*Holocaust Research Project*

ESL- Grades 9 & 10

- in anticipation of the reading of Night by: Elie Wiesel

For this project, students will be learning several research skills. Prior to reading the novel, Night by Elie Wiesel, students will learn more about the historical context of the text which is WWII- The Holocaust. In small groups, students are to research their assigned topics and create a technological presentation for the class. All sources must be cited using the MLA format.

*Part I- Selecting a Topic

Researching and understanding the topics below will allow students to have better comprehension of the novel, Night. They will be PRESENTED in the order that they appear below.

  • WWIIBackground: Historical information leading up to the war. What countries were involved? Why did they go to war? What were the conflicts for war? (maps)
  • Adolf Hitler: Background about Hitler’s life- biography.
  • Jews and non-Aryans and Hitler’s targets: Why were the Jews chosen as Hitler’s targets? What were the myths for the hatred of the Jews? What is an Aryan? Why were non-Aryans discriminated by Hitler and the Nazis? What was some of the discrimination that both parties faced?
  • Nazis and Nazi Propaganda:What are Nazis? Who led Nazi propaganda (advertisement)? What were different types of Nazi propaganda used throughout the Holocaust (to target the Jews)?
  • Jews Forced Out: How were Jews forced out of their homes and businesses before being taken to concentration camps? What was done to their homes and businesses? What were they told was happening to them? What was done to their belongings? How were they transported to concentration camps? What were the conditions like?
  • Holocaust Concentration Camps: Which concentration camps existed? What were the living conditions like? Who ran the camps? What did the Jews endure there?
  • Auschwitz Concentration Camp: Describe the Auschwitz Concentration camp (living conditions). Who lived there? What jobs were Jews forced to do? What was the life-death selection like? What were some of the severe treatments that Jews faced there?
  • WWII Ends: How and when did WWII (or the Holocaust) end? What role did the United States have in ending WWII? What happened at the concentration camps? What happened to the Jews post Holocaust?
  • Genocide: Define genocide. What other genocides occurred aside from the Holocaust? Give a brief explanation of each one (Ukrainian, Armenian, Native American, Rwanda). What can be learned from these genocides?

*Part II- Research Sources

For this project, it is recommended that students use reliable sources when researching.

Such sources include:

  • History.com- website (history channel.com)
  • UShistory.org- website
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum- website
  • Hyper History- website
  • American History Association- website
  • World History Matters- website
  • NOOOO Wikipedia
  • Encyclopedias
  • Genocide texts
  • Holocausts texts
  • Online video documentaries (history channel videos are very good)

-Students are to have a minimum of three sources.

-Print necessary online articles.

-Make sure to write down all the necessary information for the MLA Works Cited page which should be in the last slide of the presentation as well as a printed hard copy.

-Highlight important information in articles that can be used in the presentation.

-Make sure to PARAPHRASE and CITE information from sources used in presentation.

*Part III- Organizing ideas

Using the graphic organizer provided, structure paraphrased ideas, research, images, etc.. for the presentation.

The presentation should have bullets of information. Do not write long summaries. Write notes and then expand in own words when presenting to class.

Make sure that each person in the group is contributing equally.

Revise slides for GRAMMAR.

Example of a presentation slide)