The Holocaust

Introduction

The Holocaust happened over 70 years ago, so what does it have to do with me? 

Many of you have  read  or are reading Night by Elie Wiesel. Through this literary work you have  a glimpse of the impact of the Holocaust on the lives of those involved.

Like many teengagers at the start of World War II, you are just living your daily life going to school, socializing with your friends, and planning for the future. For Jewish teens in the 1940's, the war was far away and they did not expect it to have any major effect on their lives. They were very wrong!

This web quest will ask you to explore the story of Elie Weisel's life, the history of the Holocaust,  and analyze why it is so important for our society to never forget the Holocaust and the people involved.

Entrance, or so-called "death gate", to Auschwitz II Birkenau, the extermination camp, in 2006

Task

In order to create a more personal connection with the Holocaust and its implications during our reading of Night by Elie Wiesel, your task will be to form group of 4 to 5 students.  Each group must research a topic of choice on the Holocaust and those topics will consist of:

  • story of Elie Weisel's life

 

  • the history of the Holocaust

 

  • why it is so important for our society to never forget the Holocaust and the people involved. 

 

  • Hitler's background

Each member of the group must be assigned a job.  The group must prepare an outline of the presentation and a one-page report.  Included also must be at least one visual such as pictures, video and or poster.  Your findings will be presented in multimedia or oral presentation.   

Process

Each group member will be provided with a specific job, therefore allowing each student to contribute to the assignment.  Each group must decide who will be responsible for group jobs. Such jobs might include;

  • reporter
  • computer researcher
  • artist 
  • leader   

Information that is found by each group member will be shared and used to complete the assignment. Time during class will be allowed in order to combine researched information.  Each group member must contribute to the group or voted out.  If for any reason a group member is voted out of a group he or she will receive an automatic 0 on the project. This is a group project and must be completed with the help of all members.   Good Luck!

Materials Sources for Information on the Holocaust:

"Night' by Elie Wiesel

http://www.adl.org/holocaust/                         Anti-Defamation League          website "Holocaust"                     

http://facinghistory.org/                                    Facing History and Ourselves - check under "Highlights"

http://jewishpartisans.org/students/index.php    Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation

http://museumoftolerance.com/mot/index.cfm   Museum of Tolerance website

http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/vhi/           University of Southern California Shoah Foundation

http://www.ushmm.org/                                   United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Evaluation

Evaluation

 

A

 

B

 

C

         

D        

Score

 

Grading Rubric 

 Presentation  is interesting, complete, and contains unique and/or unfamiliar information not previously well known or familliar to the general public. All presenters appear knowledgable and well prepared. All directions have been followed. Presentation is interesting and complete. All presenters appear knowledgeable and well prepared. Group employs tow or more means of presentation.  All directions have been followed Presentation is complete. All presenters appear knowledgeable and well prepared.  Group employs tow means of presentation.  All directions have been followed. Presentation is missing one direction component.  One or more presenters are not prepared.

Team

Member1 

 .  

 Team Member 2

 Team Member 3

 Team Member 4

 Team Member 5

 
Conclusion

Conclusion

In conclusion, this WebQuest project has provided the student with valuable, interesting, and reliable information about the tragic experiences of the Holocaust victims. I have also provided the students with some necessary websites for researching and gathering data that will help each group to success and achieve with this project. Information found and discussed should equip each student with a life long learning lesson. 

The English language memorial plate at Birkenau camp. The message is repeated in many languages.The English language memorial plate at Birkenau camp. The message is repeated in many languages.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_concentration_camp

Credits
Teacher Page

Teacher Introduction

Discussing the Holocaust can most often be very emotional for many. Therefore, I have designed this WebQuest to open the eyes of many and bring this topic out into the open. As a Special Education Teacher and as with any teacher it is important to provide the students with the greatest tools available. We must also realize that our students today need more than just one style of learning. This WebQuest is the perfect solution that allows students the ability to explore; safe, accurate, and important information as well as provides a valuable resource for teachers.