Holocaust WebQuest

In this webquest students assume the role of Ambassadors of Peace in the year 2041 (the centennial anniversary of the beginning of WWII). It is their job to help the people remember not only the historical events of the Holocaust, but also the basic moral issues of hatred and prejudice. This webquest will allow students of all levels of ability to produce a product on the topic of prejudice and hate.

A lesson plan for grade 8 Social Studies

By Beverly Almond

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Related topics

• Learn more about social studies.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• work in small groups to produce projects to share with the rest of the class.
• locate information on the Holocaust, hate and prejudice through Internet research.
• gain a better understanding of how prejudice and hate influence a society.
• select from the available options their choice of project format.
• gain an understanding of Holocaust and relate it to other struggles in history dealing with bigotry and hatred, and how it has affected society.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

5 days

Materials/resources

• Materials needed for a bulletin board
• Timeline software if available

Technology resources

• Computers with word processing and PowerPoint and the Internet
• Digital camera

Pre-activities

Students will need to know how to use the Internet, use word processing and PowerPoint software, and how to use a digital camera.

Activities

When you have chosen your 2 projects, please refer to the Evaluation Rubric (see web address below) to see what is expected of each project.

1. Questions: Using the resources provided in this WebQuest, answer the questions in the attacment completely. Use word processing software to type your answers. Be sure to use complete thoughts and correct grammar.
2. Timeline of Anne Frank’s life:

Using the resources provided in this WebQuest, create a timeline that gives the highlights of Anne’s life as described in her diary. You can use the traditional method of constructing the timeline or use the software, Timeliner, by Tom Snyder. Be sure to include the most important dates and pictures!

3. Dramatic Portrayal: Choose an actual survivor of the Holocaust (using the sites provided), and write a monologue (a one-person play) that focuses on one particular event that occurred during that person’s imprisonment. Be prepared to present this dramatic portrayal to the class without use of notes. One way toapproach this is to write as if the person is remembering a certain event and telling it to a friend.
4. Create a Photo Essay: Using PowerPoint software, gather photos from the sites provided to create your essay. Be sure to label these photos with information about what is in the photo. (Names, dates, etc.) Choose a particular theme or topic such as children, a particular frame of time, or place, etc. for your essay. Include a title page with your theme and your name and date produced.
5. Create a Bulletin Board Display: Be sure to check with your teacher to make sure there is space for you to display your work before you begin this project. After getting approval to proceed, gather photos, drawings, timelines or any other visual material that could be used to create your bulletin board. After gathering all that you will need, put your bulletin up where your teacher has instructed you to put it up. Remember to include a title!
6. Code of Conduct: After reading Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a Dream,” write a code of conduct for world peace. This code should include at least 10 articles for expected behavior between nations and people. When presenting you should be able to defend what you have written as being applicable to world peace.

Assessment

See rubric at http://schools.wcpss.net/WFRM/MediaCenter/Holocaust_Rubric.html

Supplemental information

Attachment:
Questions on the Holocaust: doc | rtf

Related websites

• The Holocaust from About.com
• Surviviors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation
• The History Place: Holocaust Timeline
• United States Holocaust Museum
• The Holocaust Page from Shamash: the Jewish Network
• Yad Vashem: The Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority
• Simon Wiesenthal Center
• Remember.org, a “cybrary of the Holocaust”
• “Learning About the Holocaust” (a ThinkQuest)
• “The Holocaust: A Tragic Legacy” (a ThinkQuest)
• “Zichronam l’Vracha: A Guide to the Holocaust” (a ThinkQuest)

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