Students build foundational knowledge for studying the Holocaust by examining prior knowledge, defining key terms including Holocaust and genocide, analyzing multiple definitions, and exploring the value of primary and secondary sources. Through visual history testimonies from survivor Roman Kent and liberator Leon Bass, students reflect on memory, witnessing, antisemitism, racism, and the importance of studying genocide. Students compare Holocaust and genocide definitions, discuss common themes across genocides, and develop personal and collective rationales for studying the Holocaust and other instances of mass atrocity. The lesson emphasizes historical inquiry, testimony, source analysis, and civic reflection.
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The California Teachers Collaborative is a first-of-its-kind statewide network that unites California's educators with leading institutions for Holocaust and genocide education.
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Newsletter Signup
The California Teachers Collaborative is a first-of-its-kind statewide network that unites California's educators with leading institutions for Holocaust and genocide education.
Join us in building a future that's free from antisemitism and hate.
Sign up for our mailing list for early registration access to professional development opportunities offered through the member organizations of the Collaborative.
You will also receive our Educator Digest with teaching resources, opportunities for you and your students, and the latest news from the California Teachers Collaborative—straight to your inbox.