Yom Hashoah

Grade/Class: Grade 8 Jewish History

Context: Students learn about the Holocaust and participate in seminars with a series of Holocaust survivors over the course of the year.

Learning: Grade 8 students synthesized their learning from their course work and from hearing survivors' stories into a final commemorative display to share with the whole school. The displays include summaries of the survivors' stories, key lessons we can learn from the Holocaust, and visual renderings of key moments in the survivors' lives. 

Students were able to develop critical thinking and analytical skills. They analyzed and interpreted the stories they heard, considered the historical context, and extracted key themes and lessons from the survivor narratives. Creating a commemorative display also provided students with an opportunity to exercise their creativity and communication skills. Through visual representations of key moments in survivors' lives, they effectively communicated complex ideas and emotions to their audience. Finally, this task encouraged students to engage in meaningful reflection on the Holocaust and its lasting impact on society. By sharing their commemorative display with the whole school, students have the opportunity to educate their peers and to spark important conversations about the lessons we can learn from this period in history.