Teaching in the English Classroom

Learn how to balance best practices in English instruction in middle and high school with historical accuracy and context, which is critical for understanding the Holocaust. Collection of 8 videos.

Teaching About the Holocaust in the English Classroom
Video length: 10 minutes
The Holocaust is taught in English classrooms with as much, if not more, frequency than history classrooms, presenting a unique opportunity for English educators to balance best practices in English instruction with historical accuracy and context, which is critical for understanding the Holocaust.
Context is Crucial: The Holocaust Literature Guide
Video length: 8 minutes
Using the Museum’s Holocaust literature guide to frame the books your class reads ensures your students have access to accurate historical content that contextualizes the story, empowering them to see the strengths and potential weaknesses of the books they read.
Strategies for Connecting Artifacts to the English Classroom
Video length: 13 minutes
This video demonstrates how to incorporate historical artifacts in the English classroom.
The Power of Personal Stories
Video length: 9 minutes
This video shows how to use the Museum’s collection of survivor testimonies and artifacts to incorporate personal stories into classrooms.
Diaries and Memoirs in Historical Context: Night and Anne Frank Timeline Extension Lessons
Video length: 11 minutes
This video presents two timeline extension lessons that place classic Holocaust literature in historical context: Elie Wiesel’s memoir, Night, and Anne Frank’s diary. The lessons promote understanding of how the Holocaust and World War II affected the lives of the Wiesel and Frank families.
Teaching About Nazi Propaganda
Video length: 11 minutes
Studying Nazi propaganda helps students understand the role of antisemitism in the Holocaust, and incorporating media literacy skills into this study encourages students to think critically about information encountered every day.
Using Films About the Holocaust in Your Classroom
Video length: 8 minutes
This video demonstrates how to choose films for the classroom and lessons that provide historical context for films and support students’ critical thinking.
Art, Memory, and Authentic Assessment
Video length: 11 minutes
Teachers often pair art assignments with Holocaust lessons because they can be unsure how to assess student learning. Learn frameworks for art assignments that ensure respect for the victims and survivors while avoiding unintentionally glorifying Nazi imagery.

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