Holocaust Remembrance Day
Teachers could begin lessons about the Holocaust by having students read "The Diary of Anne Frank."
By Carrie Jackson
Throughout history there have been many atrocities committed against humanity. The Holocaust is one of these. It has changed the way the world examines and responds to genocides. The stories of those who survived describe the mistreatment and torture that Jews and many others endured during this time. "The Diary of Anne Frank" is a way to introduce this topic in a manner that will make it more understandable for students. As a teenager living in Holland during the Nazi occupation, Anne Frank wrote about her experiences in a daily diary that exposes the systematic approach to exterminating six million Jews. "The Diary of Anne Frank" is a primary source that has been read by people all over the world, and can help students to understand the horrors of one of history’s most unforgettable periods.
Anne Frank was born in Germany in 1929. In 1933 her family moved to Amsterdam, the same year the Nazis came to power in Germany. Eventually, the Nazis moved into Holland. During the Nazi occupation, the family was able to hide for two years, but they were eventually captured and sent to concentration camps. Unfortunately, Anne Frank died in a concentration camp at the age of 15 in 1945. Anne Frank's diary was discovered by her father, who was the only survivor in their family. The diary was published, and translated into many languages as its popularity grew. The diary chronicles two years in Anne Frank's life, from 1942-1944. Her memory and her life story are remembered in the words of her diary.
"The Diary of Anne Frank" can be used as an interdisciplinary unit that combines history and English. You can start off with essential questions for the unit that include the following: Why was the discovery of Anne’s diary important to her father? Who encouraged Anne to write in the diary? What does "The Diary of Anne Frank" teach others about history? In this unit students are encouraged to keep a diary that reflects their change in thought from the beginning to the end of unit. Teachers can use excerpts of the novel or choose to read and learn about the Holocaust using Anne Frank as the primary source.
Holocaust and Anne Frank Lesson Plans:
The History of the Holocaust from a Personal Perspective
This lesson plan identities the causes and effects of the Holocaust during World War II. The lesson also includes an examination of artwork, essays, and other pieces of literature to help students identify the events and concepts of this time in history.
Anne Frank: One of Hundreds of Thousands
This lesson uses information from The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students read the Anne Frank's diary and make connections to history and the legacy of Anne Frank.
This lesson was based on curriculum planned with a world history textbook. The unit contains 14 activities that are about the Holocaust. The goal of these lessons is to familiarize students with the evolution of anti-Semitism, Nazism, and to develop empathy for Nazi victims.
Students investigate examples of hate crimes and their causes. They participate in a round-table discussion, and write an essay describing their personal views on the subject. Students are exposed to a variety of novels dealing with this issue including, "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Black Boy," "The Summer of My German Soldier," and "The Diary of Anne Frank."
Students learn about the Nazis through the film "The War" by Ken Burns. In the unit they reflect on how both governments and individuals responded to the Holocaust. They reflect on responsibility and remembrance of this part of history.
