STUDENT PROJECTS 

THE HOLOCAUST 

Dedicated to the memory of the men,
women and children who were destroyed
in the concentration camps 

Your team will be venturing into the past.  If it is true that history repeats itself, your information will be used to help our class understand this tragic event in the hope that our knowledge can stop future genocide.

The Task 

Multigenre Papers – Nonfiction

A multigenre paper is a collection of different types of writing. Genre means a kind or type of something. Each of your groups will research the holocaust. Your report will consist of different types (genres) of writing about your topic based on information from your book and other sources which you will research online and in the library. While we are reading Night you will be researching your topic either on the WWW or in the library. You may choose from the following topics:

•           DISCUSS THE EVENTS THAT MADE THE HOLOCAUST POSSIBLE.

            What were the years preceding the Holocaust like?  What was the economy like?  What  was the morale of the German people.  Why?  What was the social climate?  What was  the feeling toward Jewish people?  What was their religion like.  

·        DISCUSS THE RISE OF THE NAZIS.

Who were some of the leaders.  Who was Hitler? How did he come to power. What was some of their propaganda?  What was the SS?  Who was Dr Mengele and what did he do. 

•     DISCUSS THE SEGREGATION OF THE JEWS AND OTHERS.  WHAT LAWS WERE PASSED WHICH ALLOWED THE EXTERMINATION OF SO MANY PEOPLE.  What were the laws? What was the progression of persecution?  What was the final solution? Research the Wannsee Conference and what happened there.How did this lead to the development of the Ghettos? Where were the Ghettos located?  What was life like in them?   What resistance did the  Germans encounter in the Ghettos?  When and why and how were the ghetto  liquidated? 

•     DISCUSS WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN THE CAMPS.

            Where were the camps located?  What different category of camps were there?  Which are some infamous camps and why?  What was daily life like for people living in the     camps?  How did the people get there? Who was Dr. Mengele and what did he do? 

•     DISCUSS RESISTANCE, RESCUERS, AND THE RIGHTEOUS.

What resistance occurred inside the camps themselves?  Outside of the camps?  Who were some of the rescuers of Jewish people (both individuals, groups and countries)?  Who are the righteous gentiles?   Who are some famous ones? Schindler? Who Else? Did any of the Jews manage to rescue themselves? 

•     DISCUSS THE WORLD RESPONSE TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING  IN GERMANY  BOTH DURING AND AFTER THE WAR.

            What were some of the incidents during the war?  What were the repercussions for       Germany after the war?  What are some famous trials?   

•     DISCUSS THE AFTERMATH OF THE HOLOCAUST.

            How many people survived.  What was life like after their ordeal.  Who are some       famous survivors?  Where did most people go?  How many people were killed? Who was     liberated?  What was the affect on the liberators?  Who was held responsible for the        Holocaust?  Find  interviews or words from survivors that describe their adjustment to freedom. 

·        DISCUSS THE NEO-NAZIS

Who are they? What are some names they use? What is their agenda? Where are they located. What is ironic about the ones from the US who have gone to Germany? Who are the Holocaust deniers?  What are some of their claims. 

·        DISCUSS OTHER EXAMPLES OF GENOCIDE SINCE THE NAZI HOLOCAUST.

§         Where have these incidents occurred? Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, Cambodia, etc.

§         What was the goal of the oppressing group?

§         Are there any writings by survivors?

Resources? 

Your team will be responsible to find and cite information using the following sources:
current publications in the library, current texts in the research center (at back of room,

Innternet sources:  

http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/EMS/Holocaust/Holocaust.html 

http://www.42explore2.com/holoc.htm

After you have finished your research, you will decide which genres to use for your chosen topic. The possibilities for genres are endless. Some will be written and some will be graphic. I will give you a separate sheet of suggestions and we will brainstorm in class for other genre.

We will practice some genres in class at the beginning of some periods. In addition we will look at some student multigenre papers from Blending Genre, Altering Style by Tom Romano.

As you are discussing your books in Literature circles, also discuss ideas for genres. Once you have created an initial piece, see what ideas in it will lead to other types of writing.

Your final project can take any form you wish. Some ideas include:

1. A website with all pieces hyperlinked to each other.

2. A powerpoint presentation using your genres and graphics

3. A newspaper composed in Publisher

4. A brochure over the period composed in Publisher

5. A collage consisting of your written pieces and pictures and images.

6. Ideas of your own, approved by me.

7. Each group member must contribute a minimum of 3 genres to your group project. A genre can only be used once in the group project. 

The Process 

The following requirements are designed to help you meet success as well as help our class learn about your subject: 

(25 Points) Creativity

            Your presentation was engaging, interesting and created curiosity. 

(25 Points) Content

            Your team brought your topic to life with complete and thorough information that shows it was well researched. 

(15 Points) Visual

            Your team’s visual was well crafted and helped the class understand your information. 

(10 Points) Sources

            Sources must be cited and turned in:           

(10 Points) All Members used

            Groups divided information up and were used in research and presentation

            Responsibilities must be written out and enclosed in folder

(10 Points) Outline of your most important information

            Your outline will help the class take notes and pick out the most important information 

Learning Advice 

The information you are searching through is important and serious.  Your presentations should be the same.  The following suggestions are designed to meet success with this project as well as to satisfy requirements for the folder: 

Break up work 

Stay on task 

Use positive comments, encourage, and express appreciation 

Be helpful and assist each other 

Disagree in an agreeable way 

Conclusion 

Your presentations are important.  Not only are you learning how to research information and work as a team, you are learning about the world and its history.  Hatred of this kind happens for many reasons.  Do you think this event could happen again?  Do you think it could happen in our country?  How can we prevent this from happening again? Group discuss and write out answers to these three questions and put answers in your Folder. 

Project Components 

            Visual Presentation

            Oral Presentation

            Folder - to include:

                        Works Cited page

                        Group responsibilities sheet

                        Outline of presentation

                        Group answers to three questions in the conclusion