Using this page
This page presents a collection of materials from veteran social studies teachers in School District 57 who have been integrating holocaust education into their programs, as well as external sources.
There is no single, right way, to teach this. There are many options that are equally valid and we hope this will give you some directions you can take this in. There will be some overlap of resources presented via the various ways these teachers have structured their courses.
That said, Holocaust denialism is, hopefully obviously, a completely wrong and inappropriate way to be teaching this.
Teaching the Holocaust Through a Genocide Lens #1
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Teaching the Holocaust Through a Genocide LensGerry Chidiac (Duchess Park) sets out how to frame SS10 through a genocide lens with the Holocaust as a key component that interweaves the period of 1914-present through comparisons with other genocides and the bloody history of our modern era.
Novel Study Resources - Night
Gerry Chidiac (Duchess Park) has provided his materials for Night by Elie Wiesel. These are provided under a CC BY-NC-SA 
license.
Teaching the Holocaust Through Multiple Lenses
Laura Laverdue (Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary) also utilizes a hybrid of both the genocide lens and the responsibility lens for teaching the Holocaust. Focusing first on the definitions of genocide, her structure then pivots to the individual responsibilities after examining the wider governmental and societal responsibilities for the Holocaust.
Below are the resources she recommends for this. They are presented in no particular order.
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Echoes and Reflections
Teaching the Holocaust, inspiring the classroom. Has teacher education, lesson plans, student activities, a timeline, and a podcast series. -
Teaching the History of the Holocaust - Montreal Holocaust Museum
Includes a wide range of student activities and offers a virtual museum tour. -
DOCUMENTARY FILM: The Path to Nazi Genocide (38:31)
This 38-minute film examines the Nazis’ rise and consolidation of power in Germany. Using rare footage, the film explores their ideology, propaganda, and persecution of Jews and other victims. It also outlines the path by which the Nazis and their collaborators led a state to war and to the murder of millions of people. By providing a concise overview of the Holocaust and those involved, this resource is intended to provoke reflection and discussion about the role of ordinary people, institutions, and nations between 1918 and 1945.
Resources for educators are available to go with this. -
The Hangman poem
For exploring bystander behaviour. Includes questions to pose to students. -
Some Were Neighbors - Exhibition
This online exhibit explores the roles of the everyday citizen in the Holocaust. Those who spoke up, those who stood by and those who actively participated.
Teaching the Holocaust Through a Responsibility Lens
Rich Cooper (Valemount Secondary) tries to help students understand how the Holocaust happened by showing the interconnected web of responsibility that got society to that point. He focuses on the role of ordinary people as the persecuted, persecutors and bystanders, as well as how businesses participated.
He begins by using testimonies such as
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Survivor Testimonies - Yad VashemCurrently, in this database, there are approximately 15,000 full length survivor testimonies. They can be accessed by year, subject, place and language.
As well as exploring artifacts that help students see the past in a realistic way:
He then goes into the responsibilities of "low level" Nazis
The responsibilities of "ordinary Germans"
And the responsibilities of corporations
Finally zooming out to show the big picture of how all this came together to lead to genocide
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DOCUMENTARY FILM: The Path to Nazi Genocide (38:31)
This 38-minute film examines the Nazis’ rise and consolidation of power in Germany. Using rare footage, the film explores their ideology, propaganda, and persecution of Jews and other victims. It also outlines the path by which the Nazis and their collaborators led a state to war and to the murder of millions of people. By providing a concise overview of the Holocaust and those involved, this resource is intended to provoke reflection and discussion about the role of ordinary people, institutions, and nations between 1918 and 1945.
Resources for educators are available to go with this.
