Holocaust Remembrance Day Lesson Plan

"The International Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27th commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and one of the most deadly of the Nazi death camps, on that day in 1945. Over one million people, mostly Jews, were killed in Auschwitz. Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. Eleven million human beings across political, social, national, and religious lines, were killed as victims of Nazi persecution. More than seventy-five years later, we reflect back on humanity’s worst impulses—Yet in choosing to commemorate the liberation of the camp alongside recalling the suffering that took place in it, the historical moment reminds us that we should persist toward hope and justice and that it is in our power to fight against such evil—and to win." Dr. Deb Donig, Assistant Professor of English Literature, Cal Poly

Teachers: Use the following curated multimedia content to enhance your students' learning about heroes during the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The sections are divided into stories and film about heroes who survived the Holocaust, those who risked their lives to help others, and stories told by family members. Discussion questions are included.

There is also a section of stories with an audio link so students can listen and read along. 

Link to Suggested Class Activities to use with Discussion Questions

Survivors of the Holocaust: Stories and Films Appropriate for Middle and High School Students

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important that these stories of the survivors of the Holocaust are remembered?

2. What character traits do these heroic survivors exemplify?   

In Class Activity

Divide students into partners and assign a film to watch or story to read. Students discuss how that hero survived the atrocities of Holocaust.

Then students create two circles, an inside circle facing an outside circle, with each student standing in front of their partner.

The inside circle shifts to the right and students share how their hero survived the Holocaust.

Every 2 minutes, students shift to the right until they reach their partner. 

If teaching virtually: Assign a film to watch or story to read to a pair of students. Have them create a Google Doc or other shared document, to share how their hero survived the Holocaust. Students each use a different color text to show what they contributed. 

Heroes who fought, resisted and helped others during the Holocaust: Stories Appropriate for Middle and High School Students

Discussion Questions

1. Why did these heroes put their own lives at risk to help those being persecuted during the Holocaust?

2. How did each of these individuals put themselves at risk to help others?

3. What character traits do these heroes exemplify?

4. What did you learn from these heroes that you can apply in your own life to stand up for your rights and the rights of others?   

In Class Activity: Think, Pair, Share

Group students in pairs or groups of three. Have each group read the same story about a hero who fought, resisted or helped others during the Holocaust.

Give students time to consider one of the above discussion questions. 

Then students share their thoughts with their partner or group.

Repeat with the remaining discussion questions.  

If teaching virtually, have students use breakout rooms if possible or a shared Google Doc to share their thoughts. (If using a shared document, it is recommended that students use different colored text in order to identify each student's contribution.) 

Stories about the Heroes of the Holocaust with Text and Audio so Students can Listen as They Read AlongGreat for ESL and ELL Students

 Students learn about the survivors and those who risked their lives to help others during the Holocaust. 

Teachers: Use the discussion questions and activities included in this lesson plan in the Survivor and Helper section with your students. 

The Righteous Conversations Project brings together teens and survivors of the Holocaust creating powerful messages of peace and tolerance in the community.

Stories Told by Family Members

There are many families who have been affected by the Holocaust. Students are encouraged to talk with members of their family and community about how the Holocaust affected them and members of their family.

Did you learn about someone who survived or helped others during the Holocaust? Consider writing their story or videoing an interview to submit to MY HERO.