TEACHER INSTRUCTION PAGE (delete this slide)
Key Vocabulary with Images Workbook
Student Activity: In this printable activity, students learn key vocabulary terms
with images.
It also includes slides for vocabulary, reading the article and taking notes, multiple
choice questions, and a discussion worksheet for open-ended prompts.
How to share with students: These pages are sized for printing or can be
assigned digitally using an LMS (like Google Classroom), where students can work
on their own slide decks via “Make a Copy for Each Student.” Each slide is set up
with text boxes for students to type in.
Please Note: Because Diffit resources can vary in length, be sure to check the
formatting on each slide.
Suggested Lesson Flow:
1. Students record what they notice and what they wonder about the image.
2. Students review key vocabulary with images.
3. Students read and take notes.
4. Students answer the questions and explain their thinking.
5. Students write answers to the short answer questions.
6. Have students complete the Open Ended Questions and discuss with partners
or groups.
Feel free to edit, remix, and use this resource however works best for you and your
students! Find editing tips here!
Learn More: Please reach out with any questions or feedback. You can also learn
more on our FAQ page, or get more resources at Diffit.me!
TEACHER INSTRUCTION PAGE (delete this slide)
Image Analysis: Notice & Wonder
Instructions: Look at the image and write down 2-3 things you notice (key details, main ideas,
themes) and then write down 2-3 things you wonder (questions you have because of the image,
things you are curious about when you look at the image.)
What
do you
notice?
What
do you
wonder?
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Vocabulary
Word
Image
Definition
Example Sentence
petulant
childishly sulky or
bad-tempered
The petulant child
threw his toy across
the room when he
didn't get his way.
deserter
a soldier who runs
away from military
duty without
permission
The soldier was
labeled a deserter
after he abandoned
his post during the
battle.
meringue
a sweet topping
made of whipped
egg whites and
sugar, baked until
crisp
The lemon pie was
topped with a fluffy
meringue.
detonated
to explode or cause
to explode
The bomb
detonated with a
loud bang, shaking
the entire building.
Prussian
relating to Prussia, a
former state in
Europe, known for
its military strength
The Prussian army
was famous for its
discipline and
efficiency.
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Vocabulary
Word
Definition
Example Sentence
Amidst
in the middle of;
during
Amidst the chaos of
the storm, the
sailors struggled to
keep the ship afloat.
Fräulein
a German title for
an unmarried
woman; Miss
The soldier
addressed the
young woman as
'Fräulein' before
asking for
directions.
Nicht Deutsche
German for 'not
German'
She cried, 'Nicht
Deutsche!' hoping
they would
understand she
wasn't their enemy.
valor
great courage in the
face of danger,
especially in battle
The soldier was
awarded a medal
for his valor during
the intense battle.
scavenged
to search for and
collect discarded
items
After the storm,
people scavenged
for food and
supplies among the
wreckage.
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Image
Vocabulary
Word
Definition
Example Sentence
ruptured
broken or burst
open
The doctor
discovered that the
patient had a
ruptured appendix
and needed
immediate surgery.
inhibit
to hold back or
prevent from acting
Fear can inhibit
people from trying
new things.
cobbler
a person who
makes or repairs
shoes
The cobbler
carefully stitched
the leather to repair
the worn-out boots.
tethered
to tie an animal to a
rope or chain to
restrict its movement
The farmer tethered
the goat to a post in
the field so it
wouldn't wander
off.
intellectuals
people who are
well-educated and
enjoy thinking about
complex ideas
The university was
a gathering place
for intellectuals
from all over the
world.
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Image
Vocabulary
Word
Image
Definition
Example Sentence
savagely
in a fierce, violent,
and uncontrolled
manner
The dog savagely
attacked the
intruder, biting him
on the arm.
extermination
the act of
completely
destroying or killing
a group of people or
animals
The government was
accused of carrying
out a program of
extermination against
the minority group.
controlled by the
German military
during a war
Life in
German-occupied
France was difficult
for the local
population.
Proszę
Polish word for
'please'
She begged,
'Proszę, don't hurt
me!'
