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PREPARE 
RESOURCE OVERVIEW
EDUCATOR RESOURCE: TEACHING ABOUT GENOCIDE
EDUCATOR RESOURCE: TEACHING ABOUT GENOCIDE
As students study the Holocaust, they frequently—and understandably—struggle with understanding not only how the Holocaust was able to happen, but also why and how genocide continues to occur in the world, and what has been, and can be, done to prevent such atrocities from occurring.
This multipart resource is intended to help teachers support students’ understanding of genocide in the context of their Holocaust education.
Why is it valuable to teach about genocide in the context of learning about the Holocaust?
This multipart resource is intended to help teachers support students’ understanding of genocide in the context of their Holocaust education.
Why is it valuable to teach about genocide in the context of learning about the Holocaust?
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The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) provides a helpful rationale[1] that has informed the creation of this resource:
• The Holocaust is often considered to have given rise to our conceptualization of the term "genocide," which was coined during the Second World War, in large measure as a response to the crimes of the Nazis and their collaborators. Therefore the Holocaust can be an effective starting point and the foundation for studying genocide.
• Students can sharpen their understanding not only of similarities between events but also of key differences. In so doing, it may be an opportunity to better understand the particular historical significance of the Holocaust, and how study of the Holocaust may contribute to our understanding of other genocidal events.
• Students can identify common patterns and processes in the development of genocidal situations. Through the understanding of a genocidal process and by identifying stages and warning signs in this process, a contribution can hopefully be made to prevent future genocides.
• Students can appreciate the significance of the Holocaust in the development of international law, establishment of tribunals, and attempts by the international community to respond to genocide in the modern world.
• Students can gain awareness of the potential danger for other genocides and crimes against humanity that existed prior to the Holocaust and continue to the present day. This may strengthen an awareness of their own roles and responsibilities in the global community.
[1] "Education Working Group Paper on the Holocaust and Other Genocides" (2010)
• The Holocaust is often considered to have given rise to our conceptualization of the term "genocide," which was coined during the Second World War, in large measure as a response to the crimes of the Nazis and their collaborators. Therefore the Holocaust can be an effective starting point and the foundation for studying genocide.
• Students can sharpen their understanding not only of similarities between events but also of key differences. In so doing, it may be an opportunity to better understand the particular historical significance of the Holocaust, and how study of the Holocaust may contribute to our understanding of other genocidal events.
• Students can identify common patterns and processes in the development of genocidal situations. Through the understanding of a genocidal process and by identifying stages and warning signs in this process, a contribution can hopefully be made to prevent future genocides.
• Students can appreciate the significance of the Holocaust in the development of international law, establishment of tribunals, and attempts by the international community to respond to genocide in the modern world.
• Students can gain awareness of the potential danger for other genocides and crimes against humanity that existed prior to the Holocaust and continue to the present day. This may strengthen an awareness of their own roles and responsibilities in the global community.
[1] "Education Working Group Paper on the Holocaust and Other Genocides" (2010)
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HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE
These materials are intended to give teachers a framework to teach about genocide in the context of their Holocaust education preparation and teaching. Resources include:Additional Considerations
• A central tenant of the Echoes & Reflections methodology is the use of primary source materials, which we have provided in the form of visual history testimonies. Learn more about the Echoes & Reflections pedagogy here.
GLOSSARY OF ESSENTIAL TERMS
This resource includes definitions of essential terms to help frame an introduction to genocide, providing students with language to discuss complex issues associated with genocide. Many of these terms are also found in the Audio Glossary.
EXAMINING THE STAGES OF GENOCIDE
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS: ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
ADVANCED LEARNING PROGRAMS
ADVANCED LEARNING PROGRAMS
Echoes & Reflections offers two outstanding international advanced learning programs for educators who are seeking to deepen their learning and understanding of the Holocaust and strengthen their knowledge and skills to effectively teach this history to their students. These programs are open to U.S. middle and high school teachers who are actively teaching with Echoes & Reflections in their classrooms.
