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TeacherVision Staff
Last edited: January 23, 2020
In Milkweed, author Jerry Spinelli paints a vivid picture of the streets of the Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II, as seen through the eyes of a young orphan. This teacher's guide, which includes summary, discussion questions, and activities, will help in your instruction of the novel.
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Milkweed
by Jerry Spinelli  Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli paints a vivid picture of the streets of the Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II, as seen through the eyes of a young, heartbreakingly naive orphan known as Misha. Readers will love Misha the dreamer and his wonderfully poetic observations of the world around him, his instinct to befriend a Jewish girl and her family, his impulse to steal food for a local orphanage and his friends in the ghetto, and his ability to delight in small things even surrounded by the horror of the Holocaust. |
Enrichment Activities
Resources
Books
Enrichment Activities
Role PlayingMajor Characters
Misha (AKA Stopthief, Misha Pilsudski, Misha Milgrom, Jack Milgrom, Poppynoodle)
Uri
Janina
Mr. Milgrom
Doctor Korczak
Uncle Shepsel
Minor Characters
Kuba, “the clown,” who stole the lamp of the naked lady
Ferdi, who blows smoke
Olek, who has one arm, and who believes in angels
Enos, who is “grim-faced,” and doesn’t believe in angels
Jon, who is “gray and unspeaking”
Big Henryk, who wears bank coin bags for shoes
Mrs. Milgrom, Janina’s mother
Buffo “Fatman,” the Flop
Elzbieta, the farmer’s wife
Vivian Milgrom, Jack Milgrom’s wife
Katherine Milgrom, Jack Milgrom’s daughter
Wendy Janini Milgrom, Jack Milgrom’s granddaughter
Letter Writing
Research Activity
Looking for What's Good
Learning About the Holocaust
http://www.ushmm.org/education/forstudents