Wehrmacht
the unified armed
forces of Nazi
Germany from 1935
to 1945.
His older brother
was drafted into the
Wehrmacht and
sent to the Eastern
Front.
German-occupied
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Vocabulary
Word
Definition
Example Sentence
strafed
attacked repeatedly
with machine-gun
fire from low-flying
aircraft
The planes strafed
the enemy troops,
causing chaos and
confusion.
indignity
treatment or
circumstances that
cause one to feel
shame or to lose
one's dignity
Having to ask for
help was an
indignity for the
proud old man.
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Image
Read & Take Notes
Instructions: Read the passage below. Take notes in the space provided.
**Fleeing East Prussia**
Joana felt guilt like a hunter, always reminding her of her past. She was with a
small group, trying to escape the advancing German army. Roads were only for
the military, and anyone running away was considered a deserter. But Joana
had already deserted once, four years ago, when she fled her home in Lithuania.
She wondered what was happening there and if the terrible rumors she heard
were true.
As they walked, a young boy pointed to something in the snow. He had joined
them recently, a quiet child who said his grandmother, "Omi," didn't wake up
one morning. Joana went to investigate and found the frozen body of a young
woman. She took the woman's identification papers, hoping to give them to the
Red Cross. She moved the body off the road, unable to bear the thought of
tanks running over her.
Back on the road, the little boy asked if the woman hadn't woken up either.
Joana shook her head and took his hand. Suddenly, they heard a distant sound:
an explosion.
**Running from Danger**
Florian was also running, but from a different kind of hunter: fate. Planes
buzzed overhead, nicknamed "the Black Death." He hid under the trees, feeling
trapped. He thought about what his parents would think of his choices, the
secrets he carried. Would they still see him as talented, or as a criminal?
He knew the Soviets would kill him, possibly after torturing him. The Nazis
would also kill him if they found out his secret plan. He clutched his side, where
a painful wound was bleeding. He had been running for days, and his mind and
body were exhausted. He needed to rest.
Spotting an old potato cellar hidden by trees, Florian jumped inside. Another
explosion echoed in the distance.
**A Moment of Terror**
Emilia also sought shelter, trying to escape the hunter of shame. She slid into
the back of a forest cellar, exhausted. Soldiers were nearby. She pulled her pink
woolen cap over her ears, trying to stay warm in the January cold. She thought
of happier times, of August.
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Take Notes Here
Read & Take Notes
Instructions: Read the passage below. Take notes in the space provided.
she said she wasn't German. He pointed his gun at her, ready to attack.
Emilia pleaded, begging him to stop. But knowing what was coming, she turned
her head and said, "Shoot me, soldier. Please." Then there was a bang.
**A False Hero**
Alfred, a young sailor, tried to convince himself that he was brave, that fear was
something to be brushed aside. He imagined writing letters to his sweetheart,
Hannelore, telling her how he saved a young woman from falling into the sea.
He bragged about guarding dangerous explosives, claiming he was a hero
serving Germany.
But inside, Alfred was terrified. He abandoned his imaginary letter and hid in a
supply closet, hoping no one would find him. He didn't want to go outside.
**Unexpected Encounter**
Florian found himself in the forest cellar, his gun pointed at the dead Russian
soldier. He had killed him to save a girl in a pink woolen cap, who had fainted.
He took supplies from the dead soldier, including a mysterious box wrapped in
cloth. He wondered if he was willing to die for whatever was inside.
He poured vodka on his wound to clean it, enduring the intense pain. The girl
stirred, waking up and seeing the gun in his hand. She spoke to him in Polish.
**A Shared Plight**
Emilia saw the dead Russian soldier and the young man with the gun. He had
saved her. She asked if he was okay, but he looked startled by her words. He
was German. She was Polish. He would want nothing to do with her.
But Emilia offered him a potato, a simple act of gratitude. She knew they had to
leave. She tried to speak German, but she wasn't sure if she was saying the
words correctly. She saw the blood on her sleeve and felt tears welling up.
