In this challenging time, many parents and guardians are looking online for meaningful activities for their children that don’t require too much prep or too many materials. Each weekday on this blog, the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will post an activity geared to a range of ages that guide children how to explore heritage, history, and learning through artifacts.

Note to parents/guardians: This activity is appropriate for ages 10 and up. It deals with the experiences of young people during the Holocaust.

Fanya Gottesfeld Heller was a Holocaust survivor originally from Ukraine. Her memoir, Hidden: A True Story of the Holocaust, written for ages 10 and up, describes her experiences during the Holocaust. In these excerpts, we learn what life was like in hiding with her family.

Download the excerpts and accompanying questions here.

After reading and answering the questions, discuss the answers with your student. Use these prompts to extend your discussion:

  • If you could ask Fanya a question, what would you ask her?
  • What did you learn today about life in hiding that you did not know before?

We encourage you to share your student’s work with us! Please email education@mjhnyc.org so that we may feature it on our Museum blog!