Literature related to the Holocaust
A collection of resources for the English/Language Arts classroom

|Reading about the Holocaust| |Teaching Historical Background|

Reading about the Holocaust

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
Resources for teaching the novel, the play, and historical background.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Lesson plans and resources.

The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
Lesson ideas.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Lesson plans for both novel and film.

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
The injustice done to Japanese-Americans during World War II does not reach the level of horror of the Holocaust. However, a teacher looking for reading material related to this time period might wish to include this title.

Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine
Scroll down on the page for activities related to this story.

In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Opdyke as told to Jennifer Armstrong
This teacher's guide includes a summary, a variety of teaching ideas and interdisciplinary connections, vocabulary, and related links.

Maus by Art Spiegelman
Lesson plans and teaching resources for Maus I and Maus II.

Night by Elie Wisel
Historical background and resources for teaching the novel.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Novel resources.

"Refugee Blues" by W. H. Auden
This lesson plan is part of a unit commemorating the Holocaust. It includes background information, questions, related visuals, and answers. It does not include a copy of the poem.

Terrible Things: an Allegory of the Holocaust by Eve Bunting
This book can be used with young readers and with high school students. Resources are available to support all grade levels.

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
A wealth of supporting links for before, during, and after reading.

Teaching Historical Background

America and the Holocaust, part of the PBS series, The American Experience
An excellent source of information, complete with teacher's guide.

Anne Frank Center USA
A wonderful resource for students and teachers.

Anne Frank Intro
Students learn about discrimination and statistical manipulation first-hand. An excellent activity.

Anne Frank: One of Hundreds of Thousands
Students investigate the historical circumstances that led the Frank family to go into hiding.

April 11, 1945
Background information regarding the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp from History.com's "This Day in History" site.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The discussion guide emphasizes point of view, friendship, obedience/conformity, and prejudice/discrimination. It also offers suggestions for post-viewing activities and additional Holocaust resources. This 16-page document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

Children of War
An extensive unit designed for grades 6 and up. Students read, analyze, and discuss excerpts from children's war diaries; and create a storyboard for a public service announcement on children's rights in wartime.

A God who Remembers
Read and listen to Wiesel's essay, written for NPR's This I Believe.

Holocaust Education Resources for Teachers from the Holocaust Education Foundation, Inc.
Searchable. A great deal of material on this site is for sale, but free lesson plans are also available. Some require Adobe's Acrobat Reader, which is available for download free, or equivalent application. Excellent resources!

Holocaust Project
Students research conditions leading to the rise of the Third Reich, life in the ghettoes, the prison camps, and life after liberation. This project is designed to accompany the study of Elie Wiesel's Night.

Holocaust Remembrance Day Assignments
10 suggestions for middle and high school students.

Holocaust Resources
An extensive list of links to online sources about several aspects of the Holocaust.

The Holocaust Web
After reading a variety of sources about the Holocaust, students create a Web page about the Holocaust. This document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

Is it Fact or Opinion?
As a result of this activity, students will distinguish between fact and opinion in a published diary. This lesson is designed for grades 6-8.

Peace Quest
Students research the impact of war on children. They produce a variety of products "to engage society in a dialogue to eliminate hatred and bigotry, to foster understanding and tolerance and to bring peace to our world."

The Power of Words
Ten lessons exploring the impact of language in a multicultural society. Click on Lesson 3, "Anti-Semitism and Hate Speech."

Propaganda
This exhibit from the U. S. Holocaust Museum documents and explains the Nazi propaganda campaign. In addition to historical information, the site includes student activities.

Putting a Face to the Numbers: Revealing First-Hand Accounts of Historical Genocide
From the New York Times: "In this lesson, students learn about how hearing about experiences of genocide can make an impact on students. Then, students create a text on the history of genocide, using first-hand accounts and other primary sources as the focus of the text."

The Truth About Anne Frank
A series of lesson plans based upon the movie and a variety of other texts. Includes homework handouts and bibliography.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
At this site find several exhibits, including one about Anne Frank. Be sure to click on "For Teachers" for links to valuable, free resources to support teaching about the Holocaust.

Voices of the Holocaust
Designed for 9th graders who already have a working knowledge of the Holocaust, this site has 28 oral history testimonies gathered from men and women living in Britain today, together with associated background text, biographies, information, teacher resources, and student activities.

Who Should be Remembered?
This WebQuest asks students "to stand up for a group of people that no one stood up for when they needed it most."

The World Around Anne Frank WebQuest
Students work in groups to research the circumstances related to WWII, and they write a newspaper article.

Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority
Information, online exhibits, teaching resources, professional development, and teaching units accompanied by sensitive and wise suggestions for dealing with the material in an educational setting.

Yes, Virginia, there was a Holocaust
An 8th grade interdisciplinary unit exploring persecution during World War II. This 19-page document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.