Teaching the Human Story of the Guatemalan Genocide

Organization: Twige Project: Teaching about the Genocides in Rwanda and Guatemala
Common Core Domain: English Language Arts, English Language Arts/Literacy, History-Social Science, Reading, Speaking and Listening, Writing
Duration: 30-60 Minutes
7 lessons 30-60 minutes each
HSS.10.10.1, 2, and 3 HSS.10.4.1,2, and 3 HSS.10.9.3, 8 HSS.11.9 HSS.11.9.1 HSS.PoAD.12.9.5, 8

This seven-lesson sequence examines the Guatemalan Genocide and civil war through an integrated study of historical context, structural inequality, lived experience, and post-conflict justice. Developed by the Twige Project following fieldwork in Guatemala in early 2025 in partnership with the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG), the curriculum is designed to address a case of genocide that is rarely taught in U.S. classrooms. It is anchored by two backgrounders—a general overview of the conflict and a more focused text on La Violencia—which introduce students to the broader history of state violence and the complexities of transitional justice.