Learning history is an essential part of education for kids in grades 6-12 and plays a vital role in their ability to grasp world events as they enter adulthood. That is why it’s essential to have the right tools when teaching middle school-aged children about WWII and the Holocaust.
Preparing Middle School children to learn important historical events.
By the time a child enters middle school, their brain has developed enough to begin to comprehend world events. Often, they start learning about current events in fifth grade, which continues into sixth grade. These lessons help them to see the world in a more significant and comprehensive way. This is essential when teaching them about war, its context, and its effects on a region and the world.
Teaching The Holocaust to Middle schoolers
Because children are so impressionable in their middle school years, often the best approach is to connect them to stories about survivors when teaching them about the Holocaust. This can encourage a personal appreciation of the horrors of the war while humanizing it as a lived experience. For this reason, “The Diary of Anne Frank” is a common tool educators use to begin the historical lesson of the Holocaust. Other resources that can be vital for teachers include having guest speakers and using online Holocaust survivor resources and interactive platforms.
If you are looking for a great educational resource for teaching the Holocaust to middleschoolers, the ZACHOR Holocaust Curriculum uses the first-hand experiences of Holocaust Survivor Ben Lesser. They offer free resources and an interactive teaching tool that focuses on the World War II genocide of the European Jews.
You can learn more about their platform at www.zachorlearn.org.
