Temple Emunah's Kitah Zayin (7th Grade) spends the first half of the year learning the history of the Holocaust. I found myself asking if technology could be used in the teaching of the Holocaust, and if so, in what capacity? It was after thinking about this question that I came up with a resounding yes.
I remember being in 8th grade and our Holocaust teacher would enter the classroom every evening with a thick stack of xeroxed packets. We would spend each class session popcorn reading the text. Completely non-engaging, but then again, how else could we have learned it? Technology in the classroom can help us to transform the way that we teach the Holocaust, as well as the way that students process and reflect on the information. Below are the five big benefits that I see from technology in Holocaust education.
Increased Use of Outside Resources
Self Expression & Outlet of Reflection
Peer Collaboration and Support
Create Connections & "Real" Moments to Engage
Vehicle of Remembrance
I created the following project that will be implemented next Fall in the 7th grade Holocaust curriculum. The assignment will be given towards the beginning of the semester and will be ongoing as we progress through the material. I will give them opportunities throughout the semester to work on the project. The work that they do on the project will coincide with what we are covering in class. At the end of the semester they will have time to put the finishing touches on their projects and present to the class.
Virtual Yizkor Bikher
“For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” - Elie Weisel
Overview:
Yizkor Bikher are memorial books that were written in Hebrew and Yiddish by survivors after the Shoah to serve as a testament to their destroyed communities. Each book focused on a Jewish community’s history before, during, and after World War II. Details included what life was like in the ghettos and camps, resistance activities, acts of rescue, the destruction of their community, and accounts of survival. Many books also included personal diaries, poems, and other documents written by Jews during the Holocaust.
Assignment:
In small groups (2-3 individuals) you will create a virtual Yizkor Bikher, a memorial book, for a Jewish community that was destroyed in the Shoah. Your virtual Yizkor Bikher will be created on your iPad with the app Book Creator. Other apps may also be used. The books will be shared at the Synagogue's Yom haShoah Ceremony. Your book must do all of the following:
Your book must serve as tool for remembrance. This means honoring the lives that were lost in the community by creating a thoughtful and sincere project. Please make sure to include a section with a meditation or prayer to remember the lives that were lost.
Your book must describe the Jewish life of your community before World War II.
Your book must describe the Jewish life of your community in the ghetto or camps.
Your book must describe an act of resistance in your community.
Your book must describe an act of rescue in your community, either by a righteous gentile or Jewish.
Your book must include audio. (Either your voice, or music)
Your book must include the video or story of a survivor from your community.
Your book must include pictures from your community.
Your book must include a separate reflections by each group member.
Resources:
www.holocaustexplained.org
www.ushmm.org
www.facinghistory.org
Printed material given by teacher
