Night & The Holocaust
Final Book Project
The Holocaust is one of the most fascinating historical events in modern
human record. For the culminating project to reading the novel and our
Holocaust Literature Unit, you will be designing several of your own
assignments, each of which demonstrates higher-level thinking,
knowledge and understanding of the topics we have discussed and learned
about during this unit. You must choose at least two of the following
options to complete for your project. If you would like to earn an advanced
grade on this final project, you must choose three or more of the following
options to complete for your project. If you have an idea for an alternative
project that is not listed below, you must check your idea with me! A
bibliography page is required to demonstrate any reference to or
assistance from outside sources. Your unit project will be due on the day of
your final exam period.
Be Creative!
Final Project Options
Create a body biography for Elie Wiesel
Write a short story about the Holocaust
Create a graphic novel about the Holocaust
Research and create a timeline of the Holocaust
Research and create an original map of the Holocaust
Create a collage, drawing, or painting about the novel, Night, or the
Holocaust (brief explanatory paragraph required for credit)
Write a poem retelling or analyzing the novel, or part of the novel
Write a poem about the Holocaust
Write a series of at least 5 diary or journal entries for a fictional or reallife researched character
Write a formal letter to the author of Night, Elie Wiesel, in which you
reflect upon what you have learned from reading his story and/or how your
thoughts on the Holocaust have changed because of reading his story.
Compile a musical soundtrack for the novel, Night (brief explanatory
paragraph required for credit)
Rewrite a section of the novel Night as a one-act play
Body Biography
A Body Biography is a combination of a written character analysis and a drawn
character sketch; a body biography is a creative way to show analytical knowledge
about a character. For the body of your character, you may choose to either draw,
trace or print out a body outline. For the biography of your character, you need
to label, color and briefly explain each body part, with visual symbols and/or text.
Things to Consider:

Placement - carefully choose the placement of your text and visual symbols. For
example, the area where the character’s heart would be might be appropriate for
illustrating the important relationships within his life; the hands might refer to
actions or accomplishments of the character.

Spine – The “spine” of the story is an author’s objective within a literary work, often
portrayed through the protagonist. Since this is an autobiographical account, the
author of the novel and the protagonist of the novel are the same person. What is the
most important goal for Elie? What drives his thought and actions? The answers to
these questions are the “spine” of the story. How can you illustrate it?

Virtues and Vices - What are Elie’s most admirable qualities? His worst? How can
visualize these attributes?

Color - Colors are often symbolic. What color(s) do you most associate with Elie and
his story? Why? How can you effectively weave these colors into the visual elements
of your character labels?

Symbols - What other objects, clothing, etcetera, might be associated with Elie’s
character? Are their objectives mentioned within the work itself that you could use?
If not, choose objects that especially seem to correspond with the character.

Changes - How has your character changed within the work? Trace these changes
through the labeled “body parts,” other objects, and the four most important quotes
of the character.
Your Body Biography must include:



