If you’re like most history teachers, you probably have a lot of questions about teaching the Holocaust to high schoolers. It’s not only a tough subject to teach but also one of the most important historical events that your students will learn about. Here are three things to include when creating Holocaust lesson plans for high school students.
Historical Context
Begin with a solid historical background. Teach your students about the events that led to the Holocaust and the sociocultural landscape of the time. Have open discussions about what we can do to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again.
Literature
From Anne Frank to Elie Wiesel, literature has always played an important role in teaching the Holocaust to high schoolers. Reading first-hand accounts through the eyes of survivors, victims and helpers can help students to grasp the depth of the tragedy.
Personal Stories
Another way for students to learn through personal experiences is listening to the stories of survivors. If you have any Holocaust survivors in your local community, consider inviting them to speak to your students. Hearing the account of a Holocaust survivor is an experience they will not soon forget.
Do you want to supplement your Holocaust lesson plans with free resources and an interactive learning tool? ZACHOR Holocaust Curriculum takes students on a journey through the remarkable experience of Holocaust survivor Ben Lesser. Explore their variety of educational resources at URL.
