Curated OER
"You're Probably Tired, Dear Diary" - Children's Diaries during the Holocaust
As part of the study of WWII and the Holocaust, class members read a series of diary entries written by children during the onslaught of Nazi occupation. Each entry is accompanied by biographical information and discussion questions. The...
Curated OER
Hidden Children and the Holocaust: A Lesson and Pledge for Action
Students read various personal accounts of children during the Holocaust. Using special identification cards, they relate the Holocaust to historical events in their lifetimes. Examining primary source documents, they describe how they...
Curated OER
The Butterfly Project: Study and Response to Children's Poetry
Eleventh graders read various examples of poems of the humans behind the Holocaust and who perished during the event. Focusing on the number of children who died, they collect butterflies for the Holocaust Museum in Houston. They view...
Curated OER
Ideas for Research and Discussion of Anne Frank's Diary
Students explore the life of Anne Frank. In this World War II lesson, students consider Frank's religious identity and national identity. Students also discuss children's rights as they consider Frank and other Jewish children who...
Curated OER
The Holocaust: An Introduction for Children (To Be Used with Number the Stars)
In this literature and history worksheet, students prepare to read the novel by Lois Lowry Number the Stars. Students read the history behind the Nazi occupation of Denmark and the arrest of the Jews there. This is a 10 page historical...
Curated OER
A Response to Chaim Rumkowski's, "Give Me Your Children" Speech
Students examine the history of the ghettos and read Rumkowski's letter. Using journal and diary entries, they identify types of resistance used during the Holocaust. Writing a letter, they use references to Rumkowski's original letter...
Reed Novel Studies
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Film Study
According to John Betjeman, "Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows." With The Boy in the Striped Pajamas film study, scholars work in small groups to discuss the quote and other...
Curated OER
Political and Social Impact of World War II
Sixth graders study the life in Jewish ghettos during World War II and learn about tolerance and compassion. In this WWII instructional activity, 6th graders discuss Jewish ghettos but with a mistreatment of the kids with stickers to...
Curated OER
Let's Celebrate Hanukkah!
Students identify and analyze various multicultural celebrations. They list their prior knowledge of the Jewish Holiday known as Hanukkah and listen to various books about the celebration. Students also compare and contrast Hanukkah to...
Curated OER
Judaism
Students brainstorm what they know about Judaism, participate in question and answer session about Judaism and its relation to World War II with guest speaker of Jewish faith, and write journal responses about their feelings on...
Curated OER
Anne Frank: One of Hundreds of Thousands
Students conduct research to put Anne Frank's diary into historical context. They use maps, timelines, essays and websites to examine the early victories of the German army, paying special attention to the Netherlands and experiences of...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Anne Frank: Writer
Middle schoolers explore the writings of Anne Frank. They discuss how Anne did or did not change during her two years in the Secret Annex. Students take a stand on how much Anne has in common with contemporary young people.
Curated OER
Using Poetic Images to Initiate the Exploration of Resistance During the Holocaust
Students explore the role of resistance during the Holocaust. Viewing images, they complete a set of notes on the Holocaust and discuss the feelings they get from looking at the photographs. They identify the parts of speech used in...
US Holocaust Museum
Time Capsule in a Milk Can
Imagine dumping out a milk can and finding letters from one of the darkest moments in history! Scholars use Holocaust Reading Passages and research to discover how people recorded and hid history during the events of World War II. They...
Novelinks
The Color of Water: Concept Analysis
Considering using James McBride's autobiography/memoir The Color of Water with your class? Check out this seven-page informational packet that includes background information on McBride, the organization pattern of the book, and issues...
Curated OER
Holocaust Unit
Learners read a book about World War II and the Holocaust while in small literature circles. They write journal entries and news articles based on the reading.
Curated OER
Muppets as Mediators
Students explore current social issues in the Middle East to create their own student television programs for Palestinian and Israeli Students.
Curated OER
Peace and Perspective through Poetry: The Dream of Peace in the Middle East
Students use poetry to understand conflict in the Middle East. In this poetry lesson plan, students read persona poems and use the poetry and a novel as mentor text to guide their own poem about peace in the Middle East.
Curated OER
Introduction to the Graphic Novel Maus
Students begin reading the graphic novel "Maus". Using the Internet, they discover fundamental differences between Judaism and Christianity. Using excerpts from the novel, they identify animal metaphors used for nationalities and ethnic...
Curated OER
Until Then I Had Only Read About These Things in Books
Students read assigned text about the World War II. In this Holocaust survival instructional activity, students identify the mass murders associated with Adolf Hitler's Nazi party and read stories of young men who narrowly avoided the...
Curated OER
Molly's Pilgrim
Third graders explore the multi-ethnic nature of America's citizens and examine the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. In this Molly's Pilgrim lesson, 3rd graders discuss the poem "The New Colossus," examine vocabulary words in the...
Curated OER
Anne Frank: One of Hundreds of Thousands
Students show on a map territorial changes to Germany as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, then identify European countries that came under German control before and during World War II.
Curated OER
Number the Stars The Holocaust
In this social studies learning exercise, students read a brief history of the Holocaust and its connection to Number the Stars. Students read about when Hitler came to power, concentration camps, and people who helped rescue Jews.
Curated OER
Core Book Guide for The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss
Students read and discuss The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss.