Unit 5: Holocaust 

In this unit, students will explore personal narratives and historical accounts while learning about one of the most significant periods in modern history—the Holocaust.

What Students Will Study:

• Biography vs. Autobiography – understanding the differences between life stories written by others and those written by the subjects themselves

• The History of the Holocaust – examining the events, causes, and impact of this tragic period through research and informational texts

• Novel: Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps by Andrea Warren – the true story of Jack Mandelbaum, a Jewish teenager who endured unimaginable hardship and survived three concentration camps

Throughout this unit, students will:

• Analyze informational and nonfiction texts to understand historical context and multiple perspectives

• Conduct research using credible sources to deepen their knowledge of the Holocaust

• Examine how authors use narrative techniques in biographical writing to bring real stories to life

• Make connections between historical events and personal experiences

This unit encourages students to learn from history, develop empathy, and understand the importance of bearing witness to the past.