This past week, 6th grade finished their reading of “Anne Frank: Portrait of a Young Girl” and 7th/8th concluded “Night” by Elie Wiesel.  Both these books dealt with heavy, yet necessary topics and my students handled them admirably. The ability to be a witness to history in a safe and supportive environment like we have here at The Summit is a gift indeed.  I have given each class their own final project to complete.  They have been given several options that will both challenge them and allow them to play to their strengths.  From formal essay writing, to diorama, to collage, to creative journaling, each student has the ability to choose an option that speaks to them and allows them a unique vehicle to further explore the themes from these great literary works and to demonstrate their newfound knowledge on the subject of Holocaust Literature.  I have been very impressed by their willingness to engage in history that may make them uncomfortable and it has afforded them a lot of growth and a great opportunity to further develop empathy and their sense of justice. As always, they have risen to the occasion and performed with diligence and insight.  As we round the corner to the end of the year, poetry will be chief among the remaining topics we discuss.  Some of them have even expressed a desire to write poetry about the themes we discussed in this current Holocaust Literature unit. I never cease to be amazed at the way my students are able to utilize their gifts to interpret and synthesize the topics we discuss. They are constant source of inspiration.