The Holocaust in context
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what was distinctive about the Holocaust.
Key learning points
- The Holocaust involved the deliberate murder of around 6 million European Jews.
- Nazi ideology held that Jewish people were racially inferior and a threat.
- The Holocaust represented an attempt to murder all Jews.
- The Holocaust is distinct from other genocides and other instances of Nazi persecution.
Keywords
Genocide - the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a particular national, racial, ethnic or religious group
Holocaust - the murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators
Collaborator - a person or group who works together with others for a particular purpose
Mortal enemy - a very serious and dangerous person or group who oppose or want to harm you
Perpetrator - someone who has committed a crime or a violent or harmful act
Common misconception
The Holocaust was confined to Germany.
The Nazis and their collaborators murdered 6 million Jews from across Europe and aimed to eliminate Jews from the entire continent.
Teacher tip
Students may attempt to answer Task B in terms of value judgements (i.e. 'the Holocaust was worse than...'). Instruct students to avoid subjective responses and to focus instead on the actual behaviour and intentions of the perpetrators instead.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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.What is a mortal enemy?
Q2.Which war began in 1939?
Q3.In which year did WW2 end?
Q4.Which of the following countries fought alongside Germany in WW2?
Q5.Which political party gained power in Germany in 1933?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. A is the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a particular national, racial, ethnic or religious group.
Q2.What alternative name is the Holocaust known by?
Q3.Roughly how many Jews were murdered during the Holocaust?
Q4.How did perpetrators of the Holocaust often treat Jewish children?
Q5.Which of the following countries saw the highest proportion of its Jewish population killed during the Holocaust?
Q6.Write the missing word. As well as racially inferior, the Nazis considered Jews to be their mortal...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The Holocaust in context, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The Holocaust in context, 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.