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The Cats in Krasinski Square

Literature Based Unit Study Written By:  Ami Brainerd and Celia Hartmann

Geography:  Poland
The story is set in the capital of Poland, Warsaw.  Make a story disk (cats?) and place it on your map.  
 outline map of Poland
 flag of Poland minit book

Social Studies:  Occupations for Dogs
This story mentions dogs being used by the Gestapo.  What other occupations have dogs had in history? 
Hearing dogs for the deaf; they are trained to alert people to a ringing telephone, fire alarm, and other household sounds Service dogs for the disabled; they can help their partners with many everyday tasks, such as opening doors and turning on lights.
        Police dogs that help detect bombs
        Seeing-eye dogs that help the blind walk safely avoiding obstacles and oncoming traffic.
        Army Scout dogs that warn of danger
        Sled dogs in artic regions 
        Dogs that herd sheep and cattle
        Guard dogs for homes and businesses
        Dogs that detect fire accelerants

a site about guide, hearing, and service dogs
a site about hearing dogs
a site about sled dogs
may answer some of your student's questions about guide dogs
Find extraordinary dog stories here  *this even has movie clips to watch!

A fun read for your younger crew that ties in would be Officer Buckle and Gloria.  Your students may also enjoy Five True Dog Stories by Margaret Davidson.

Social Studies:  Holocaust
Use the following critical thinking questions to help your child understand more about the Holocaust
1.  Why did the main character burn her Jewish armband?
2. Why is she afraid of a knock on the door in the middle of the night?  (You can compare this to The Butterfly)
3.  Who did the cats once belong to?
4.  Why does the main character not look like a Jew?  Why does she walk her Polish walk?
5.  Why is Mira, the sister, all that is left of the family?  Where are the main character's mom and dad?
If you want more information for your student regarding the Holocaust, read the author's note and the historical note at the end of the book.

Social Studies: Pet Care
The story states that these cats once belonged to someone; that they once ate from crystal dishes.  Discuss pet care with your child.   What does a pet need?  (food, water, love/time).  Discuss the similar needs that animals and humans have.  Using this prepared sheet, let your younger student draw a line from the human need to the similar animal (pet) need.

If your child is interested in having a pet, I recommend the Usborne First Pets books--TONS of good information in this series of books! (the titles included are Cats and Kittens, Dogs and Puppies, and Hamsters)

You may even want to visit a pet shop and let your child learn about pets from the shop owner (call ahead and ask if they will get pets out for your child, etc.).   Another field trip idea would be your local vet.

Problem Solving:
When Arik tells Mira about the Gestapo, things look really grim for those carrying the food.  Ask your student what could have happened?  When the main character goes out to walk (and think), she devises a plan as soon as she sees the cats.  She could've panicked and ran away.  She could've sat in a corner and cried, but she didn't-- she moved to action and saved the lives of many people.  
Sometimes we need to think quick!   Our situations may not be as complex or scary as the one in this story, but how to we react to the simple everyday things counts; we should teach our children to be problem-solvers and people who move to action!  

Language Arts: Vocabulary
Prepared Vocabulary Cards 

furrowing- to make long, narrow, shallow trenches in; plow
nuzzling- to rub or push against gently with or as if with the nose or snout
satchels- another word for bag or suitcase
groats- an entire kernel of an oat (an oat groat)
smuggle- to bring in or take out illegally (not allowed)
nonsense- matter of little or no importance or usefulness
rubble- irregular fragments or pieces of rock or brick
grateful- thankful
frenzied-temporary madness or wild excitement

Language Arts:  Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in a literary work, especially in a poem.  You will find these examples (and more) in the story:
        "They get by nicely on mice"
        "The cats don't need me feeding them"
        "Suddenly steam and the scream...passengers stream off"
        "...knows of the train...and they'll be waiting at the station"
        "We gather the cats into baskets"
The human ear loves sound.  Stories that are meant to be read aloud (like picture books) and poems are good opportunities to add devices like assonance. The next time your student writes a poem or story, encourage him to use assonance.


