Curriculum & Resources
JFCS Holocaust Center curriculum focuses on expanding students’ understanding of the Holocaust and genocide, so they can develop empathy, critical thinking skills, and moral courage.
Resource Types
Curriculum Consultations
Our staff can work with local teachers to support your teaching of the Holocaust and patterns of genocide. Consultations include sharing resources, teaching pedagogies, and connecting Bay Area schools with programming through the JFCS Holocaust Center. Schedule a consultation >
- Lesson Plan
“Hidden children” is the term used to describe Jewish children who survived the Holocaust by hiding, either physically or by changing their identities. In this lesson, students will learn about the experience of hidden children during the Holocaust through…
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 6th-12th
- Lesson Plan
The plan includes background context, a detailed description of the stages of genocide, and definitions of key terms such as genocide, Holocaust, Judaism, antisemitism, and racism. It also provides a glossary and references for further reading….
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 9-12
- Lesson Plan
In this lesson plan—about the development of genocide through its stages, using the Holocaust as a primary example—students will engage with primary sources and oral testimonies, learning to identify and understand the stages of genocide….
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 6th-12th
- Lesson Plan
This lesson plan is designed for 4th and 5th graders to explore the experiences of Jewish children who were hidden during the Holocaust to escape Nazi persecution. Through this curriculum, students learn about the bravery, resilience, and survival strategies…
Time: 30-60 Minutes
Audience: 4th-5th
- Lesson Plan
This lesson plan aims to educate students about the intersection of eugenics and immigration policies in American history. Through this curriculum, students explore the historical context and implications of eugenic theories on immigration laws and policies, particularly during the…
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 7th-12th
- Lesson Plan
This lesson is designed for students that have already been exposed to the Holocaust. Although students may find it helpful to understand the history of European antisemitism prior to beginning this lesson, it is not required. For a list…
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 9th-12th
- Lesson Plan
The lesson aims to deepen students’ understanding of WWII and the Holocaust by exploring Romberg’s life and experiences. The lesson plan involves students working in groups to examine and interpret archival photos, documents, and other artifacts to construct a…
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 9-12
- Lesson Plan
This lesson plan encourages students to deeply engage with historical events through the personal narrative of a young Jewish student, enhancing their understanding of the Holocaust and the use of primary sources in history….
Time: 30-60 Minutes
Audience: 6-12
- Lesson Plan
This lesson plan provides an educational framework for teaching students about the historical development and impact of ghettos, particularly during the Holocaust. It covers the origins, purposes, and conditions of ghettos established by the Nazis, focusing on the experiences…
Time: 15-30 Minutes
Audience: 7th-12th
- Lesson Plan
This lesson features excerpts from Rywka’s Diary: The Writings of a Jewish Girl from the Lodz Ghetto. It is a portrait of an individual, Rywka Lipszyc, her strength, spirit, and ability to cope, encouraging students to relate to Rywka…
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 9th-12th
- Lesson Plan
This lesson plan aims to deepen students’ understanding of Holocaust survivors’ identities through examining portraits and testimonies. Students explore the experiences of Hidden Children and Kindertransport survivors, reflecting on how these experiences shape survivor identities….
Time: 60-120 Minutes
Audience: 6th-12th
- Lesson Plan
This lesson fits well inside of a World History classroom as students should be familiar with thehistory of World War I and the period in between the two world wars, 1914-1939. Specifically, they should have covered the transition between…
Time: 30-60 Minutes
Audience: 9th-12th
Curriculum Consultations.
Our staff can work with local teachers to support the continuation of the study of the Holocaust and patterns of genocide in the virtual space. Consultations include sharing resources, virtual teaching pedagogies, and connecting Bay Area schools with virtual programming through the JFCS Holocaust Center. Schedule a consultation >