One of the units that was the most engaging for me to teach this year connected themes from the book Night by Elie Weasel to the modern day prison crisis in the United States. Night is an incredibly powerful book that draws in readers and raises many universal issues. I find that the book lends itself to thoughtful class discussions and creative expression. Of particular interest were readings and discussions about indoctrination in Nazi Germany and connections to examples of torture sanctioned by the US government.

Issues from the book are an excellent entry point for analysis and discussion of the prison crisis in the US. Prisons are an interesting topic of study because mass media is filled with prison imagery but students seem to know very little about the history of prisons in this country or the true experiences of prisoners. Letters, artwork, writing from prisoners, and a documentary film give students multiple opportunities to think deeply about the meanings of freedom and the experiences of those imprisoned in our society.

The link for the Unit Plan for this unit is here.

Teaching this unit reminded me of the power of art to help communicate and process ideas. Using frozen sculptures allows students to respond to text in new and often profound ways. Overall I find it important to incorporate varied texts and continually challenge myself and my students to reexamine the world around us.