1. An Introduction to Holocaust Literature
Grade 10 English

2. Big Questions What lessons can we learn from the Holocaust?
How can literature help us understand the human experience?
Take a few moments to brainstorm a list of:
lessons we might learn from the Holocaust.
any Holocaust literature you are familiar with.

3. What was the Holocaust?
holocaust (noun): Greek word meaning “sacrifice by fire”
Holocaust (proper noun): The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews [and other minorities] by the Nazi regime and its collaborators between 1933 and In total, approximately 11 million people were killed during the Holocaust.
In your exercise books, make a three-column chart. The first column should be labelled K, the second W, and the third L. In the first column, record a few key facts that you already KNOW about the Holocaust.

4. What does 11 million people look like?

5. Why study the Holocaust?
A study of the Holocaust helps us think about the use and abuse of power and the roles and responsibilities of individuals, organizations, and nations when confronted with civil rights violations and/or policies of genocide.
The Holocaust provides a context for exploring the dangers of remaining silent, apathetic, and indifferent in the face of others' oppression.
Using literature as a vehicle for studying the Holocaust helps us develop as readers, writers, and thinkers. Being an informed and active citizen in a global society requires advanced literacy skills.
What do you hope to learn from our study of the Holocaust? Take a moment to record your ideas in the second column of your KWL chart: what you wish to LEARN.

6. How can studying the Holocaust make an impact on today’s students?

7. Why should we remember? Quick Write:
Think about why we should remember the Holocaust.
Share your thoughts with your partner.
Write your best guess answer to the question (Why should we remember?). 

8. The Holocaust was NOT an accident in history...
It happened because individuals, organizations, and governments made choices that legalized discrimination and allowed prejudice, hatred, and, finally, mass murder to occur.

9. We must value our rights as citizens and take responsibility for our actions.
Understanding history fosters perspective-taking, critical thinking, and moral decision-making.
History is the result of choices made by countless individuals and groups. Even the smallest of those decisions can have enormous consequences for both good and evil.

10. What lessons can we learn about the Holocaust
What lessons can we learn about the Holocaust? How can literature help us understand the human condition?
By the end of this unit you will be able to tell others what lessons you have learned about the Holocaust. You will demonstrate your understanding of the lessons learned from the Holocaust and also your understanding of how we use literature as a record of the human experience. So, as we journey through the literature of the Holocaust keep thinking about how the writers present their messages and how you might choose to present yours.

11. During this unit we will use both nonfiction and fiction to help us answer the two big questions. Much of the literature will contain horrific and disturbing descriptions or visual images.
To avoid “re-victimizing” the victims and to be respectful of their memories, as well as the thoughts and feelings of our classmates, what behaviors should be expected during this literature study?
What qualities of the IB Learner Profile should be demonstrated during our discussions?
What are some things you can do if you have questions, concerns, or just need to talk about what you encounter in our literature study?