Content Standard:

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the historical fiction genre, including its
characteristics, the portrayal of historical events, and the exploration of cultural and
social issues, through the analysis of two significant works: "Number the Stars" by Lois
Lowry and "The Little House on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Performance standard
students will demonstrate their proficiency in analyzing historical fiction works by
examining "Number the Stars" and "The Little House on the Prairie."
Learning competency

students will acquire a comprehensive understanding of historical fiction as a genre,

utilizing Lois Lowry's "Number the Stars" and Laura Ingalls Wilder's "The Little House on
the Prairie" as central texts.

Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is a genre of narrative fiction that uses events and characters from a specific
time period or geographical location in its plot. It often focuses on a specific event or period in
history and tells the story of characters living through and reacting to the events of that period.

Historical fiction is distinct from other forms of fiction in that it has a basis in actual events and
characters, and it typically tries to accurately portray the customs, politics, and culture of its
chosen time period.

Characteristics of a Historical Fiction

History
Historical fiction is defined by its use of real historical events, settings, and people as the
backdrop for its narrative. This can range from well-known historical figures and events to
lesser-known or even obscure ones, but the emphasis is always on portraying the historical
context in a way that is faithful to the period.

Settings
Historical fiction transports readers to a different time and place, and as such, it requires a great
deal of attention to detail to create a sense of authenticity. This includes everything from
language and clothing to social norms and cultural practices. The best historical fiction writers
create a sense of time and place that feels real.

Explores Issues
By looking at the past through a contemporary lens, historical fiction can shed light on current
social and political issues. For example, a work of historical fiction that explores the Civil Rights
Movement of the 1960s might have resonance with contemporary issues around race and social
justice.

Lois Lowry
Lowry was born Lois Hammersberg on March 20, 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a child,
she had a voracious appetite for reading and knew she wanted to be a writer at an early
age.

Number the Stars

Number the Stars is told from the point of view of ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen.
The story is set in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 1943, the third year
of the Nazi occupation of Denmark.

CHARACTERS

Annemarie Johansen
Annemarie is the protagonist of the story. She lives in Copenhagen, Denmark with her

mother, father, and younger sister Kirsti. Annemarie's best friend is Ellen, the girl who

lives next door.

Ellen Rosen
Annemarie's schoolmate and best friend, who is Jewish.

Mrs. Johansen

Annemarie's mother

Peter Neilsen

Part of the Resistance movement, he was engaged to Lise Johansen,

Kirsten Johansen

Annemarie's younger sister, who is five years old.

Henrik
Mrs. Johansen's younger brother, a fisherman in the sea town of Gilleleje.

Mr. Johansen

A pillar of strength, he is deeply patriotic and willing to die for Denmark. Mr. Johansen is

the teacher of his family and tells Annemarie about the country and the war.

Lise Johansen

The eldest Johansen daughter, who died several years before the beginning of the

novel.

The Rosens

Mrs. Rosen is Ellen's mother and Mrs. Johansen's friend.

ORDER OF THE EVENTS

1. The story is set in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II, under Nazi occupation.

2. Annemarie Johansen, the ten-year-old protagonist, introduces her family and her best

friend, Ellen Rosen, who is Jewish.

3. The Johansen family learns that the Nazis are planning to arrest and deport the Jewish

population of Denmark.

4. Ellen's parents decide to go into hiding, and Ellen is taken in by the Johansen family.

5. The Johansens come up with a plan to hide Ellen by pretending she is part of their family.

They change her appearance and give her a new identity as Annemarie's sister, Lise, who

had died earlier.

6. Annemarie's older sister, Kirsti, accidentally reveals the truth about Ellen's identity to a

soldier, but luckily, he does not suspect anything.

7. Annemarie's uncle, Henrik, helps the Johansen family and other Jewish people escape to

Sweden, where they will be safe from the Nazis.

8. Annemarie's mother, Mrs. Johansen, helps smuggle Ellen and other Jewish people to

Henrik's boat, which will take them to Sweden.

9. Annemarie is entrusted with an important task to deliver a package to Henrik. The

package contains a handkerchief soaked in a chemical to confuse the dogs that the Nazis

use to track down the Jewish people.

10. Annemarie encounters German soldiers on her way to Henrik's boat but manages to

deceive them by pretending she is carrying a package for her uncle.

11. Annemarie successfully delivers the package to Henrik and reunites with her parents

and Ellen, who have already boarded the boat.

12. The novel ends with a sense of hope and the belief that the Danish resistance and the

bravery of ordinary people can make a difference in the face of injustice.

THE LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, (born February 7, 1867, Lake Pepin, Wisconsin, U.S.—died February

10, 1957, Mansfield, Missouri), an American author of children’s fiction based on her own youth in

the American Midwest.

The Little House on the Prairie" is a beloved children's novel written by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

It is part of a series of books based on Wilder's own childhood and adolescence in the

American Midwest during the late 1800s. Here is a summary of "The Little House on the

Prairie"

1. The Ingalls family, consisting of Charles (Pa), Caroline (Ma), Mary, Laura, and Carrie,

leave their home in Wisconsin and travel to Kansas in a covered wagon.

2. The family settles on the open prairie and builds a small log cabin near a creek. They

start their new life as pioneers.

3. The Ingalls family faces various challenges, including encounters with wild animals,

harsh weather conditions, and the constant threat of Native American tribes who are being

displaced by settlers.

4. The family experiences a harsh winter, known as the "Long Winter," where blizzards and

extreme cold make it difficult to survive. They face food shortages and rely on their

resourcefulness to survive.

5. The family befriends their neighbor, Mr. Edwards, who helps them during the Long Winter

by bringing them supplies.

6. As spring arrives, the family faces the threat of a prairie fire that endangers their home

and crops. They work together with other settlers to extinguish the fire and save their

livelihoods.

7. The Ingalls family decides to leave Kansas due to the increasing presence of settlers and

conflicts with Native American tribes. They pack their belongings and leave their beloved

little house on the prairie.

8. The family embarks on a journey to Minnesota and settles near the town of Walnut Grove.

They build a new home and start a new life there.

● Recognize and define the historical fiction genre, identifying its key

characteristics, including the use of real historical events, settings, and

characters.

● conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of the historical settings and

character responses in the novels "Number the Stars" and "The Little House on

the Prairie."

● Develop an appreciation for the role of Historical Fiction in providing insights into

past cultures, events, and the human experience.