English Students Chat with Holocaust Survivor

Marion Blumenthal Lazan, holocaust survivor, understands there is very little time left to share her stories. Ms. Lazan spoke to Eastern Iowa middle schoolers in two sessions on April 8th, 2021. Students got to listen to her speak directly about her experiences in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, located in northern Germany. 

Middle school english students listened to Ms. Lazan as part of their Holocaust unit. 7th Grade students had just finished Refugee by Alan Gratz - a book that showcases the stories of three children, each seeking safety and refuge in a new country. When Ms. Lazan was at Bergen-Belsen, she was just 9 years old. Anne Frank was 15 years old at the same camp. 

While the students did not get to directly interview her, they were able to suggest questions, some of which she did answer. What an amazing opportunity for students to be able to connect to history on a personal level, through conversation. 

Ms. Lazan is the author of Four Perfect Pebbles, a memoir of her experiences in Nazi Germany. The title refers to a game she played as a child, where if she could find four smooth pebbles, all of the same size and shape, she believed her four family members would be safe.