Before teaching about any genocide, teachers are strongly encouraged to review and incorporate the Best Practices in Genocide Education, which can be found here.
The materials below were suggested during an eighteen-month collaboration of educators, historians, and others who were part of the Michigan Governor’s Council on Genocide and Holocaust Education, and they are meant primarily for classroom teachers. There are additional materials out there and available for a wide-range of audiences, including teachers. Teachers should only use established, researched sources and methods to inform classroom instruction.
Leading Websites for Teachers
Ten Stages of Genocide
The Ten Stages of Genocide describes the process that could eventually lead to genocide. These stages can be applied to all levels of injustice throughout history.
Preventing Genocide
This ready to go lesson asks the question, “What can we do to prevent and stop Genocide?”
Historical Background for Teachers
For a starting point for the teaching of genocide, try this introduction
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center is “dedicated to stimulating timely global action to prevent genocide and to catalyze an international response when genocide does occur.”
Shoah Foundation’s Genocide Awareness Month website
This website provides resources that can be used to commemorate and educate during Genocide Awareness Month and beyond.
Classroom Resource Collection
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, “The Danger of a Single Story”
This TED talk emphasizes listening to understand. Adichi, “warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
Facing History and Ourselves Scope and Sequence
This webpage explains Facing History’s approach to history as “a synthesis of compelling content and rigorous inquiry.”
Facing History Scope and Sequence with Examples of Activities for Each Step
This website explains in more detail Facing History’s scope and sequence philosophy that “promotes students’ historical understanding, critical thinking, empathy, and social–emotional learning.”
Ten Stages of Genocide Handout
This handout is ready to be copied and used with students.
Historical analysis and definition of the term genocide
This United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website is a good place to start when trying to define the term genocide.
The Early Warning Project
“For the first time, the Early Warning Project gives us a tool to alert policy makers and the public to places where the risk of mass violence is greatest. Together, people around the world can call for action before it’s too late.”
Survivors of Genocides
This direct link to testimonies of survivors of genocide throughout history and across the globe gives voice to efforts that combat hate and violence.
“Pyramid of Hate” concepts and lesson
This classroom exercise is designed to help educators teach students ages 14-18 about the effects and consequences of hatred and intolerance.
End Genocide Project
This website offers information and resources from “the largest activist organization in America dedicated to preventing and ending genocide and mass atrocities worldwide.”
“Watchers of the Sky” film and activities from Facing History and Ourselves
“The series of films follows Raphael Lemkin, Benjamin Ferencz, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and the historical events that inspired them to take action.”
It’s also available for streaming rental/purchase at Amazon
Elie Wiesel’s Speech “Perils of Indifference”
“Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate, Elie Wiesel, gave this impassioned speech in the East Room of the White House on April 12, 1999, as part of the Millennium Lecture series, hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.”