Holocaust and Human Behavior

(Facing History and Ourselves)

This resource book provides an interdisciplinary approach to citizenship educaiton. The readings and activities explore the consequences of discrimination, racism, and antisemitism by hoolding up "the tarnished mirror of history" to one of the most violent times in the recent past--the 1930s and 1940s. As students read and reflect, they investigate the forces that undermined democracy in Germany, betrayed a generation of young people, and ultimately led to the Holocaust. The book also connects that history to the moral questions students must confront in their own lives, particularly those related to identity, violence, power, and conformity. Facing History begins with a variety of stories, poems, and autobiographical accounts that help students look at ourselves-who we are and how our identity is formed. Those readings also reflect multiple perspectives and foster empathy. Students then explore relationships between individuals and their society. How does one acquire citizenship? Who belongs? Who does not? How do nations define their identity? What is the significance of those definitions? Those questions lead students to an exploration of the decisions that resulted in the Holoc