The Holocaust

Introduction

A WebQuest created for 8th-grade Social Studies

By: Billie McCarron

August 14, 2015

Introduction: Remembering the Holocaust

The Holocaust happened during a time when Adolph Hitler came into power in Germany. At a time when millions were unemployed, Hitler promised Germans a new and better life, but for those of Jewish decent, life was anything but promising. Millions of Jews lost their lives based on their cultural and  religious beliefs.Through your own discovery you will learn why, even decades later, we remember the Holocaust.

Task

 ... Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

Your task is to:

  • Travel back in time to World War II and research those who were responsible for carrying out Hitler's plan
  • Create a map of the countries controlled by Hitler
  • Choose a biography from the library media center that focuses on the Holocaust
  • Create a newspaper with various articles that relate to the Holocaust 

           *Include photos and accounts from survivors.

 

Process

Free Newspaper Clip Art

Working in groups of four you will:

  1. Decide on a group leader who will act as editor.
  2. Choose a photographer who will be in charge of locating appropriate photos.
  3. Choose a human interest writer who will summarize a survivor's story.
  4. Choose a political writer who will be in charge of the information on Hitler's policies.

Requirements for you newspaper:

Create an appropriate title

Credit the people involved in your newspaper

Research propaganda photos that are authentic to the time period and include in your newspaper.

Include at least five resources

Once you have assembled all of your information you can use a newspaper template offered by Google or readwritethink.org. Remember to be creative and have fun.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Rubric for grading your newspaper

Scoring Criteria

 

 

4

3

2

1

Content/

Accuracy

All facts in the newspaper are correct.

99-90% of the facts are correct.

89-80% of the facts are correct.

Less than 80% of the facts are correct.

Writing/

Organization

Each article is clearly defined: a beginning, middle, and end.

90% of the articles are clearly defined: a beginning, middle, and end.

80% of the articles are clearly defined: a beginning, middle, and end.

Less than 80% of the articles are clearly defined: a beginning, middle, and end.

Mechanics (Writing)

Displays comprehension and displays proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Displays comprehension and few errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling (few errors).

Displays comprehension of spelling and grammar, but contains errors that may confuse the reader.

Fails to show comprehension of spelling, grammar. Includes many errors.

Visual

Provide a good mix of pictures that match the story.

Provides a good mix of pictures but some distract from the text.

Provides good pictures but not enough to support the text.

Pictures appear random.

Critical Thinking

Uses information from credible sources to back up stories.

Uses related information but fails  to develop an analysis.

Uses related information but neglects to make a connection needed.

Uses information that lacks credibility.

 

Conclusion

Conclusion:

Now that your newspaper has been completed it is time to reflect on what knowledge you have gained from completing this project. Next week you will be reading A Diary of Anne Frank (1956), a memoir of a young girl during Hitler's reign, in your Language Arts class. Having already completed the assignment on the Holocaust, you will be able to look back on what you learned about Hitler, his death squads, and the atrocities that those of Jewish decent suffered and compare Anne Frank's story to those you researched.

 

.........Anne Frank

For further information visit the following websites:

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=387259

http://www.master-of-education.org/10-disturbing-pieces-of-nazi-education-propaganda/

http://www.projetaladin.org/holocaust/en/they-dare-to-speak.html

http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007671

http://history1900s.about.com/od/holocaust/tp/holocaustpictures.htm

Credits

Credits

I would like to thank all of those who generously contributed their knowledge to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and to those survivors who painfully retold their story so that we might never forget.

Author Biography:

Billie McCarron

I am a currently a library technician working in the Poway Unified School District while working on my Masters in Education.

Permissions:

Since we all benefit from sharing information, permission is granted to use any or all of this WebQuest for educational purposes as long as credit is given where needed.

I wish to thank all of those knowledgeable people who have so generously contributed to the United States Holocaust Museum and a special thanks to those survivors who have painstakingly shared his/her story so that we will always remember.  

Teacher Page

By: Billie McCarron

Students will be investigating and reporting on various aspects of the Holocaust. They will view photographs that include graphic depiction of the suffering of the Jews, read first-hand accounts from those who survived, and learn of the atrocities that happened during World War II under Adolf Hitler and his Generals. 

This lesson was planned in conjunction with the 8th-grade Language Arts teachers whose classes will be reading a book about Anne Frank, a Holocaust survivor. By completing the Social Studies lesson described in this WebQuest, students will be able to have the background knowledge necessary to explore a World War II and the Holocaust.

Anne frank diary