Enchanted Learning Link - write adjectives describing a cat

Math: 
In the end note, Hesse mentions the rate at which the Jewish people were killed.   She says that "the youngest and oldest disappeared from the Ghetto first, at the rate of 2,000, then 10,000, then 20,000 people per day."   Your older student could find the percentage of increase between each number (at first 2,000 people per day....that increased by ___ percent to 10,000 people per day which eventually increased to ___ percent of 20,000 people per day.  What a sober math lesson this is; we must never forget what happened, so that it never happens again.

Art:  Use of light
The illustrator uses light in this story with special significance.  The girl who tells the story seems to be surrounded in light.  The Nazi soldiers and other things in the book are dark.  Why would the illustrator choose to illuminate the main character but darken others?   (You could also use this for discussion about how we as Christians are to be light...how Jesus was the Light of the World.  If someone were to draw Jesus, would they put light around him?  Would they put light around you-- are you known as a real Christian?). 

Art:  Color Palette
Ask your student to identify the colors used in the illustrations.  The illustrator chooses to use a lot of earth tones throughout-- oranges, tans, browns, black, and grays.  The colors are dull.  Why did the illustrator choose dull colors for this story?  Why aren't there lots of bright colors?  If you are reading all three of the Holocaust books (this one along with The Harmonica and The Butterfly), compare the colors used in each story.  You may even want to make a chart.

Science:  Cats
Ask your student --what makes a cat, a cat?  Cats have some unique features that aren't common to all animals.  In general, house cats have sharp, pointy teeth, retractable claws, padded feet, large ears, whiskers, eyes with vertical pupils, soft fur, and a tail.  

information on House cats (diet, anatomy, etc.)
information on Persian cats
information on Burmese cats
information on Abyssinian cats

Bible:  John 15:13
The main character in the story wants to make sure she takes food to her friend, Michal, even though it appears to be a more dangerous area to take food.  What would happen to her if she were to get caught? She would be killed.  She is willing to risk her life for her friend.  The Bible says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13).    Who was our example that gave His life for us?  Jesus.   There is no greater love.  How can we show our friends and loved ones that we love them?  What kind of sacrifices can we make?

Extensions
With your older student, you may want to do some research on the ghetto and what it was like for the Jews and others who were there.  You may want to preview any information first and only give your student the pieces that he is ready for.  You could also add the following studies to this one--
The Butterfly (a literature based unit based on Patricia Polacco's book)
The Harmonica (a literature based unit based on Tony Johnston's book)

Polish Recipe
Pierogi

2 eggs
1/2 cup water
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mound flour on kneading board and make a hole in the center.  Drop eggs into hold and cut into flour with a knife.  Add salt and knead until firm.  Let rest for 10 minutes (cover with a bowl).  Divide dough in halves and roll thin.  Cut circles with a biscuit cutter.  Place a small mound of filling (listed below) into one side on each round of dough (don't put too much).  Moisten edge with a little water.  Fold over and press edges firmly together (make sure they are sealed!).  Drop the pierogi into salted boiling water.  Cook gently for 3-5 minutes.  Life out of water with a slotted spoon.

Cheese Filling
1 cup cottage cheese
1 teaspoon melted butter
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons currants
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Cream cheese with butter.   Add other ingredients and mix well.  Fill pierogi.  Serve with melted butter and sour cream.

Cabbage and Mushroom Filling
1 small head cabbage
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 small onion, chopped
Butter
Salt
Pepper
Quarter cabbage and cook in salted water for 15 minutes.   Drain, cool, and chop.  Saute onion in butter, add mushrooms, and fry for 5 minutes.  Add cabbage and continue to fry for a few minutes.  Add sour cream and cool.  Fill pierogi. 

Mushrooms
1 cup chopped mushroom
1 onion chopped
Salt
Pepper
2 egg yolks
butter
Saute onion in butter.  Add mushrooms.  Season with salt and pepper.  Remove and add egg yolks.  Stir well.  Cool and fill pierogi.