Author - Luz Serrano
Category - Lesson Plans, History, Wars, World War Two, The Holocaust
Lesson Plan Duration - 45 minute(s)
Grade Level - 9-12

Lesson Plan Description

Students will be assigned to groups. In their groups students will read the personal accounts of Holocaust survivors and make note of the things they consider to be most important regarding life in concentration camps. After a short group discussion, groups will present their findings to the class.

Primary Learning Objective(s):

Based on the reading of personal accounts from Holocaust survivors, students will be able to explain what life was like in concentration camps with at least 90% accuracy.

Additional Learning Objective(s):

I am interested in seeing the way students interpret primary sources. I want my students to learn history not only from a textbook and myself and other teachers, but also from primary source documents.

Procedures/Activities:

  • (2 minutes) Bell ringer
    1. Students will be asked to write what they know about concentration camps.
  • (3 minutes) Comments
    1. Comments from students on their knowledge regarding concentration camps will be taken.
  • (3 minutes) Form groups
    1. Students will be instructed on what the following activity consists of and will be assigned to groups.
  • (10 minutes) Group work
    1. In their groups, students will read the personal account of a Holocaust survivor and will focus on what life was like in a concentration camp.
    2. Once students have read, they are to make a list of the things the consider to be the most important regarding life in a concentration camp.
  • (20 minutes) Presentations
    1. Groups will have approximately 3-4 minutes to present their findings to the rest of the class, and will be timed.
    2. After presenting, each group will have about 3 minutes to answer questions from the class.
  • (5 minutes) Final questions
    1. I will respond to any lingering questions students have.
  • (2 minutes) Closure
    1. Students will be asked to write their opinion regarding the importance of personal accounts in helping people learn about history.

    • Materials/Equipment:

    Voices from the Holocaust. Edited by Sylvia Rothchild. New York: New American Library.

      • Primary source documents were taken from this textbook.

    Bell ringer attachment

    PowerPoint attachment

    Assessment Guidelines:

    I will evaluate student knowledge on concentration camps based on their group presentations about life in concentration camps during World War II.