Two years ago, the Anderson School in New York City partnered with Facing History and Ourselves to bring the Holocaust and Human Behavior curriculum into our eighth grade Social Studies and English Language Arts classes. This period of history is so widely studied but often the dark nature of it is hard for young students to grasp. That’s why we were excited to bring an interdisciplinary approach to our students’ learning that not only taught them the basics of the history but also engaged them on a deeper level of reflection on issues in their own lives.

Topics: History, Holocaust and Human Behavior, ELA, Holocaust Education

On July 2, Elie Wiesel - Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate, writer, political activist, and professor - passed away at 87 years old. He committed his life to keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive because he understood the dangers of history repeating itself. Now, in honor of his memory, we share a story of a second-generation Holocaust survivor who is passing on her mother's legacy one hug at a time.  

Caren Osten hugs one of the students at Ellis Prep Academy in the Bronx. 

Topics: Holocaust and Human Behavior

 “What do you think Nachila is feeling right at this moment?” asks Dr. Bethany Nelson to a room full of history students at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton, Massachusetts.

“She’s thinking, ‘I’m ready to die,” shouts one student. “I’m not afraid of you,” shouts another. Multiple students enthusiastically chime in to participate.

Nachila Ortiz is one of five high school students standing in front of the room, reenacting a photograph that is projected over their bodies. Three of the students pose, channeling the emotions in the faces of Jewish partisans captured by the Nazis during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Two others pose as the Nazi officers; one pointing an imaginary rifle.

Topics: Holocaust and Human Behavior

Warsaw, May 2014:

Staring at two rusted milk cans at the Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute, I feel overwhelmed by the weight and significance of the history they carry. These one-time ordinary artifacts stand in front of an archive of unbelievable power, documenting daily life in the Warsaw Ghetto from 1940 to 1943.

Topics: Memory, Holocaust, Facing History and Ourselves, Teachers, History, Holocaust and Human Behavior, Holocaust Education

Sir Nicholas Winton, a British humanitarian who saved more than 650 children through the Kindertransport during World War II, died on July 1, 2015, at the age of 106. Winton always humbly insisted he wasn't a hero; yet his inspiring story illuminates how courage, initiative, and compassion drive people to make a difference.

Topics: Classrooms, Teaching Strategies, Antisemitism, Choosing to Participate, Students, Teaching, Holocaust, Upstanders, Genocide/Collective Violence, Teachers, Holocaust and Human Behavior, Decision-making, Holocaust Education

Topics: To Kill a Mockingbird, English Language Arts, Film, Antisemitism, Facing History and Ourselves, Civil Rights, Stereotype, Holocaust and Human Behavior, EdTech, ELA, Holocaust Education, Common Core State Standards, Blogs, Online Learning, Flipped Classroom, Facing Technology

Facing History and Ourselves often partners with the wonderful educational organization Teaching Tolerance to share resources and best practices that help educators, young people, and communities have safe conversations about tolerance, identity, and difficult moments in history.

Topics: Teaching Resources, Civil Rights, Holocaust and Human Behavior, Diversity, Common Core State Standards

At Facing History, we begin each journey of investigation with a study of identity, focusing on how both individual and national identities are formed, as well as how these identities influence behavior and decision-making.

Topics: Antisemitism, Holocaust and Human Behavior, EdTech, Online Learning, Flipped Classroom, Critical Thinking, Facing Technology

This week, Daniel and Deb from our Facing History Program Tech team, along with several other Facing History staff and board members, are traveling in Poland as part of a learning trip.

Topics: Antisemitism, Facing History and Ourselves, Holocaust and Human Behavior, Universe of Obligation, Museum Studies, Holocaust Education, Facing Technology

April 28 is Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoah. We have put together what we hope will be a useful collection of resources for you to share with your students as you observe this important day.

Topics: Art, Antisemitism, Choosing to Participate, Facing History and Ourselves, Video, Holocaust and Human Behavior, EdTech, Holocaust Education, Online Learning, Facing Technology