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Facades for the International Commission by Bedřich Fritta

This illustration by Bedřich Fritta, a prisoner at Terezín, depicts the “beautification” of the ghetto-camp undertaken by the SS before the Red Cross visit in 1944.

Last Updated: June 22, 2022

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Language

English — US

Subject

History

The Holocaust

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Collection

Find videos, lessons, and additional resources that build on the themes explored in Holocaust and Human Behavior.

Lesson

Students create working definitions of stereotype as they examine the human behavior of applying categories to people and things.

Lesson

Students examine the Nazi ideology of “race and space” and the role it played in Germany’s aggression toward other nations, groups, and individuals.

Hitler Youth and League of German Girls in Tianjin, China

Lesson

Students discover the complexities of Martha Sharp's rescue project by analyzing historical correspondences.

Children stand in front of a sign reading Maison d' Enfants USA

Assessment

In step 2 of the unit assessment, students start to gather evidence from historical sources that supports or challenges their initial thinking about the writing prompt.

Two female students writing at their desk.

Assessment

In step 3 of the unit assessment, students address the writing prompt in a journal reflection and start to evaluate the quality and relevance of the evidence they are gathering.

Assessment

In step 4 of the unit assessment, students review the documents and videos from Lessons 14-18 and consider which information supports, expands, or challenges their thinking about the writing prompt.

Assessment

In step 5 of the unit assessment, students reflect on the writing prompt in its entirety, add evidence from Lessons 19-21 to evidence logs, and engage in mini-debates about the writing topic.

Assessment

In the final step of the unit assessment, students will think about unit as a whole as they answer the writing prompt and start to prepare to write a strong thesis statement for their essay.

Unit

Explore the motives, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism and the humanitarian refugee crisis it provoked during the 1930s and 1940s.

A crowd of American men and women hold signs protesting Nazi Germany's actions.

Lesson

Students are introduced to upstanders Waitstill and Martha Sharp, an American minister and his wife who undertook a rescue mission to help save Jews and refugees fleeing Nazi occupation.

Martha and Waitstill Sharp wave to a crowd before leaving New York City for Europe. Martha wears a corsage of flowers on her coat and holds a bouquet of flowers in her left hand. Stamped in ink on verso: "Photo by William T. Hoff, New York Municipal Airport"

Unit

These lesson plans use the Ken Burns’ documentary "Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War" to explore what motivated Waitstill and Martha Sharp to help refugees.

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Facades for the International Commission by Bedřich Fritta

At a Glance

Language

Subject

You might also be interested in…

Recommended Resources for Holocaust and Human Behavior

Stereotypes and “Single Stories”

Race and Space

Children’s Emigration Project

Introducing Evidence Logs

Adding to Evidence Logs, 1 of 3

Adding to Evidence Logs, 2 of 3

Adding to Evidence Logs, 3 of 3

Refining the Thesis and Finalizing Evidence Logs

Americans and the Holocaust: The Refugee Crisis

The Sharps’ Dilemmas

Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War

Facades for the International Commission by Bedřich Fritta

At a Glance

Language

Subject

You might also be interested in…

Recommended Resources for Holocaust and Human Behavior

Stereotypes and “Single Stories”

Race and Space

Children’s Emigration Project

Introducing Evidence Logs

Adding to Evidence Logs, 1 of 3

Adding to Evidence Logs, 2 of 3

Adding to Evidence Logs, 3 of 3

Refining the Thesis and Finalizing Evidence Logs

Americans and the Holocaust: The Refugee Crisis

The Sharps’ Dilemmas

Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War

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