Lesson Suggestions

Guidelines

Please review the following teaching Guidelines before using the Inquiry Lessons.
See Nebraska Stories of Humanity Pedagogy for English Language Arts and Social Studies Standards.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Echoes and Reflections

Library of Congress Teachers' Program

This project received two grants from Teaching with Primary Sources Midwest Region, funded by the Library of Congress.
TPS Consortium Member opportunities bring partnerships and support to educators.

Inquiry Lessons

The following lessons intend to engage students in making real-world connections through exploration and inquiry using the website content. Seasoned Nebraska educators who have taught Holocaust and Genocide studies based these lessons on the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards (2013), including the C3 Teachers  Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

Inquiry #1: What Role Did Letters Play in World War II?

Grade Level: High School or Middle School

Content Area: English Language Arts or Social Studies

Class time: Three or four 50-minute class periods

This inquiry format allows for a broad experience in understanding correspondence during the war.

Inquiry #2: Creating Memory Through Archival Work

Grade Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts or Social Studies, Holocaust Unit

Class time: Three to five 50-minute class periods*

*Particularly when including “Summative Performance Tasks” & “Taking Informed Action” activities.

Inquiry #3: U.S. Refugee Regulations

Grade Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts or Social Studies, Holocaust Unit

Class time: Three or four 50-minute class periods*

*Particularly when including “Summative Performance Tasks” & “Taking Informed Action” activities.

Inquiry #4: Constructing Narratives from Historical Artifacts

Grade Level: High School or Middle School

Content Area: English Language Arts or Social Studies

Class time: Three or four 50-minute class periods

This inquiry delves into how artifacts can lead to a better understanding of a person’s personal narrative.

Inquiry #5: Healing After Genocide

Grade Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts or Social Studies

Class time: Up to a week to complete all teaching components

This inquiry focuses on the 2014 Yazidi Genocide, considering how individuals heal with the assistance of cultural artifacts and shared memories.

Title	Description	Grade Levels	Content Areas	Class time	Note
Inquiry #1: What Role Did Letters Play in WWII?	This inquiry format allows for a broad experience in understanding correspondence during the war.	High School Middle School	English Language Arts Social Studies	Three or four 50-minute class periods
Inquiry #2: Creating Memory Through Archival Work	This inquiry teaches students about the Holocaust and how historical memory is constructed, focusing on survivor stories.	High School	English Language Arts Social Studies Holocaust Unit	Three to five 50 minute class periods	Particularly when including "Summative Performance Tasks" & "Taking Informed Action" activities
Inquiry #3: U.S. Refugee Regulations	This inquiry leads students through an investigation of U.S. policies regarding the entrance of European Jewish refugees into the country during the 1930s and 1940s.	High School	English Language Arts Social Studies Holocaust Unit	Three or four 50-minute class periods	*Particularly when including “Summative Performance Tasks” & “Taking Informed Action” activities
Inquiry #4: Constructing Narratives from Historical Artifacts	This inquiry delves into how artifacts can lead to a better understanding of a person’s personal narrative.	High School Middle School	English Language Arts Social Studies	Three or four 50-minute class periods
Inquiry #5: Healing After Genocide	This inquiry focuses on the 2014 Yazidi Genocide, considering how individuals heal with the assistance of cultural artifacts and shared memories.	High School	English Language Arts Social Studies	Up to a week to complete all teaching components

Other Lessons

Lessons from Nebraska State Historical Society and Blixt Arts Lab

Developed by the educational teams at Nebraska State Historical Society and BLIXT, these one-period classroom lessons provide an introduction to archival materials and engage students in the analysis of a letter from the Nebraska Stories of Humanity collection.