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"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana

The Holocaust is one of the most important subjects to remember and teach. The Holocaust is a complex subject. Many students may have questions about this time period, such as:

"How did it happen?"
"Did Jews resist?"
"What was life like in the concentration camps?"
"Can it happen again?"

This unit study for middle school students comes with over 80 pages of comprehension, discussion, and critical thinking questions. These questions are designed to get students thinking critically about the Holocaust. It covers four topics: how Hitler came to power, life in the concentration camps, Jewish resistance, and the righteous among the nations.

There is a lesson plan and extended resources if there is a certain subject that is interesting.

Weeks 1-2: An Introduction to the holocaust

How did Adolf Hitler rise to power in Nazi Germany? Learn how Hitler used the Hitler Youth to gain power and how some courageous students defied Hitler.

Weeks 3-4: Life in the Camps

Jack Gruener was only 12 years old when the Nazis invaded Poland. Over the next few years, he survived ten different concentration camps and two death marches. He has an incredible story filled with resilience and humanity.

Weeks 5-7: Jewish Resistance

There are countless stories of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust that often go unnoticed and unmentioned in history textbooks. Learn about the many acts of Jewish resistance through stories of men and women of all ages who showed tremendous courage and sacrifice.

Week 8: Righteous Among the nations

Yad VaShem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, honors gentiles who rescued Jews during the Holocaust as Righteous Among the Nations. There are over 26,000 gentiles who have received this honor. Explore the story of one, Irena Sendler. Irena was a Polish Catholic social worker who rescued over 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto.

Required Resources:

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust by Doreen Rappaport

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)

Tell Them We Remember: An 8 Week Holocaust Unit Study

Grades: 6-8

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