Viewing the Holocaust Through Different Lenses

Step 1: Research information about your chosen character role, a Nazi soldier or Jew. The following links will provide you with information regarding these two roles as well as background information about the Holocaust in general.

Nazis:

• http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.html#nazi
• http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/posters1.htm
  
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007677
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007679
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007695
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007704

Jews:

• http://www.jewfaq.org/beliefs.htm
  
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007689
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007691
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/media_oi.php?ModuleId=10007691&MediaId=1143
• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007697

Step 2: Print and fill out a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Nazis and Jews. This will help you organize and pinpoint important information. The first link provides you with a definition of Venn Diagrams while the second link is an actual Venn Diagram for you to print and use.

• http://www.education.com/definition/venn-diagram/
• http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/venn.pdf

Step 3: Prepare a 4 to 6 minute oral presentation to present to your peers. Both the written and oral portion of your speech will be graded. The speech will be in the point-of-view of the role you have chosen. Include in your speech important information and facts about your character, particularly background, influences, ideas, beliefs, etc. Along with your speech, prepare a short worksheet of five questions for your peers to answer during your presentation. The five questions must be relevant facts pertaining to either a Nazi or Jew. Then, design a creative and neat poster to illustrate the main ideas of your speech as you present it. This provides your peers with a visual aide to refer to.

The following link is a fantastic resource to help you brainstorm creative ideas and carry out those ideas to make a poster for your speech. Keep the poster creative, simple, and neat, but not too distracting.

• https://www.artskills.com/just-for-students.html

Step 5: Present your speech to your classmates (pass out your worksheet before beginning your presentation).

Step 6: Write a one page reflection journal entry, summarizing your response and feelings towards what you learned about your character role. Did you agree or disagree with (Jew/Nazi) ideals and influences on the Holocaust? Is there anything you are unsure of? Also, include any interesting facts you discovered while researching this topic and any relation you observed regarding your own personal or familial experiences. Use the links to view information on and excerpts from the Jewish victim Anne Frank's diary as motivation and/or reference material.

• http://www.annefrank.org/
  
• http://www.annefrank.com/who-is-anne-frank/diary-excerpts/

Remember:

• For your speech, you will pretend as if you are a Nazi or Jew speaking, depending on what role you chose.
• Your assignments will be graded more on content than writing mechanics; make sure and provide ample, relevant, information and facts in your work.
• Be honest in your journal assignment; your voice needs to come through your writing so the audience can clearly understand your perspective, what you learned through this quest, and how you feel about the Holocaust.

Extra Online Resources:

• http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724
• http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007043
• http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/holocaust/index.asp?WT.mc_id=200961&WT.cg_n=g.en
• http://www.english-online.at/history/holocaust/holocaust-mass-murder-of-jews-in-world-war-2.htm
• http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005059