Rethinking America and the Holocaust
On-Demand
Virtual
Explore the motivations, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, the European refugee crisis of the 1930s, and the Holocaust. The webinar draws on Facing History’s innovative approach to historical inquiry and groundbreaking new sources from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's special exhibition, Americans and the Holocaust.
![Black and white photo of mass demonstration.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/AP_3811161102_Medium_res.jpg?h=00d1719e&itok=Ou9eNaS0)
Understanding Universe of Obligation
Students are introduced to the concept of "universe of obligation" and prompted to illustrate circle of individuals who they feel a responsibility to care for and protect.
![Picture of universe of obligation drawn on a chalkboard.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-11/universe%20of%20obligation_2.jpg?h=c202cbf9&itok=OOQP5hk9)
Introducing Evidence Logs
In step 2 of the unit assessment, students start to gather evidence from historical sources that supports or challenges their initial thinking about the writing prompt.
![Two female students writing at their desk.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/Two%20female%20students%20writing.jpg?h=b1a91ebe&itok=nXCXJ4i9)
Adding to Evidence Logs, 1 of 3
In step 3 of the unit assessment, students address the writing prompt in a journal reflection and start to evaluate the quality and relevance of the evidence they are gathering.
![Students writing on a paper.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/SL_190523_0789.jpg?h=c11c9c1d&itok=u07iF1Je)
Adding to Evidence Logs, 2 of 3
In step 4 of the unit assessment, students review the documents and videos from Lessons 14-18 and consider which information supports, expands, or challenges their thinking about the writing prompt.
![Students write at their desks.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-07/Chicago_Classroom_2019_FH2101681.jpeg?h=56d0ca2e&itok=pItuRsH2)
Adding to Evidence Logs, 3 of 3
In step 5 of the unit assessment, students reflect on the writing prompt in its entirety, add evidence from Lessons 19-21 to evidence logs, and engage in mini-debates about the writing topic.
![Students write at a table.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-07/Chicago_Classroom_2019_FH2101326.jpg?h=2e5cdddf&itok=FdA96TZN)
Refining the Thesis and Finalizing Evidence Logs
In the final step of the unit assessment, students will think about unit as a whole as they answer the writing prompt and start to prepare to write a strong thesis statement for their essay.
The Complexity of Identity
Students explore the relationship between the individual and society by creating identity charts for a contemporary novelist, a children's book character, and themselves.
![Blurred crowd used to illustrate "individual and society" in Holocaust and Human Behavior.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/HHB_Chapter_1_Medium_res.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=oyKNRFjB)
Analyzing the Effects of World War I
Students use maps of the world before and after World War I to make inferences and predictions about the ways the war changed the world.
![Painting title Gassed by John Singer Sargent. Shows World War I soldiers with bandaged eyes being led by other soldiers. Many dead and injured soldiers laying at the base of the painting.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-05/Ch3_Image05_Medium_res.jpg?h=fe25bc16&itok=_3yOA5E-)
Choices in Weimar Republic Elections
Students read fictional biographies of German citizens and make hypotheses about the citizens' voting choices in the Weimar elections.
![In addition to his depictions of World War I, Otto Dix was also known for his ruthless criticism of German society during the Weimar years.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-05/Ch04_Image05_Medium_res.jpg?h=92903f94&itok=hFi7XgsO)
Confronting the Suffering Caused by the Nazis
Students use journaling and group discussion to respond to emotionally-challenging diary entries of a Jewish teenager confined in a Nazi ghetto.
![The Jewish population in Poland being "resettled" by German soldiers, circa 1940-41.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/Holocaust_1940_ResettlingPolishJewsInGermany_%20FH229688.jpg?h=b82ee7a4&itok=ZTl0ABqr)