Holocaust: Historical Background

|Reading about the Holocaust| |Teaching Historical Background|

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: Film version
Click on the link "F.I.L.M. Curriculum for a 16-page discussion guide emphasizing point of view, friendship, obedience/conformity, and prejudice/discrimination. It also offers suggestions for post-viewing activities and additional Holocaust resources. 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 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.

Inheritance: Standing Up to Injustice and Cruelty
This lesson plan is designed to be used in conjunction with the film, Inheritance, which illustrates the lasting effects of the Holocaust from the perspectives of both a victim of Nazi war crimes and the child of a perpetrator. Classrooms can use this lesson to explore the responsibility of standing up to injustice and cruelty. Lesson is designed for grades 6-12. It includes 3 downloadable video clips; scroll down for the complete lesson plan, which requires Adobe Reader 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.

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.

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.