This Teacher Resource page is designed to provide teachers with a variety of materials that can enhance and supplement your Holocaust and genocide lesson plans. In keeping with our educational philosophy of “Safely Explore, Prepare and Conclude” (SPEC), our Teacher Advisory Groups have worked with us to create Companion Guides—classroom materials using primary sources (poetry, photos, and art) to provide cultural context. Students can think critically and compassionately about the events of the Holocaust and begin to see the victims as people, not just numbers.
We have also created Family Involvement Materials for teachers to modify and share with their students’ families. Parents are often worried that studying an era as dark as the Holocaust will traumatize their children. By sending a letter home before beginning a Holocaust or genocide unit, teachers can allay parental fears and explain what will be taught, and how parents can talk about the Holocaust with their children. For ELA teachers, we also provide a sample letter that explains the value of studying the Holocaust through literature. Finally, there is an FAQ sheet to answer questions about the Holocaust in the ELA classroom.
Our incredible Teacher Advisory Groups created these materials. If you would like to submit classroom materials for publication on our website, please submit your proposal using this form. We look forward to reviewing your ideas!
