Academic Programs –> U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Pre-trip lesson: Students learn about the events that led up to World War II and the Holocaust while examining issues of prejudice and oppression. By reading the journal entries of a fictional young Jewish boy, Daniel, students gain understanding of how individuals and families were treated during this time. Students learn the motivations, tactics, and justifications used by the perpetrators as well as the resisters of the Holocaust. They also build map skills as they examine which countries participated in World War II.   Trip: At the Museum, students explore “Daniel’s Story,” an interactive exhibit that tells the story of the Holocaust from the perspective of a child growing up in Nazi Germany. They also view select portions of the permanent collection and the wall of commemorative tiles created by young students to celebrate the Museum’s opening. Throughout the visit, students grapple with the ways discrimination, prejudice, and indifference to the oppression of others are relevant in their own lives.   Post-trip lesson: Drawing on what they saw and learned about the Holocaust, each student designs a tile for a commemorative tile wall in their own classroom. Students also test their knowledge of World War II-era history as they compete in a collaborative review game and take written assessments. Academic Standards: Reading (6.LT-T.3); Social Studies (6.3.9)

To see select archived trips to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, click on the links below.