7-10 labeled and explained “body parts”
2-5 other objects
the 4 most important quotes spoken by the character throughout
the novel and that demonstrate the character’s change in the story
Short Story
Write a short story about the Holocaust. Your short story may be told from the
first person point of view or the third-person point of view. Consider a variety of
perspectives about the Holocaust when writing your short story, such as: a Jew in
a concentration camp or a Jew in hiding, a survivor of the concentration camps, a
person from another marginalized group during the Holocaust, a Nazi officer in
support of Hitler’s vision, a child or teenager involved in Hitler Youth, a parent
who was in support of Hitler Youth, a parent who was not in support of Hitler
Youth, situational bystanders (both national and individual bystanders), or other
perspectives that you can think of.
Your Short Story must include:
 a clear beginning, middle and end to the story
 characterization of at least one character
 at least 2 pages, typed, double-spaced
Graphic Novel
Create a graphic novel – much like a short-story told through multiple “comic
strips” about the Holocaust. Consider a variety of perspectives about the
Holocaust when writing your short story, such as: a Jew in a concentration camp
or a Jew in hiding, a survivor of the concentration camps, a person from another
marginalized group during the Holocaust, a Nazi officer in support of Hitler’s
vision, a child or teenager involved in Hitler Youth, a parent who was in support
of Hitler Youth, a parent who was not in support of Hitler Youth, situational
bystanders (both national and individual bystanders), or other perspectives that
you can think of.
Your Graphic Novel must include:
 4-7 pages
 multiple images per page (3-10)
 images must include text
Holocaust Timeline
Research and create a timeline of the Holocaust, which includes dates, text to
explain the timeline events, and images to help visualize events of the timeline.
Your Timeline must include:
 at least 15 events about the events of the Holocaust, events that
lead to the Holocaust or to the end of the Holocaust
 a date for each timeline event
 a brief explanatory text (1-3 sentences) about each event
 at least 5 images – either printed or drawn – to help visualize
important events of the timeline
Holocaust Map
Print out a map of Europe and research and create a Holocaust map, with
important locations throughout Germany and other parts of Europe.
Your Map must include:
 at least 15 important locations throughout Europe
 a title for each of the locations found on the map
 a Key that indicates the locations on the map and any other
pieces of information that you include on the map.
 3 important events that happened at three of the important
locations on the map
 at least 5 images – either printed or drawn – to help visualize
important locations on the map
Collage, Drawing or Painting
Create a collage, drawing, or painting about the novel, Night, or about the
Holocaust.
Your Collage, Drawing or Painting must include:
 a brief paragraph, explaining the connection of your artwork to the
Holocaust and the meaning and/or purpose of your work.
Night or Holocaust Poetry
Write a poem retelling or analyzing the novel, or a part of the novel, Night, or
write a poem about the Holocaust. Poems with 3-10 lines will be graded out of 5
points, poems with 11-20 lines will be graded out of 10 points, and poems with
20+ lines will be graded out of 15 points. You may write the poem using your own
words or a poem comprised only of words in the novel; you may write a
structured verse poem or a poem with no structure, also called a “free verse”
poem. You are limited to writing 3 poems total for the project.
Your Night and Holocaust Poetry must include:
 a note at the bottom of your poem page that indicates if your poem
is a free-verse poem or if your poem is a structured poem
Diary or Journal Entries
Create a series of 7-10 diary or journal entries from the perspective of a
fictional character or researched person. If you choose to research someone from
the Holocaust for your diary/journal entries to be based upon, you will be graded
out of 40 points instead of 30; however, you must attach a brief “biography” and
the source of your research for the extra point value to be counted.
Before writing your diary or journal entries, consider a variety of perspectives
about the Holocaust, such as: a Jew in a concentration camp or a Jew in hiding, a
survivor of the concentration camps, a person from another marginalized group
during the Holocaust, a Nazi officer in support of Hitler’s vision, a child or
teenager involved in Hitler Youth, a parent who was in support of Hitler Youth, a
parent who was not in support of Hitler Youth, situational bystanders (both
national and individual bystanders), or other perspectives that you can think of.
Your Diary or Journal Entries must include:
 historically accurate dates
 characterization of the character or researched person that your
entries are based upon
 well-written entries of at least one paragraph (7-10 sentences)
Letter to Elie Wiesel
Write a letter to the author of Night, Elie Wiesel, in which you reflect upon what you
have learned from reading his story and/or how your thoughts on the Holocaust have
changed because of reading his story.
Your Letter must include:
 a business letter format heading, with the recipient’s name, title and
address (you may make up his address), the date, and your name, title,
and address
 a business letter format greeting
 a business format letter closing
Musical Soundtrack
Create a music soundtrack for the novel, Night.
Your Movie Soundtrack must include:
 10-15 songs
 2-3 sentences in which you justify your choice to include each song in
the soundtrack: What is the meaning of this song? Why did you include
the song for the soundtrack to Night?
One-Act Play
Rewrite a section of the novel, Night, as a one-act play.
Your Play must include:
 stage directions & character dialogue and/or interior monologue