The Leyson family was a typical family before World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust. Leon, whose viewpoint the story is told from, was the youngest of 5 children, and his parents were loving and kind. For this activity, students will describe and illustrate each of the 7 members of the Leyson family. This helps students view the members of the family as real people and not just characters in a story.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a 7 cell spider map that identifies and describes the members of the Leyson family in The Boy on the Wooden Box.
Student Instructions:
Promote empathy and critical thinking by guiding students through meaningful conversations about the Leyson family's journey in The Boy on the Wooden Box. Thoughtful discussion helps students connect personally with history and understand the impact of events on real people.
Begin by outlining what you want students to gain from the conversation, such as empathy, understanding historical context, or analyzing family dynamics. Setting goals keeps discussions focused and purposeful.
Craft questions that encourage students to think deeply about the Leyson family’s choices, feelings, and resilience. Open-ended prompts like, “How might Leon’s role as the youngest shape his experiences?” foster rich dialogue and multiple perspectives.
Ask students to support their thoughts with details from the book. This reinforces close reading skills and ensures discussions stay grounded in the story’s events and character traits.
Establish norms for active listening, respectful disagreement, and valuing each student’s input. A safe space helps students feel comfortable sharing personal reactions and making connections to their own lives.
End the discussion with a brief reflection activity. Invite students to share insights about the Leyson family or how learning their story has impacted their understanding of history and humanity.
The Leyson family character map activity asks students to identify, describe, and illustrate each of the 7 members of Leon Leyson's family from The Boy on the Wooden Box. This helps students see the characters as real people and deepen their understanding of the story.
To complete the 7-cell spider map, label each cell with a Leyson family member's name, add a representative image for each, and write a brief description of their personality or role in The Boy on the Wooden Box. Save your work when finished.
Describing each Leyson family member helps students connect emotionally with the story, understand the impact of historical events, and see the family as real people rather than just characters.
This character map activity is designed for grades 6-12, making it suitable for middle and high school students studying The Boy on the Wooden Box.
When illustrating family members, focus on details that reflect their personalities or experiences from the book. Symbols, facial expressions, or meaningful objects can help bring each character to life visually.