Teacher to Teacher Resources
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Relationship to the Michigan Curriculum Framework
Holocaust Notes for Teachers
Introduction:
These Internet Activities were designed for use with a novel about the Holocaust. You may use these activities with several novels or short stories. A list of books with short summaries can be accessed by clicking on "Book Recommendations" in the left column. The concept behind these activities was to have students learn more about the Holocaust using primary and secondary resources.
Since most school media centers don't have enough materials on the Holocaust for an entire class, the Internet offered an ideal solution. Also, the use of these resources gives the student practice in reading for information and reading a variety of sources. It enhances their understanding of the novel by providing them with background information that closely relates to the novel.
The activities were created to be used in one class period. Additional web sites are listed at the end of each activity to allow students the opportunity to independently explore web sites that have been previewed by the instructor. You may wish to preview these sites to determine if they are appropriate for your lesson and your students. You may wish to review Guidelines for Teaching about the Holocaust. It was created for teachers. The guidelines include: rationale, methodological considerations, and incorporating the Holocaust into existing courses. During the creation of these activities, ideas for a variety of activities or questions were generated. However, I could not use them all due to time constraints. They are included for reference and future use.
Objectives and Notes and Additional Activities
Activity 1:Objective: Students will use the photographs to create an outline of a short story.
Additional questions:
1. What do you think is the most original title for the photographs? What does it mean to you? Which title don't you understand?
2. Can you arrange the photographs in order to create a story? List the order and write a sentence next to each photograph.
3. If you could show a friend only one of the photographs which one would you choose and why?
Activity Two:
Objectives:
1. Students will compare and contrast story elements in Memories of my Childhood in the Holocaust by Judith Jagermann with the novel they are reading.
2. Students will make connections between choices in their lives and the choices made by the characters in the story and novel.(Activities Two and Four may be done off-line. You may print the writings and use them in your classroom.)
Memories of my Childhood in the Holocaust by Judith Jagermann
Additional questions and tasks:
1. Assign each student a chapter to read (1-23). They should be prepared to share their chapter with their classmates.2. Put yourself in Judith's place and write a short story telling what a day in the concentration camp might be like.
Activity Three:
Objectives:
1. Students will show their understanding of the primary source documents through their writing assignments.
2. Students will create historical fiction articles based on the photographs from other materials on the Holocaust they have studied.
3. Students will make connections between choices in their lives and the choices made by the characters in the story and novel.
No additional questions or tasks.
Activity Four:
Objective: 1. Students will compare and contrast story elements in Memories of my Childhood in the Holocaust by Judith Jagermann with the novel they are reading.
(Activities Two and Four may be done off-line. You may print the writings and use them in your classroom.)
Read "The Ghettos". This is an excerpt from Abe's Story.
Abe's Story: Excerpts Synopsis, by Joey Korn
Question: What skills did people need to survive the horrible conditions of the ghetto?Question: Both Judith and Abe drew strength from their parents. Tell of a time when a parent, aunt, uncle, or teacher gave you the support you needed to get through the event.
Activity Five:
Objectives:
1. Students will make connections between choices in their lives and the choices made by the characters in the story and novel.
2. Students will be aware of the number of children who perished and/or were imprisoned during the Holocaust.
Additional task:
Create a large timeline from 1920-1950. Have students place significant dates about the child they read about on the timeline.
Additional Activities beyond the five :
Shoes.....
The images of "shoes" can be used to bring to life for students the number of victims in the concentration camps. Have the students put their shoes into a pile. Compare these to the photographs below or others you can find in books.
See picture of shoes from Activity One, "Roll Call"
Some of the most popular resources are:
Facts and Trivia about U. S. Presidents
Facts and Trivia about the First Ladies
Resources and Lessons on the Holocaust
Resources on Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History.
Timeline of the History of Detroit and the
History of Michigan.
Photos of Lumbering in Michigan