The Holocaust

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW
Washington, D.C. 20024-2150
(202) 488-0400

Instructional Unit:
The Holocaust (a 90 minute tour of The Permanent Exhibition at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum).

Curriculum Unit:
Grade 9
Social Studies

Objectives:
1. Groups of students will correctly answer questions detailing Hitler's chronological actions taken against the Jews and other victims of the Nazis.
2. Students will write journal entries reflecting on the recollections of survivors of the Holocaust.

Pre-Visit Activities:
Visit the Holocaust Museum and tour the facility.
While at the museum, stop by the Educator's Resource Center and obtain a Group Visit Information Packet or call and ask for one to be mailed to you.
Obtain Fairfax County's policy 3810.4 regarding field trips and begin making the necessary arrangements with the principal. Fill out the Group Reservation Request Form and submit it to the Museum's scheduling office.
Provide students with some basic background which will include answers to the following questions: What was the Holocaust? Who were the Nazis? Why did they want to kill innocent people? How did the Nazis carry out there plan? How did the world respond to the Holocaust?

On-Site Activities:
After a brief orientation by a museum staff member, students will begin a ninety minute tour of the exhibition. Prior to the beginning the teacher will have divided the class into small groups.
Each group will be given a worksheet, "Questions For Students Visiting the Permanent Exhibition", provided by the museum. Each group will have a set of questions on the worksheet to which they are to find the answers.
By using keywords in the questions, the group will locate exhibit titles on the floor (1-4) which they have been assigned. An example would be: Can you describe in detail what happened during the BOYCOTT of Jewish businesses in 1933? Another question is: Can you describe in detail what happened during the "NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS" in 1938?
The group will meet at a prearranged time at the last exhibit. Foe those who finish early or desire extra credit, the last exhibit, Filmed Recollection of Survivors, provides moving experiences which students may reflect on and write journal entries describing their feelings about the Holocaust. Artistic creations will also be encouraged by those wishing to express their feelings.

Follow-Up Activities:
Each group will present their worksheet answers to the entire class for discussion as we continue studying World War ll.
Volunteers may read or present their extra credit work.

Appendices: none

Bibliography: none
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