In our English class this month, we learned about the holocaust from the eyes of those who lived it. Students read the autobiography Night, by Elie Wiesel. We then watched an in class video, Life is Beautiful, which focuses on the plight of Italian Jews during WWII. Students then created their own newsletter using Microsoft Publisher from the focal point of an underground resistance newsletter. Their final project was to create a podcast within their assigned groups. In their podcast they imagined themselves a news-broadcaster during the bombing of London, advising residents of the damage incurred, as well as different battles fought between the Allies and the Axis powers.
Our final activity for our Holocaust Remembrance month was a field trip to the Miami Holocaust Museum in Downtown Miami. Students were able to see first hand the horrors that those affected faced. News reels played with images of extermination camps and the liberation of Auschwitz. Students met with two survivors of the Holocaust and were able to ask questions of their experience. Everyone left with a solemn understanding of how cruel intolerance can be. The survivors themselves were lighthearted and enjoyed meeting with the students. Their philosophy on life was to celebrate every moment, as well as remember those who were not as fortunate as themselves. They reminded students that the Holocaust began because one man refused to accept the differences of others. This deeply resonated with my students.
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