Teaching About Genocide

The twentieth century witnessed unprecedented cruelty and violence: further evidence of human's capability for inhumanity to others. It is positively shocking how little students know about the Holocaust  these days; they know even less about the Armenian and Rwandan genocides. With each passing day, the world is losing its witnesses to the horrors of the Holocaust. In an age which continues to experience intolerance, prejudice and persecution, it is critical to expose students to the dangers of such behaviors.

One concrete way to help students conceptualize of the horrors of living in Nazi Germany is to bring in a suitcase. Inform them that they can pack only what will fit in the suitcase. Students will be forced to decide whether to bring practical items like clothes and linens, sentimental items like photographs and diaries or valuable items like jewelry and silverware. By giving students only ten minutes to decide, they will have some sense of the haste in which people had to make difficult decisions when they were forced to evacuate their homes.

An extraordinary film for students to watch is Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award winning documentary "The Last Days." The film follows five Hungarian Jews who survived the Holocaust back to Germany where they come face to face with their former neighbors, one-time homes and even their oppressors. Students will marvel at the remarkable courage of these individuals and their stories will resonate long after the final credits have rolled. This film is sure to generate incredible in-depth conversations among students.

Students should also be aware of the continued and pervasive nature of hate crimes both in America and abroad. A discussion of hate crimes provides an excellent opportunity to consider the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Students are often surprised to learn that hate groups are, in fact, protected by the First Amendment. The Anti-Defamation League has excellent online resources which provide up-to-date information about hate crimes as well as programs that local schools and communities can be part of to combat hate. Below are five more lesson plans which will enhance your students' understanding of genocide.

Genocide Lesson Plans:

The Rwanda Commemoration Project

This resource comes from American University’s Washington College of Law. Students learn about the Rwandan genocide through a series of activities. Students also become familiar with the 1948 Genocide Convention and its rulings. By examining the plight of the Tutsis in Rwanda, students can consider the different roles that people played in the genocide including that of the bystander. Students are introduced to the genocide in Darfur, and consider ways that they can make a difference.

Genocide, Torture and Human Rights: Where Are We Headed?

This lesson created by a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association introduces students to the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights. Students can consider a number of twentieth century genocides including the Holocaust, China, Rwanda, Armenia, the Ukraine and others. Students grapple with the question of whether torture is ever justified, and, if so, under what circumstances. This lesson is certain to lead to some complex and in-depth class discussions about ethics, persecution and discrimination. It will be important for the teacher to set ground rules by which everyone will abide prior to engaging in any conversation.

Armenian Genocide

This lesson has a wealth of exceptional resources that address genocides. Their lessons for studying the Armenian Genocide include opportunities for students to examine the role that identity played in this genocide, to analyze historical evidence, to explore American responses to the genocide and to examine the concept of justice in the wake of genocide.

Putting a Fact to the Numbers

This lesson is based on a 2004 article entitled “Fighting Hate, Across Cultures and Generations” which appeared in "The New York Times." Students have the opportunity to research various genocides throughout history which makes this lesson applicable to many different curricula. Students compile their work into a chapter for a textbook on the history of genocide. Students are required to use a variety of primary sources in their research and writing.

Never to Forget

Educators wishing to focus on the Holocaust will find a host of excellent materials in this unit. Students view films, read firsthand accounts of survivors, and learn about the different roles that people played during the Holocaust. Students examine maps which chronicle the Nazis’ swift movements throughout Europe in addition to analyzing artifacts and primary documents. Students complete their study of the Holocaust by learning about the Nuremberg trials and the precedents they set.