In a heartfelt cross-curricular project inspired by Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine, our fifth grade students immersed themselves in the story of Hana Brady, a young Jewish girl who perished in the Holocaust. As they explored Hana’s life and legacy, students created original poems and reflective one-pagers, capturing the emotional weight of her story and the importance of remembrance.
What made this project even more powerful was the real-world connection to Fumiko Ishioka—the Japanese educator who uncovered Hana’s story and now leads the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center. After completing their work, each student wrote a personal letter to Fumiko, thanking her for her commitment to preserving Hana’s memory.
In a remarkable turn of events, Fumiko received the students’ letters and artwork on what would have been Hana Brady’s birthday. She responded with deep appreciation and even shared the students’ work on the official Hana’s Suitcase Instagram page, connecting our students to a global message of tolerance and compassion.
Through this project, our students not only honored Hana’s legacy—they became part of it.
