Life Lessons – Bringing Holocaust History to Your Classroom

This new online course provides educators with directives in Holocaust history in conjunction with pedagogic tools applicable to the classroom.
Participants will gain excellent knowledge in the historical aspects of the Holocaust from a multi-disciplinary approach, through use of primary and secondary sources. In sync with Yad Vashem’s educational philosophy, the historical content will be explored through examining: testimonies, diaries, artwork, literature and photographs, and applying the knowledge to practical educational materials for classroom usage.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be confident in teaching the Holocaust in their classrooms to a variety of ages through a dynamic series of approaches.
This course will commence on June 23rd, 2008.
The course will be comprised of 8 Lessons, each taking two weeks to complete – therefore, the course will run for 16 weeks in total, concluding on October 13th, 2008.
The Primary focus of this course is to guide educators in using historical materials from the Holocaust in the classroom.

Lesson one: June 23rd
Yad Vashem’s Educational Philosophy.
The application of an educational framework in teaching about the Holocaust to elementary and secondary school students. This will include how to decipher appropriateness according to age as well as adapting texts to various levels.

Lesson two: July 7th
Nazi Germany and the Jews.
This lesson is an historical background to Nazism.
The materials explore Nazi Ideology with a focus on the antisemitic components.

Lesson three: July 21st
Ghettos.
This lesson is comprised of two sections:

1. Daily life in the Warsaw ghetto
   Using primary sources in the classroom, with a focus on photographs and diaries from the Warsaw ghetto.
2. “Between the Worlds”
   An educational unit using both primary and secondary sources. This lesson explores relationships between children and other ghetto inhabitants. The materials are explored within the context of classroom activities.

Lesson four: August 4th
Final Solution
This lesson provides an historical background of the Final Solution.
The materials explore the evolution of the Final Solution, from Operation Barbarossa to the Death Camps. Additionally, the case study of Stanislawow will be examined.

Lesson five: August 18th
Camp life.
This lesson is presented in 2 sections:

1. Historical background to Camp Life
2. Auschwitz Album – pedagogical usages.

Lesson six: September 1st
Churches, The Vatican and Pope Pius XII.
This lesson delves into the Christian world during the period of the Holocaust. The materials presented explore responses from both the Catholic and Protestant Churches as well as the Vatican. Additionally, the role of Pope Pius XII will be examined.

Lesson seven: September 15th
Righteous Among the Nations.
Case studies of individuals, as well as organizations/ institutions, who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. These case studies will then be adapted to classroom activities.

Lesson eight: September 29th
Return to Life
This final lesson takes a look at survivors returning to life after the Holocaust.
Through use of photographs and testimonies, the materials will present a series of educational directives to be applied in the classroom.