ECHOES & REFLECTIONS ADVANCED LEARNING SEMINAR AT YAD VASHEM, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
ECHOES & REFLECTIONS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY THROUGH POLAND WITH YAD VASHEM
EDUCATOR RESOURCE: VIDEO TOOLBOX
VIDEO TOOLBOX
Teaching about the Holocaust can be challenging. The following videos are helpful guides and refreshers to prepare for classroom instruction. Each video is roughly 15-minutes long and provides historical context, methodological and pedagogical suggestions, and questions for discussion.
ANTISEMITISM
Antisemitism existed long before Hitler’s rise to power: Jews had been victims of widespread hatred and suspicion for centuries before. This video explains the historical context of racial antisemitic ideology and provides a framework to enable you to teach this subject.
ANTISEMITISM
Antisemitism existed long before Hitler’s rise to power: Jews had been victims of widespread hatred and suspicion for centuries before. This video explains the historical context of racial antisemitic ideology and provides a framework to enable you to teach this subject.
THE GHETTOS
This video examines the ghettos established throughout Nazi Europe, specifically the Lodz ghetto. It provides primary sources to highlight individual experiences during this period, and helps you reinforce the Jews' struggle to maintain their human dignity despite overcrowding, starvation, disease, and grief.
THE GHETTOS
This video examines the ghettos established throughout Nazi Europe, specifically the Lodz ghetto. It provides primary sources to highlight individual experiences during this period, and helps you reinforce the Jews' struggle to maintain their human dignity despite overcrowding, starvation, disease, and grief.
THE "FINAL SOLUTION"
This video examines the complexities of teaching about the “Final Solution,” the systematic mass murder of six million European Jews. The video focuses on survivors’ stories to help you present the subject through a human lens instead of relying on dry statistics, and promotes empathy to enable you to explore the struggle for life in the shadow of death.
THE "FINAL SOLUTION"
This video examines the complexities of teaching about the “Final Solution,” the systematic mass murder of six million European Jews. The video focuses on survivors’ stories to help you present the subject through a human lens instead of relying on dry statistics, and promotes empathy to enable you to explore the struggle for life in the shadow of death.
RESISTANCE
A common question when studying about the Holocaust is, “Why didn’t the Jews resist?” But they did. This video introduces different forms and types of Jewish resistance, spiritual and armed, to enable you to present them to students with substance and clarity.
RESISTANCE
A common question when studying about the Holocaust is, “Why didn’t the Jews resist?” But they did. This video introduces different forms and types of Jewish resistance, spiritual and armed, to enable you to present them to students with substance and clarity.
Liberators and Survivors: The First Moments
The liberation of concentration camps by the US Army at the end of WWII is an excellent entry point for US history teachers into the study of the Holocaust. This video interweaves liberators’ and Jewish survivors’ testimonies and other primary sources, helping you present their personal stories to your students. Great care has been taken not to include graphic visuals.
Liberators and Survivors: The First Moments
The liberation of concentration camps by the US Army at the end of WWII is an excellent entry point for US history teachers into the study of the Holocaust. This video interweaves liberators’ and Jewish survivors’ testimonies and other primary sources, helping you present their personal stories to your students. Great care has been taken not to include graphic visuals.
TEACHING THE HOLOCAUST IN TODAY'S WORLD
This video introduces effective approaches to help guide you in making instructional decisions, in order to increase students’ knowledge of the history of the Holocaust, and their understanding of its ongoing relevance to their lives and current society.
TEACHING THE HOLOCAUST IN TODAY'S WORLD
This video introduces effective approaches to help guide you in making instructional decisions, in order to increase students’ knowledge of the history of the Holocaust, and their understanding of its ongoing relevance to their lives and current society.
STUDENTS' TOUGHEST QUESTIONS
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