5 Tools for Teaching About Genocide | Facing History & Ourselves
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5 Tools for Teaching About Genocide

Facing History grants educators the opportunity to take advantage of five virtual tours, exhibitions, and professional development resources to navigate the challenges that arise when teaching about genocide. 

Teaching about genocide is challenging for a number of reasons. Each instance of genocide is unique to the historical, cultural, and political contexts in which it emerges, demanding sustained intellectual engagement. Simultaneously, however, educators teaching about genocide are also called to engage themselves—and their students—in a level of emotional engagement and ethical reflection not required by most other topics of instruction. Below are 5 virtual tours, exhibitions, and professional development opportunities that educators can use to navigate these challenges with greater support:

Online Tours & Exhibitions

The Holocaust: History and Memory

Developed in cooperation with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and powered by Google Expeditions, this virtual field trip includes nine different scenes from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum—covering their permanent exhibition on the Holocaust, their Hall of Witness and Hall of Remembrance, and a conservation lab where students can examine how our staff preserve and present Holocaust history. Pair this with Facing History’s seminal case study and resource collection, Holocaust and Human Behavior.

Armenian Genocide Museum of America

This expansive online museum is a joint project of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial, Armenian National Institute, and Armenian Assembly of America. Pair their offerings with Facing History’s unit, Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians.

National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide

Established in 2009, The National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide is dedicated to the work of genocide prevention by accumulating and spreading of knowledge about the Holodomor, the Ukrainian genocide of 1932-33. The museum offers virtual video tours to groups aged 13 and above followed by a virtual Q&A with a museum curator via Zoom. In addition, they offer a host of educational materials for educators interested in weaving this material into their lesson plans.

Genocide Still Happens

Use this mini-lesson to reflect with your students on what we can do to stop ongoing atrocities and prevent future genocides.

Professional Development

Getting Started with Holocaust and Human Behavior

This self-paced workshop introduces Facing History & Ourselves’ case study, Holocaust and Human Behavior, through multimedia resources, readings, and teaching strategies that engage students in this powerful history and the themes of decision making, ethics, and responsibility. This workshop provides lesson ideas and support to teachers who may have a limited amount of class time to teach about the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. Participants will develop a customized teaching plan informed by Facing History’s approach and the Holocaust and Human Behavior one-week outline.

2022 Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educators

This 3-day conference, held in June, is offered by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, is free to middle and high school educators interested in teaching about the Holocaust. The conference invites participants to engage with current historical research and instructional best practices. Their aim is to help educators discover and learn how to use various classroom resources, find inspiration, and connect with peers engaged in similar work across the United States and the globe.

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