The German boy stared at her, his eyes conveying hunger and pain. But the way
he clutched his pack told her not to touch it.
**A
Journey
Created
with Continues**
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Take Notes Here
Read & Take Notes
Instructions: Read the passage below. Take notes in the space provided.
sight, but they both faced an uncertain future. The blind girl
seemed to sense things that others couldn't.
An old shoemaker, known as the "shoe poet," told Joana that
the frozen woman's shoes had killed her. He believed that
shoes always told a story. He examined Joana's boots, noting
that they were expensive and well-made, likely belonging to
her mother. He said that her mother must have loved her and
that she must be sad because her mother was no longer with
her.
Joana thought about her own mother, who had sacrificed for
her. She wondered where her mother, father, and brother were
now. The blind girl raised her arm, signaling that she heard
something. Planes.
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Take Notes Here
Answer and Explain
Instructions: For each question, answer the question and then explain why you picked the
answer you did using specific evidence from the text.
Question:
1. In Joana's section, what does the shoe poet say about her boots?
Pick the Answer
A) They are new and expensive, showing she is practical.
B) They are old and worn, showing she has traveled far.
C) They are expensive but made for an older woman,
suggesting they belonged to her mother who sacrificed for
her.
D) They are stylish and modern, showing she cares about
fashion.
Question:
Explain: Why did you pick that
answer?
2. What does Florian take from the dead Russian soldier in the cellar?
Pick the Answer
Explain: Why did you pick that
answer?
A) The soldier's boots and coat.
B) Cigarettes, a flask, sausage, a gun, and
ammunition.
C) The soldier's identification papers and money.
D) A map showing the location of other soldiers.
Question:
3. What does Emilia offer Florian in the potato cellar?
Pick the Answer
A) A piece of bread she found in her pocket.
B) A drink of water from her canteen.
C) A potato from her pocket.
D) Information about the location of other soldiers.
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Explain: Why did you pick that
answer?
Short Answer Questions
Question
Question
Question
1. What does Joana find when she investigates the mound the little boy points to?
2. What is Alfred guarding in Gotenhafen?
3. What does the Russian soldier do to Emilia in the potato cellar?
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Reflect and Discuss
Instructions: Respond to the following question using the reading and your own knowledge
and experiences. Be as thorough as possible.
1. The characters in the story are all dealing with different kinds of fear. Have you ever felt fear that
controlled your actions or decisions? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from the experience?
Write Your Response Here. Be sure to use what you learned in the reading and your own
knowledge and experiences to answer the question thoroughly.
Instructions: When instructed, you will share your responses with your group. Take notes
on their responses in the boxes below. Be sure to write their names at the top of each box.
Student #1: ______________________
Student #2: __________________________
Student #3: ______________________
Student #4: __________________________
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Reflect and Discuss
Instructions: Respond to the following question using the reading and your own knowledge
and experiences. Be as thorough as possible.
2. Many of the characters in the story have lost their homes and families. Can you imagine what it would be like to lose
everything and have to start over? What would be the most difficult part for you, and what would you do to cope with the
challenges?
Write Your Response Here. Be sure to use what you learned in the reading and your own
knowledge and experiences to answer the question thoroughly.
Instructions: When instructed, you will share your responses with your group. Take notes
on their responses in the boxes below. Be sure to write their names at the top of each box.
Student #1: ______________________
Student #2: __________________________
Student #3: ______________________
Student #4: __________________________
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Reflect and Discuss
Instructions: Respond to the following question using the reading and your own knowledge
and experiences. Be as thorough as possible.
3. The characters in the story are from different backgrounds and have different beliefs, but they are all struggling to survive.
Have you ever had to work with someone who was different from you to achieve a common goal? What were the challenges
and rewards of that experience?
Write Your Response Here. Be sure to use what you learned in the reading and your own
knowledge and experiences to answer the question thoroughly.
Instructions: When instructed, you will share your responses with your group. Take notes
on their responses in the boxes below. Be sure to write their names at the top of each box.
Student #1: ______________________
Student #2: __________________________
Student #3: ______________________
Student #4: __________________________
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