Ghettos and the 'Final Solution'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Nazi persecution of Jews escalated after 1939.
Key learning points
- Germany occupied much of Europe during WW2.
- German expansion increased the Jewish population under Nazi rule and led to more extreme persecution.
- Ghettos were set up across Europe but their purpose changed over time.
- The 'Final Solution' was decided upon by the end of 1941.
- Extermination camps were set up as part of the 'Final Solution' and killed millions of Jews.
Keywords
Ghetto - an area of a city where people of a particular race or religion live
Deportation - to force a person considered foreign to leave a country
Forced labour - the use of prisoners as unpaid workers
'Final Solution' - the name of the Nazi's plan to murder all European Jews
Einsatzgruppen - mobile Nazi killing squad
Common misconception
Most Jews murdered during the Holocaust were killed in gas chambers in concentration camps.
Gas chambers were set up in specially constructed extermination camps for Jews and killed millions, but roughly half of all Holocaust victims were killed by other means.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to research the experiences of two different individual Holocaust victims. Particular regard should be given to making comparisons; after 1939, what was similar and different about the victims' experiences of persecution?
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A is a situation in which people refuse to buy, use or do something because they do not approve of it.
Q2.What happened as a result of the Nuremberg Laws?
Q3.What was the German name for the 'Night of Broken Glass' which occurred in November 1938?
Q4.What proportion of Jewish owned businesses in 1933 were transferred to the control of non-Jews or the German state under the policy of Aryanisation?
Q5.Which negative stereotypes from the list below did the Nazis hold about Jews?
Q6.Which statement is most accurate?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What were the areas in towns and cities where the Nazis forced Jews to live known as?
Q2.Where were purpose-built gas chambers used by the Nazis located?
Q3.How many Jews were brought under Nazi rule after the invasion of Poland in 1939?
Q4.Jews imprisoned in Lodz ghetto were required to do what?
Q5.Which method of killing was used in the Babi Yar Massacre?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Ghettos and the 'Final Solution', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Ghettos and the 'Final Solution', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Holocaust: what was the Holocaust? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.