US Holocaust Memorial Museum educators and historians created these lesson plans for use in secondary classrooms. Click on a lesson plan to see its recommended grade level, subjects covered, and time required to complete. To explore lessons organized by theme, visit Teaching Materials by Topic.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has an unparalleled repository of Holocaust artifacts that traces the experiences of millions of people, documenting what happened during the Holocaust. These primary sources are tangible pieces of evidence that advance understanding of these historical events. This activity encourages students to think about the value of primary sources, and how everyday objects can provide greater understanding of historical events.
This teacher guide helps students navigate the History Unfolded database and provides educators with activities to use in the classroom.
This guide is designed to support viewing a film related to the Holocaust by helping students assess the film's historical accuracy. It emphasizes the role of genre and places the film within historical context. The guide encourages students to examine how and why the Holocaust happened.
Definitions are important. One of the Museum’s guidelines for teaching about the Holocaust is to define the term “Holocaust.” This short activity helps students understand the definition of the term.
This timeline and lesson plan helps students understand the historical and societal context of American responses to the Holocaust, including the responses of individuals and of the US government.
This lesson is structured around a multi-layered wall timeline that encourages critical thinking about the relationship between Nazi policy, World War II, historical events, and individual experiences during the Holocaust.
Explore lesson plans and training materials organized by theme to use in your classroom.