Collection
Spanish Translations from Holocaust and Human Behavior
Get Spanish-language versions of popular readings from Holocaust and Human Behavior.
At a Glance
Language
English — USSubject
- Civics & Citizenship
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12- The Holocaust
Inside this Collection
Letter to Students
Read aloud this letter with your class before you embark on the unit Teaching Holocaust and Human Behavior.
Finding Confidence
A young woman describes her journey overcoming an inner bully and fear of being different (Spanish available).
Finding One's Voice
Julius Lester describes finding his identity in an unexpected place as an African American teenager living in the segregated South (Spanish available).
![Artist Glenn Ligon created Untitled: Four Etchings [B] using a quotation from writer Zora Neale Hurston’s essay, “How It Feels to Be Colored Me.”](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_622x400_2x/public/2022-07/D15968_Medium_res.webp?h=c15025bd&itok=oMMTHJR5)
Gender and Identity
Read the personal reflections of a mother whose young son has challenged her assumptions and expectations about gender identity.
Words Matter
Reflect on the power of the words that we attach to people through an Anishinaabe woman’s memory of being called an “Indian” while growing up in Canada (Spanish available).
The Danger of a Single Story
Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie challenges us to consider the power of stories to influence identity, shape stereotypes, and build paths to empathy (Spanish available).
Universe of Obligation
Reflect on how individuals, communities, and nations decide who has rights that are worthy of respect and protection with this introduction to the concept of the "universe of obligation."
“We Don’t Control America” and Other Myths, Part 1
A young Jewish woman shares a time when she encountered someone with a false stereotype about Jews (Spanish available).
“We Don’t Control America” and Other Myths, Part 2
A young Jewish person reflects on the impact of antisemitic myths on attitudes today (Spanish available).
“We Don’t Control America” and Other Myths, Part 3
Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug reflects on why she gets asked the question “You’re Jewish?” (Spanish available).
Negotiating Peace
Learn about the concessions that the Treaty of Versailles required from Germany after its defeat in World War I (Spanish available).
Hitler in Power
Consider the motivations and expectations of Paul von Hindenburg when he appointed Hitler to chancellor of Germany (Spanish available).
National Socialist German Workers’ Party Platform
Explore the provisions Hitler proposed at the National Socialist German Workers' Party’s first large party gathering 1920.
"Restoring" Germany's Civil Service
Read a letter exchange between Adolf Hitler and President Paul von Hindenburg regarding a law that suspended Jews from positions of civil service in Nazi Germany.
Isolating Homosexuals
Find out how Hitler strengthened enforcement of Paragraph 175, a law that made homosexuality a crime in Germany.
Shaping Public Opinion
Read about the far-reaching efforts of Joseph Goebbels and the Ministry of Propaganda to generate enthusiasm for the Nazi party.
Targeting Jews
Learn about the Nazis' boycott of Jewish-owned businesses, including a firsthand account from a German Jew.
Where They Burn Books...
Consider the significance of the public burning of books deemed in Nazi Germany in 1933.
Do You Take the Oath?
Reflect on the choices and actions of two Germans who had to decide whether or not to pledge an oath of loyalty to Hitler (Spanish available).
Pledging Allegiance
Compare the text of Germany's original military oath with Hitler’s new oath, and consider the implications of the oath's promise of allegiance to a single leader.
Refusing to Pledge Allegiance
Read about two men's refusals to pledge their allegiance to the Nazis and the consequences they faced.
Discovering Jewish Blood
Find out how one family's lives changed when Hitler passed the Nuremberg Laws in Nazi Germany.
A Family Responds to Kristallnacht
Learn about a family who assisted their Jewish neighbors after Kristallnacht, and the consequences they faced for this decision to help.
A Visitor’s Perspective on Kristallnacht
Consider a Swiss merchant’s account of how his German colleagues responded to the events of Kristallnacht.
Opportunism during Kristallnacht
Examine firsthand reports of the theft committed against Jews during the chaos and violence of Kristallnacht.
