Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Holocaust Curriculum Guides 9th - 12th Grade

NJ Holocaust Grades 9-12 Curriculum: Unit 1

Students will examine the historical, psychological, and social roots of prejudice and discrimination, studying the landscape of Europe before Hitler’s rise, examining long standing antisemitism, the cultural vibrancy and diversity of Jewish life, and the vulnerabilities of the Weimar Republic. Through this exploration, students will gain insight into how prejudice, economic instability, and political turmoil created conditions that allowed extremist ideologies to take hold.

NJ Holocaust Grades 9-12 Curriculum: Unit 2

Students will develop a thorough understanding of how prejudicial policies developed in Nazi Germany, examining the progression from discrimination to systematic persecution and the devastating impact on targeted groups. Students will gain insight into the mechanisms of state-sponsored oppression and the consequences of unchecked prejudice and authoritarianism.

NJ Holocaust Grades 9-12 Curriculum: Unit 3

Students will analyze the systematic dehumanization of targeted groups in Nazi Germany and how this process facilitated the transition from persecution and mass murder, understanding the psychological, social, and political mechanisms that allowed such atrocities to occur.

NJ Holocaust Grades 9-12 Curriculum: Unit 4

Students will understand the diverse forms of resistance and rescue efforts undertaken by Jews and non-Jews during the Holocaust, including the risks involved, the motivations of individuals who helped, and the ethical dilemmas faced in light of extreme oppression, while critically analyzing the impact of these actions on the lives of those affected.

NJ Holocaust Grades 9-12 Curriculum: Unit 5

Students will understand the complexities of liberation for Holocaust survivors and the ethical challenges faced by individuals and nations in the aftermath, including issues of justice, responsibility, and moral accountability.

NJ Holocaust Grades 9-12 Curriculum: Unit 6

Students will understand how liberation from the Holocaust marked both an end and a beginning, culminating in the need to rebuild, remember, ensure justice for survivors, and create systems to prevent human rights abuses in the future. Students will explore how memorialization efforts shape the collective memory of the Holocaust and foster an ongoing commitment to prevent such atrocities.