
Understanding Resistance
At a Glance
Language
English — USSubject
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12Duration
One 50-min class period- The Holocaust
Overview
About this Lesson
Jewish resistance to the Nazis took many forms, ranging from bold acts of defiance and altruism to armed resistance. In this lesson, students are introduced to resistance through the singular voices of those who took part in the Jewish partisan movement, as some of their stories, motivations, and goals are revealed in poetry, film (an introductory video), and writing (Abba Kovner’s call to resistance in his Ghetto Manifesto). The activities included in this lesson will deepen students’ knowledge of the Holocaust through an exploration of different acts of Jewish resistance and will encourage the development of critical analysis and interpersonal communication skills. Students brainstorm together to write their own definition of resistance and deconstruct Abba Kovner’s Ghetto Manifesto, focusing on word choice and phrases to evaluate the meaning of his call to resistance.
This lesson sets the stage for the rest of the unit by providing students with the background to understand, identify, and investigate the stories of the partisans and the choices they made.
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