A major component of the 8th social studies curriculum is learning about World War II and the Holocaust. Focusing on the 6 million who perished in the Holocaust is often daunting and overwhelming, so our focus has been to connect with the individuals who experienced the traumatic years of the War. Students selected someone that survived the Holocaust or someone who unfortunately was killed and research that person's life before, during, and after the war. Many students chose family members such as grandparents, cousins, or distant relatives to understand their past.
The goal of the project is to feel connected to those who lived through that dark period of history, and it is that much more important for this generation as the number of Survivors continued to dwindle. The students have been fortunate to work with Rebecca Lopkin, an expert in educational theater training. The students are working on creating individual dynamic presentations about their research figures to gain that special connection. They are currently writing literature pieces from the perspective of those individuals. Some students are working on journal and diaries while other students are writing letters and postcards. It has been so moving to see the students connect to their past and feel proud of their ancestors. More to come....
