You are about to take a very emotional excursion through the Holocaust era. To do this, you will travel through many information-filled Web sites and read many first-hand accounts of individual experiences. Here are possible inquiry activities for each Web site.

Site #1: Jewish Virtual Library

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/holo.html Create an illustration/visual aid that represents one major aspect of this Web site. It must include various pieces of information about that topic. Be sure to incorporate various materials, colors, images, words, etc. Be creative! You have the option of using the Doodle Splash tool to create visual aid: http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/doodle/index.html

Site #2: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/ Using the “Biography” tabs on the right side of each section of the Web site, “interview” at least one witness or victim of the Holocaust. Demonstrate your interview in a skit, PowerPoint, audio recording, or written script. Be sure to include at least five specific pieces of information found on this site.

Site #3: Causes and Effects of the Holocaust

http://fc.nko.usi-schools.org/nko/iu/Holocaust/index.htm List at least three things you learned from this site. Tell why you think it is important to learn them. How will you model that you have learned these things?

Site #4: Anne Frank Center, USA

http://www.annefrank.com/1_students.htm You have just “met” Anne Frank. Write/Record a letter to her that best describes your response when learning about her. Be sure to use at least three specific pieces of information that you learned about her in this letter. You can use the Letter Generator for writing: http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/

Site #5: 36 Questions about the Holocaust

http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/resources/questions/index.html You are listening in on a question-answer session about the Holocaust. What one question/answer most surprised you? Create something (paragraph, 3-D object, drawing, recording) that represents the reason for your surprise.

Site #6: Auschwitz-Birkenau

http://remember.org/jacobs/index.html You have just stepped into two of the Nazi’s concentration and death camps. What do you see? How do you feel? Document your thoughts and feelings by writing a song, poem, or letter. Or, you may simply brainstorm using the ReadWriteThink Webbing Tool: http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=127

HOLOCAUST COMPARISON PROJECT

Using words and pictures from recent newspapers and magazines, create a collage that forms connections between "then" and "now". Your chosen images and metaphors should express feelings and attitudes as well as behaviors and events. Your collage should reflect yourviewpoint on whether the present world has learned the lessons of history. You can choose to focus on one theme or on several issues that you find relevant to your own life.