Teaching about the Holocaust often involves walking a fine line between respecting the seriousness of the subject and capturing your students’ attention. However, an engaging Holocaust education curriculum doesn’t have to incorporate costumes, reenactments or dioramas. Here are three strategies that can help you better teach the Holocaust in your classroom.
Study Testimonials and Literature
The Holocaust was of the worst atrocities in recent memory, and the stories of its survivors and victims stand on their own. Powerful testimonials and true stories told through literature and film keep your students interested while teaching them powerful lessons about history and humanity.
Create Art, Poetry and Fiction
Although superficial projects like crafts and plays can come across as disrespectful, you can still incorporate the arts into your Holocaust education curriculum. Your students may experience powerful emotions while learning about the Holocaust, so encourage them to express their feelings through visual art, poetry or fiction.
Engage in Group Discussions
Because the Holocaust is such a heavy subject, discussing lessons in groups can help students mentally process the material. You can have a discussion with the entire class, or break students up into small groups for more intimate talks with fewer disruptions.
Are you interested in free resources and an interactive tool to help teach your students about the Holocaust? ZHC is a program developed by a Holocaust survivor and offers a rare firsthand perspective of this important time in history. Learn more at URL
