This document provides a lesson plan for teaching 4th, 5th and 6th grade students about the Holocaust. The lesson uses online resources and a sensitive search engine for students to research keywords and topics related to the Holocaust. Students will append their search results and reflections to a shared Google Doc. They will then participate in a whole-class discussion to express their opinions and reactions to issues of social injustice studied through the lesson. The goal is for students to gain knowledge about the historic period using various media and make connections between what they read and their own experiences.

1. Title: The Holocaust: Sensitive Topics Call for Sensitive Searches
Author: Lisa Thumann
Grade Levels: 4th, 5th and 6th grades
Essential Questions:
● How is the Holocaust still important today?
● Why do people sometimes hurt each other? How do they justify doing so?
● How do people in the world today act out against others because of fear or
hatred of others?
● What is my role in promoting a society in which people’s identities are
respected?
Objectives:
● Gain knowledge about this historic period using a variety of media
resources and reading strategies
● Express opinions and reactions during group discussions about social
injustice
● Make text-to-text and text-to-self comparisons by writing about what they
read and see in a Google Doc
Resources:
● Finding Dulcinea's Learning About the Holocaust
● ReadWriteThink: Fighting Injustice by Studying Lessons of the Past
● SweetSearch - A Search Engine for Students
Procedures
● Brainstorm a list of keywords to use to query SweetSearch.
● Use yolink to narrow down your search results by looking for specific
keywords within the search results.
● Append your results to a Google Doc.
● Edit the Google Doc to reflect your personal thoughts and impressions on
the readings you selected.
● Participate in a whole-group discussion
Assessment: Rubric
NETS Standards (NETS-S) and Performance Indicators for Students http://

2. www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/
NETS_for_Students_2007_Standards.pdf
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative
products and processes
using technology. Students:
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:
c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed
decisions.
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and
practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports
collaboration, learning, and productivity.
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