Understanding the Holocaust

Overview

This is the fifth lesson in the unit "World War II Uncovered" designed for Year 6 (10-11 years old) students. This 45-minute lesson focuses on the Holocaust, helping students understand its historical significance, the impact on millions of people, and the importance of remembrance through age-appropriate materials. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum for England’s history programme of study and aims to develop empathy, critical thinking, and respect for diversity.

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National Curriculum Links

Historical Knowledge and Understanding:

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • Understand significant events, people and places in their own locality (Year 6), and extend this to a wider historical context by studying changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, and the impact of World War II.
  • Understand the causes and consequences of major events in history.
• Specific reference:
  • National Curriculum for History (2013) – KS2 – Pupils should study about World War II and the Holocaust, recognising the impact of the war on people’s lives.

Skills Development:

• Chronological understanding: Place events from this period on a timeline.
• Interpretations of history: Use a range of sources to understand events and develop empathy.
• Communicating historically: Express understanding verbally and in writing.

Personal Development (British Values/Cultural Understanding):

• Appreciate the impact of prejudice and discrimination.
• Promote tolerance and respect.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Know what the Holocaust was and why it is significant in history.
2. Understand the human impact of the Holocaust, including the persecution of Jewish people and other targeted groups.
3. Demonstrate empathy by engaging with stories from survivors and age-appropriate video materials.
4. Recognise the importance of remembering the Holocaust to prevent discrimination and injustice today.

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Resources

• Age-appropriate Holocaust video (~5-7 minutes, careful selection to be sensitive and suitable for 10-11 year olds, e.g., introductory survivor testimony or animation explaining events accessibly)
• Printed survivor stories (simplified and appropriate)
• Timeline worksheet showing key WWII events including the Holocaust
• Whiteboard/interactive board and markers
• “Remembrance Pledge” writing sheets
• Empathy prompt cards (questions to guide thinking and discussion)

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Lesson Structure (45 minutes)

1. Introduction & Recap (5 minutes)

• Begin by recapping previous lessons on WWII, focusing on the timeline of major events.
• Introduce today’s focus: Understanding the Holocaust.
• Ask students what they know or have heard about the Holocaust. Record key words on the board to gauge prior knowledge.

2. Context Setting & Timeline Activity (5 minutes)

• Show the timeline worksheet, pointing out where the Holocaust fits within WWII.
• Briefly explain: the Holocaust was the systematic persecution and murder of six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime.
• Clarify difficult vocabulary gently (e.g., Holocaust, persecution, discrimination).

3. Video Viewing (7 minutes)

• Show a carefully chosen, age-appropriate video explaining what happened during the Holocaust – survivor accounts or animations designed for children.
• Emphasise the human stories to build empathy.
• After watching, ask short, guided questions to assess understanding and feelings:
  • "What did you find most memorable in the story?"
  • "How do you think the people felt?"

4. Group Discussion & Empathy Activity (10 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups (3 or 4) with printed survivor stories and empathy prompt cards.
• Each group reads their story, discusses feelings, and answers prompts such as:
  • “What would you do if you were in their shoes?”
  • “Why do you think it’s important to remember these stories?”
• Regroup and invite representatives to share highlights of their discussions.

5. Reflection & Remembrance Pledge (10 minutes)

• Guide students to reflect on what they have learnt about the impact of prejudice and the importance of kindness.
• On “Remembrance Pledge” sheets, students write or illustrate a personal commitment to stand against discrimination and to remember the victims of the Holocaust.
• Allow a few volunteers to share their pledges with the class.

6. Plenary & Assessment (8 minutes)

• Quick quiz/discussion using the whiteboard:
  • Key facts (What was the Holocaust? Who was targeted?)
  • Why is it important to remember?
• Assessment through observation of participation, responses in discussion, and pledges written.
• End by reminding students of the importance of respect and tolerance in everyday life.

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide reading support for survivor stories or allow use of visual prompts.
• Challenge: Encourage some students to research a lesser-known group persecuted during the Holocaust and share findings in a sentence or two.
• Extension: Create a “Remembrance Wall” post-lesson where students can add drawings, facts or reflections for ongoing display.

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Safety and Sensitivity

• Ensure all materials are age-appropriate and sensitive to the emotional impact of the topic.
• Encourage a respectful classroom environment.
• Be aware of differing backgrounds and students’ emotional responses – offer support and private reflection space if needed.

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Impact and Follow-Up

• The lessons culminate in students demonstrating greater historical understanding and empathy.
• The remembrance pledges encourage lifelong reflection on the values of tolerance and dignity.
• Consider linking with assemblies or local Holocaust remembrance events for further reinforcement.

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Teacher Reflection Notes

• Did students engage emotionally and intellectually with the topic?
• Were the resources effective in presenting complex history sensitively?
• How well did students perform in empathy and understanding activities?
• Plan to integrate cross-curricular links with PSHE or RE on themes of diversity and human rights.

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This lesson uniquely balances historical fact, emotional engagement, and moral reflection in a manner accessible and appropriate for Year 6 students, fully meeting the expectations of the National Curriculum for History and statutory guidance on teaching sensitive historical subjects.