The Night of the Pogrom
Learn what incited Kristallnacht and get insight into the experiences of Jews in Germany on the night of horrendous violence in November 1938
Thoroughly Reprehensible Behavior
Read a report from the disciplinary hearing of a German college student who chose to help his Jewish neighbors after Kristallnacht.
World Responses to Kristallnacht
Consider how leaders like FDR, clergy members, and ordinary people around the world responded to the news of Kristallnacht.
Colonizing Poland
Learn about the Nazis’ plan to rearrange the population of Poland, which resulted in the displacement of more than a million ethnic Poles and Jews.
“Cultural Missionaries”
Consider what German citizens thought of Hitler's plan to colonize Poland through these reflections from a member of the League of German Girls and two German soldiers.
A Basic Feeling of Human Dignity
Diary entries from a Jewish woman imprisoned in Bergen-Belsen shed light on how prisoners in camps and ghettos were deprived of dignity.
Take This Giant Leap
Begin your study of the Holocaust with a poem by Holocaust survivor Sonia Weitz.
A Commandant’s View
Get insight into how a commander at a Nazi death camp viewed his victims and coped with his actions.
Bystanders at Hartheim Castle
Consider why the residents of Hartheim kept silent about the evidence of mass murder they witnessed in their town throughout World War II.
Deciding to Act
Marion Prichard reflects on rescue, heroism, and the choices she and others in German-occupied Amsterdam made during the Holocaust.
Denmark: A Nation Takes Action
Learn about the people of Denmark’s collective effort to hide and rescue Jews from deportation during the Holocaust.
Le Chambon: A Village Takes a Stand
Explore rescue during the Holocaust with the story of a community in Southern France that sheltered and hid thousands of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution (Spanish available).
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The Refugee Crisis and 1930s America
Students are introduced to the many factors that influenced Americans’ will and ability to respond to the Jewish refugee crisis, including isolationism, racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism.
Refugees and Rescuers: The Courage to Act
Students explore the intertwined personal stories of Jewish refugees who attempted to flee to the United States and the American rescuers who intervened on their behalf.
Confronting Genocide Denial
Students will explore some of the causes and consequences of denying the Armenian Genocide and reflect on the role of public art to commemorate difficult histories.
European Jewish Life before World War II
Students analyze images and film that convey the richness of Jewish life across Europe at the time of the Nazis’ ascension to power.
Genocide under the Cover of War
Students learn about the events and choices of the Armenian Genocide and explore the consequences of the genocide from the perspective of survivors.
Introducing the Unit
Students develop a contract establishing a reflective classroom community as they prepare to explore the historical case study of this unit.
Nationalism and the Aftermath of World War I
Students consider the ways in which World War I intensified people’s loyalty to their country and resentment toward others perceived as a threat.
The Rise of Nationalism and the Collapse of the Ottoman Empire
Students turn their attention to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the emergence of a strong current of ethno-nationalism rooted in Turkish identity.
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Facing History & Ourselves is designed for educators who want to help students explore identity, think critically, grow emotionally, act ethically, and participate in civic life. It’s hard work, so we’ve developed some go-to professional learning opportunities to help you along the way.
Exploring ELA Text Selection with Julia Torres
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Listen to #DisruptTexts founder Julia Torres about taking a critical lens to text selection in ELA classrooms.
Working for Justice, Equity and Civic Agency in Our Schools: A Conversation with Clint Smith
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Issues of equity and education have long existed in our country and continue to manifest today. How can writing and the power of one's voice help us respond to these disparities? Listen to writer and educator, Dr. Clint Smith, where we hear his poetry and reflections on working for justice, equity, and civic agency in our schools.
Centering Student Voices to Build Community and Agency
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Explore approaches to centering student voice, building authentic relationships and cultivating community with Molly Josephs, the creator of This Teenage Life, a youth-driven, story-sharing podcast that started as a school club.
Most teachers are willing to tackle the difficult topics, but we need the tools.
—
Gabriela Calderon-Espinal, Bay Shore, NY
