The 5 Ws are a powerful and simple way for students to get an overview of a topic and better enhance their understanding. By creating a spider map or narrative storyboard that showcases the 5Ws, students can demonstrate their knowledge using concise descriptions and visual scenes. Giving students a visual with each category helps students to better understand and remember the details and importance of the topic.
When learning about the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of the Holocaust, students may need teachers to provide a variety of resources. The use of diverse resources such as primary sources, videos, readings from textbooks, encyclopedias and literature can be helpful for students to gain an accurate and complete picture of the time period. Students can use graphic organizers with spaces for the 5Ws and to write down their notes while they read or watch.
After learning about the Holocaust, students will create a spider map to explain the 5Ws about this complex topic. They will create scenes and a short description to answer the following questions about The Holocaust: What was the Holocaust? When did the Holocaust occur? Who was affected by it? Where did it occur? Why did it happen and/or why did it continue for so long?
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that answers the following questions about the Holocaust: What was the Holocaust? When did the Holocaust occur? Who was affected by it? Where did it occur? Why did it happen? and/or Why did it continue for so long?
Student Instructions:
Primary sources give students a direct window into history and make learning more authentic. Using them helps students connect to real voices and events, deepening their understanding of the Holocaust.
Choose documents, images, or survivor testimonies that are suitable for your students’ grade level and maturity. Preview materials first to ensure they are sensitive and educational for your classroom.
Explain what each primary source is, who created it, and why it matters. Give students guiding questions so they know what to look for as they examine the materials.
Encourage students to extract details from the primary sources that answer the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of the Holocaust. Model how to fill in their spider map or graphic organizer with evidence from the sources.
Invite students to share what they discovered from the primary sources and how it changed their perspective. Emphasize respectful listening and thoughtful reflection to build understanding and empathy.
The 5 Ws of the Holocaust are Who, What, When, Where, and Why. They help students understand key facts: who was involved, what happened, when and where it took place, and why it occurred or persisted.
Teaching the Holocaust with the 5 Ws involves asking students to answer who, what, when, where, and why about the event using graphic organizers, spider maps, and visual storytelling. This method helps students organize complex information and deepen understanding.
A spider map is a graphic organizer where students place the Holocaust at the center and branch out to answer the 5 Ws in separate sections. Each branch includes descriptions and visuals to illustrate the key details for each question.
Using diverse resources like primary sources, videos, and literature gives students a fuller, more accurate understanding of the Holocaust. It helps address different learning styles and provides multiple perspectives on this complex topic.
This 5 Ws Holocaust lesson is designed for students in grades 6-12, making it adaptable for middle and high school classrooms.