be comradeship among you. We
are all brothers, and we are all suffering the same fate. The same smoke floats over all our heads. Help one another. It is the
only way to survive. Enough said. You’re tired. Listen. You’re in Block 17. I am responsible for keeping order here. Anyone with
a complaint against anyone else can come and see me. That’s all. You can go to bed. Two people to a bunk. Good night.”
• Group students together in teams of three or four and pass out the Themes in Night worksheet. Tell students to listen carefully to the following passage and begin coming up with some ideas on their own while they are listening. You may play the
passage two or three times.
• Next tell students to discuss the different themes they came up with. Why did they choose these? How do your themes
relate to the story? Have the groups come up with 1 group theme and then have each group share out.
• Next, have students go back to their desks and tell them that they will be looking for examples of the theme their group
decided on in other passages. This can be done independently or in groups.
Wrap Up
Once everyone has finished their themes in “Night” worksheet, collect them. Have a class discussion about the themes that
came up today. Were there any commonalities? Any striking differences? Why do we think the author (Ellie Wiesel) wanted us
to hear this theme, or message?
Differentiated Instruction
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Assessment
Formal:
• Themes from “Night” worksheet
• 5 Paragraph Essay Template
Accommodations /
Modifications
LearningAlly.org
Group students by various strategies: by choice, number, random, hi-low, partnering, etc.
Allow students to use technology in their groups if they need to re-listen to audiobook.
Provide a computer so students can type their themes..
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Use of audiobooks at home and school.
Allow use of technology such as smartphones, computer, etc.,
listening to book in class.
Allow students to type instead of write all answers to questions.
Provide copy of passage for visual learners.
Informal:
• Class discussions and participation
• Base all grading on content, not spelling or
grammatical errors.
• Provide a scribe.
• Read worksheet questions aloud.
• Make read-aloud optional.
• Provide extended time on assignments.
• Provide alternative assessment as necessary.