Getting Started Guide:
Teaching About the Holocaust

First Book logo and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum logoFirst Book logo and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum logo

Free Downloadable Guide


Free Downloadable Guide

Click to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resourceClick to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource

In response to feedback from educators across the country, First Book worked with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) to create a Getting Started Guide designed to support Holocaust education. Many resources educators need to start teaching about the Holocaust—or to enhance existing Holocaust education—are provided in this FREE, downloadable guide.

Click to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resourceClick to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource

Click to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resourceClick to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource

In response to feedback from educators across the country, First Book worked with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) to create a Getting Started Guide designed to support Holocaust education. Many resources educators need to start teaching about the Holocaust—or to enhance existing Holocaust education—are provided in this FREE, downloadable guide.

Click to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resourceClick to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource

What’s Inside the Guide?

What’s Inside the Guide?

The resources in this guide come directly from the wide breadth of available materials offered by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the nation’s memorial and institution dedicated to education about the Holocaust. This resource is intended primarily for educators teaching students in grades 7-12 who are developmentally prepared to empathize with the individuals who experienced the Holocaust as well as understand the complex history and scope of events.

  • Guidelines and Best Practices

  • The Holocaust is an immense topic—in its horror, scale, and significance for future generations. Despite this complexity, the resources provided in this guide can prepare you to design your lesson and choose the topics and approaches responsibly.

  • Lessons and Teaching Materials

  • First Book has curated a selection of the USHMM's incredible catalog of resources to help educators like you teach about the Holocaust. You'll find a wealth of lessons, activities, videos, photos, survivor testimonies, encyclopedia articles, and more. These lessons were developed by Museum educators and historians and may be used as is or modified to suit curricular and classroom needs.

  • Recommendations for Educators Who are New to Teaching the Holocaust

  • For educators who are not quite sure where to start teaching this complex topic, we've provided recommendations and lessons that are ready to use and that provide background materials for teachers new to teaching about the Holocaust. You’ll also find a curated selection of lessons and resources specifically relevant for English Teachers and for History Teachers.

  • A Guide to Addressing Student Questions

  • For many reasons—including the complexity of the Holocaust and continuing antisemitism—it may be useful to review common questions and misconceptions before teaching about the Holocaust.

  • Resources to Help You Make Historical Connections to Current Events

  • Thinking about historical events, such as the Holocaust, in terms of their connection to modern-day issues and experiences is what makes history relevant to our lives. Use the materials in this free guide to help spark discussions and engage students in critical thinking.

  • And Much More!

The resources in this guide come directly from the wide breadth of available materials offered by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the nation’s memorial and institution dedicated to education about the Holocaust. This resource is intended primarily for educators teaching students in grades 7-12 who are developmentally prepared to empathize with the individuals who experienced the Holocaust as well as understand the complex history and scope of events.

  • Guidelines and Best Practices

  • The Holocaust is an immense topic—in its horror, scale, and significance for future generations. Despite this complexity, the resources provided in this guide can prepare you to design your lesson and choose the topics and approaches responsibly.

  • Lessons and Teaching Materials

  • First Book has curated a selection of the USHMM's incredible catalog of resources to help educators like you teach about the Holocaust. You'll find a wealth of lessons, activities, videos, photos, survivor testimonies, encyclopedia articles, and more. These lessons were developed by Museum educators and historians and may be used as is or modified to suit curricular and classroom needs.

  • Recommendations for Educators Who are New to Teaching the Holocaust

  • For educators who are not quite sure where to start teaching this complex topic, we've provided recommendations and lessons that are ready to use and that provide background materials for teachers new to teaching about the Holocaust. You’ll also find a curated selection of lessons and resources specifically relevant for English Teachers and for History Teachers.

  • A Guide to Addressing Student Questions

  • For many reasons—including the complexity of the Holocaust and continuing antisemitism—it may be useful to review common questions and misconceptions before teaching about the Holocaust.

  • Resources to Help You Make Historical Connections to Current Events

  • Thinking about historical events, such as the Holocaust, in terms of their connection to modern-day issues and experiences is what makes history relevant to our lives. Use the materials in this free guide to help spark discussions and engage students in critical thinking.

  • And Much More!

The Need for Holocaust Awareness and Education

A First Book survey distributed to educators serving children in need nationwide revealed significant findings about Holocaust awareness and education.¹ Many educators like you shared that they had little training, particularly related to the complex nature of this history, and lacked adequate time to find and evaluate lessons and other educational resources. Despite these challenges, the First Book Network emphasized the importance of teaching about the Holocaust so that students understand it was not inevitable and that individuals play a role in confronting hate and promoting human dignity today. Here are a few highlights from our research:

40 PERCENT of educators reported their students are not familiar with the Holocaust.

86 PERCENT of educators have not received any professional development related to Holocaust education.

67 PERCENT of educators currently teach about the Holocaust or would like to...

...but only 42 PERCENT feel adequately prepared to do so.

Click to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resourceClick to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource

1. Holocaust Education in Low-Income Classrooms, December 2021

The Need for Holocaust Awareness and Education

A First Book survey distributed to educators serving children in need nationwide revealed significant findings about Holocaust awareness and education.¹ Many educators like you shared that they had little training, particularly related to the complex nature of this history, and lacked adequate time to find and evaluate lessons and other educational resources. Despite these challenges, the First Book Network emphasized the importance of teaching about the Holocaust so that students understand it was not inevitable and that individuals play a role in confronting hate and promoting human dignity today. Here are a few highlights from our research:

40 PERCENT of educators reported their students are not familiar with the Holocaust.

86 PERCENT of educators have not received any professional development related to Holocaust education.

67 PERCENT of educators currently teach about the Holocaust or would like to...

...but only 42 PERCENT feel adequately prepared to do so.

Click to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resourceClick to download the Getting Started Guide: Teaching about the Holocaust resource

1. Holocaust Education in Low-Income Classrooms, December 2021