About the Activity
This year, 2005, marks the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi camps. This important year offers an opportunity to focus on the anguish of liberation and the return to life after the Holocaust. In an effort to provide educators with relevant resources prior to Holocaust Remembrance Day, we present a classroom activity that explores different aspects of liberation through a close reading and discussion of selected testimonies.

This classroom activity aims to:
1. Present the experience of liberation in three stages: liberation of the Nazi camps, the Displaced Persons' camps, and emigration from Europe.
2. Describe the experiences of Holocaust survivors during this period.
3. Encourage students to consider both the immediate and long-lasting effects of the Holocaust on its survivors.

The classroom activity is aimed for students in Grades 7-9.

This classroom activity is divided into three parts:
Part I: Liberation of the Nazi Camps
Part II: The Displaced Persons' Camps
Part III: Emigration from Europe

You can use the different parts of the classroom activity in different lessons if you choose.

At any point, you can print the testimonies for this activity by clicking on "Testimonies," which appears to the left.

You can find a ceremony that commemorates liberation by clicking on "Related Ceremony," which appears to the left. We recommend using the ceremony as a conclusion to the classroom activity. The ceremony can, however, be used without the classroom activity.
Return to the Classroom Activity