Welcome to Week 3!

Looking back, in Week 1, we studied the history of the Holocaust, in Week 2 we focused on what research tells us about the challenges of teaching and learning this history. Now, here in Week 3 we are in a position to consider how we can teach the Holocaust in ways that take cognizance of all we have discovered, adopting approaches that are historically rigorous, research informed and responsive to the realities of the classroom.

By adopting an honest and authentic approach that rejects a pre-packaged Holocaust, unpacks misconceptions and misunderstandings, humanises both victims and perpetrators, and believes in young people’s cognitive and affective abilities, we can help them to grow as independent critical thinkers who embrace enquiry, resist easy answers, and make their own informed meanings.

With this in mind and all we have gathered so far, we will be sharing some guiding principles before embarking on an examination of exemplar lesson material, the use of artefacts in teaching, and bringing you the opportunity to develop your own lesson ideas.